Our Team
MANAGING EDITOR
Sama Nashyd
As a child, Sama discovered the magic of books. She fell in love with words, the stories those words created & the worlds within those stories. To her, words were the ultimate magic… and writing, the ultimate release.
Manifesting Sora has been her dream for a long time; to bring local Writers together and create a space for them and to enable writing to be more than just a passion but also a source from which they can earn an income.
Sama lives for cozy rainy days at home, reading Victorian Gothic novels, eating home cooked meals and watching anime. For Sama, the only thing that precedes her coveted solitude at home are quiet moments in nature .
WRITER & EDITOR
Nashwa Saeed
Nash is a Freelance Writer who is currently studying for a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications, which allows her to dabble in a variety of exciting areas.
She has experience working as a Writer and Editor for the first food magazine in the Maldives (Taste), and also worked as the Content Writer for the tourism promotion board of the Maldives (Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation). She has worked with a diverse range of people and is well-versed in writing different materials.
When she is not writing, you can find her watching films, or on Twitter and Instagram, where she shares her thoughts and random musings, and pictures that capture the beauty in mundaneness.
WRITER & EDITOR
Mohamed Hoodh Ibrahim
Hoodh is a communications specialist, researcher and aspiring political scientist with experience in high level government, NGOs and private sector management.
Hoodh is currently Lead Editor for Journal of Youth, Peace and Security, Youth Researcher for Asian Development Bank, and Lecturer for International Relations and Governance at Maldives National University.
Hoodh has authored research papers on transformative resilience of young people in Maldives, Covid-19 related changes to education, and Socio-Economic grievances in Maldives for the United Network of Youth Peacebuilders YPS Research Network Journal, UNESCO Youth As Researcher 2020, UNDP-Maldives National University, respectively.
WRITER
Isra Hameed
As the daughter of two teachers, Isra was always encouraged to read. The first “big” books she read were The Secret Garden and The Swiss Family Robinson. After that, she spent her childhood going on adventures with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. The one book per day allowance from the school library was never enough for her, so she always made her cousin borrow an extra one.
As an adult, she is pretty much the same — but with a bit more responsibilities. She is now a final year Communications and Public Relations student, but you can still find her with a book in a quiet corner. Before her degree, she worked in the hospitality industry as a Reservations Agent in resorts in Baa Atoll and Dhaalu Atoll. Isra is originally from Addu.
She loves watching the rain and in another life, she would probably have been a storm chaser. Her other passions include languages, history and music (her spotify playlists are her pride and joy).
WRITER
Maisha Habeeb
Sometime in her adolescence, Mai was working on a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Missouri University of Science and Technology. After that, she decided to swerve off the path of handling mental baggage to hoisting literal baggage into overhead compartments. She is currently a flight attendant with six years of experience under her belt.
She has been an avid reader since childhood. Her favorite classic remains A Little Princess. She loves the mundanity of the color beige, salted dark chocolate, and staying out of the sun. She is also a part-time student at Southern New Hampshire University, pursuing a bachelor’s in Creative Writing and English.
Mai hopes she could one day produce a fantasy novel consisting of Maldivian folklore. She has a blog on Medium that she goes through twice a year, and a religiously updated thread of first sentences of novels she reads, on Twitter. You can find her at “@maishelved” on both platforms.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Mohamed Farih
With a great passion for all things design, Mohamed Farih is a Communication Designer that studied at the Royal Melbourne University of Technology in Australia. He began his career as a junior/entry-level designer at an Australian branding firm that specializes in brand management for the food industry. He was promoted to senior designer, where he was in charge of the management of larger, more corporate brands.
When he returned to The Maldives, he took on the role of Creative Head of Design and Visual Merchandising at the country's largest department store, where he spearheaded a major project with the Maldivian Artist Community and kick-started solo shows for young adults who are often overlooked in the business. This project allowed 48 young artists to gain the opportunity to shine for a month, showcasing and selling their work to the general public and art enthusiasts. The project had a significant impact on the Maldives' art scene, inspiring other businesses and resorts to join in.
With substantial communication design familiarity in retail, food & beverage, healthcare, fashion, etc. he continues to further explore and tackle more areas in visual communications.
Portfolio