Meet the Team

The women helping to build the village.

Raising Between Worlds is shaped by care, culture, professional insight and lived commitment to African diaspora mothers and families.

Dr Nomsa WaylandProfDoc, MSc, BSc (Hons), DCounsPsyCh, HCPC, MBPsS, MBACPFounder

Founder

About Dr Nomsa Wayland

Dr Nomsa Wayland is a Chartered Psychologist, researcher, research supervisor and Senior Lecturer on counselling and psychotherapy programmes and on a clinical psychology doctoral programme. She brings extensive clinical experience working with trauma and supporting women, alongside her work in higher education, research and professional training.

In her conversations with African diaspora parents, particularly women, one theme seemed to dominate: many mothers felt they were parenting between worlds, carrying African-rooted values while raising children in a UK context that can feel very different from the one that shaped them.

Raising Between Worlds was created from this recognition. It offers a culturally grounded and psychologically informed space where African diaspora mothers can reflect, feel less alone, strengthen connection with their children, and rebuild the village around them.

Rooted in Ubuntu, Dr Wayland's work brings together clinical insight, cultural wisdom, research, and community care to support mothers raising children with confidence, connection, and belonging.

Email us: enquiries@raisingbetweenworlds.com

Rooted in culture, care and community.

Co-founders

Meet the women helping to shape and hold this village.

Molly Lawrence-Adekola

MSc, BSc (Hons), MBABCP (Accred.), MBACP (Accred.), MBPsS

Co-founder

Molly Lawrence-Adekola is a BABCP-accredited Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and BACP-accredited Integrative Counsellor with over 14 years of experience supporting adults with anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties and emotional wellbeing within NHS Talking Therapies and private practice.

As an African mother, Molly understands the joys and challenges of raising children between cultures. She is passionate about helping people feel seen, heard and understood, particularly within African diaspora communities. Through Raising Between Worlds, she hopes to help nurture a compassionate village where parents can connect, learn from one another and raise children with confidence, culture and community.

Anne Wairu

MSc, BA (Hons), MBPsS

Co-founder

Known affectionately as Auntie Anne, Anne is a learning and community mentor and support practitioner with a decade of experience supporting learners with disabilities, including visual impairment, anxiety and learning difficulties.

A wife, mother of three and firm believer in Ubuntu, Anne is passionate about mentoring young people, especially girls, to build self-esteem and stay grounded in their authentic identity. Her motto is: keep your head, heels and standards high.

Dr Agatha Benyera-Mararike

Co-founder

CPsychol; AFBPsS; HCPC; UKCP; NMC; FHEA.

DCPsych, Post-MSc Dip; MSc; BSc (Hons); PGCert ED; HEDip (RM); ENB934.

Dr Agatha Benyera-Mararike is an HCPC Chartered Counselling Psychologist, UKCP-registered psychotherapist, registered midwife, supervisor, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with nearly three decades of experience across psychology, midwifery, higher education and medico-legal practice.

She has worked as an academic and external examiner, Senior Lecturer, NHS Senior Counselling Psychologist and expert witness, preparing almost 400 medico-legal reports in family, criminal, immigration, civil and clinical negligence cases. As an integrative therapist, she works existentially.

Her expertise spans trauma, culturally responsive psychotherapy, EMDR, perinatal and women’s mental health, neurodiversity, forensic and acute mental health, psychosexual therapy, HIV mental health, drug and alcohol misuse, bereavement and migration.

Alongside her psychological practice, Dr Benyera-Mararike has over 29 years of clinical midwifery experience in NHS and private hospital settings, specialising in high-risk pregnancy, antenatal screening and supporting vulnerable women affected by domestic abuse, female genital mutilation and sexual violence.

She is also a respected researcher, published author and advocate for culturally responsive care, with award-winning contributions to migrant community mental health and women’s health initiatives.

She has spearheaded vibrant migrant women’s empowerment and mental health projects. Her work is defined by a commitment to supporting mothers, children, families and diverse communities with compassion, dignity and cultural understanding.

Building the village together.

Each person brings care, wisdom and commitment to supporting mothers raising children between cultures.

Join the Village