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About the café

Our story

Café Without Borders grew from Lamiaa Eid's own experience as an international graduate student at the UMass Amherst College of Education, and her wish for a warm, informal place where graduate students could share perspectives across cultures and disciplines. It began as a monthly online café and has grown into a community with members in 60 countries. Every session is recorded, and in October 2026 the café holds its first open mini-conference, where work at any stage is welcome.

I'm passionate about reimagining education to break barriers. Creating Café Without Borders is my way of following that passion, a step toward building inclusive spaces where learning, connection and belonging are possible for everyone.
Lamiaa Eid, Founder & Director

Our vision

Empowering global graduates and graduate students to thrive in a connected world through meaningful cross-cultural communication and a real understanding of national and international professional contexts.

Our mission

A vibrant online community of graduates and graduate students from around the world, with open dialogue, collaborative learning and the exchange of ideas, that equips its members with the skills and knowledge to excel in a globalised environment.

Connection · Shared learning · Diversity and inclusion · Accessibility · Curiosity · Empowerment · Multilingualism · Global solidarity

The team

Everyone here volunteers.
Lamiaa Eid

Lamiaa Eid

Founder & Director

I’m an educator, researcher, and community builder who loves bringing people together across cultures. My journey has taught me the power of dialogue, diversity, and collaboration, and I’m passionate about reimagining education to break barriers. Creating Café Without Borders is my way of following that passion, a step toward my goal of building inclusive spaces where learning, connection, and belonging are possible for everyone. I’m endlessly curious, always exploring new ideas, listening to stories, and finding the threads that bring us closer together.

Alia Attia

Alia Attia

Community Engagement

I am a lady who loves to spread positivity, invest in personal and collective growth, and make a positive impact in people’s lives. I view life as an endless journey of learning and am continuously experiencing this personally, academically, and professionally. I believe that knowledge is power, but sharing this knowledge with others is even more powerful!

Mohamed Armoush

Mohamed Armoush

Operations Manager

I’m a Mechatronics student with a passion for innovation, collaboration, and building meaningful connections across cultures. Through my experiences, whether it’s organizing events, managing teams, or working on hands-on engineering projects, I’ve learned the importance of vision, empathy, and creating spaces where everyone feels included. With Café Without Borders, I hope to help create a platform where people can meet, share knowledge, and inspire each other to think globally while acting locally.

Fayyaz Malik

Fayyaz Malik

Flyer Designer

I’m a seasoned ELT professional with two decades of experience dedicated to enhancing English language skills. Specializing in writing, technical English, and English for Specific Purposes (ESP), I have empowered countless learners. Currently serving as the Vice President of KSAALT-TESOL and actively managing its Riyadh chapter, I am a frequent presenter at ELT platforms including TESOL Arabia, INTERLINK PD Weeks, Al Yamamah University TSDC, SPELT (Pakistan), and KSAALT-TESOL.

Help run the café

We are looking for people to help with events, focal points in their country, and communications. Write to us and say what you would like to do.