Journeys: An evening of storytelling in central Liverpool
Telling stories is one of our most ancient and powerful forms of expression. It’s what helps us connect with one another and shines a light on our shared humanity, bringing us closer to people we may never meet or to places we may never go.
On Monday 4 November 2024, we held an evening of storytelling in Liverpool, at Fabric Studios, 3 Constance Street, Liverpool L3 8AN.
Our storytellers were MSF staff from around the world, visiting Liverpool as part of our Leadership Education Academic Partnership programme, known as ‘LEAP’.
They each told a short story reflecting on the theme of ‘Journeys’.
The evening celebrated the rich diversity of our teams and of the countries in which we operate, giving direct and personal insights into the work that we do.
Watch Aliaa and Carolina tell their stories
Our speakers and host
Amber Dowell (host)
Amber is MSF UK’s Story Manager. She is passionate about the ability stories have to bring people together and to help us look at sometimes difficult topics in new ways. Before moving to charity communications, Amber worked in publishing, so stories have been part of her career for an embarrassingly long time.
Carolina Mueller
Carolina is a Brazilian humanitarian with expertise in Human Rights and Forced Migration. Since joining MSF in 2019, she has had the opportunity to contribute to efforts addressing migration crises in Latin America and North Africa, taking on roles such as Medical Unit Analyst, Humanitarian Affairs Manager, and Protection Manager. Committed to social justice, inclusion, and diversity, Carolina is dedicated to working with individuals and communities affected by violence, learning from their experiences, and supporting their needs.
Orzubek Qalandarov
Orzubek began his career with MSF in 2019 as a translator in his home country of Tajikistan. In 2021 he became a Health Promotion Supervisor within a tuberculosis project. Having completed an assignment with MSF in Nigeria earlier this year, he is currently between missions awaiting his next international assignment.
Taleka Makunje
Taleka joined MSF in 2018 in her home country of Malawi. She has since worked on projects in Nigeria and Yemen and is currently in India. As an Advocacy Manager, she leverages her expertise in policy analysis to champion critical health issues.
Her twin passions of migration and humanitarian health financing drive her commitment to addressing the complex intersections between healthcare access, policy, and vulnerable populations. Through her work, Taleka seeks to amplify the voices of marginalized communities and inform evidence-based policy decisions.
Aliaa Alkhazendar
Aliaa is a medical doctor from Gaza, Palestine. She has worked with MSF for over five years. Growing up in Gaza, she witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts of conflict; and her experiences shaped her professional journey.
Her work involves managing complex medical evacuation programs for patients severely injured during conflict, providing them with a chance of recovery in safer, better-equipped facilities abroad.
Displaced due to the ongoing war in Gaza, Aliaa has come to Liverpool for a master’s degree in Humanitarian Practice.
