Arab and Middle Eastern Joy

Members of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine's Arab and Middle Eastern community of staff would like to invite all staff and students to celebrate Arab and Middle Eastern joy through a shared celebration of culture on Tuesday 14th October from 12.00 - 14.00 at Learns 3, with activities and food available at Commons 4 social space just outside.

This event aims to humanise Arab and Middle Eastern peoples and celebrate our joy through culture, creativity, food and music. This event is supported by the institution's Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Staff Network. Please find the event running order and programme of activity attached below.

We encourage in-person attendance to participate in activities and food, however for the poetry and talk section, an MS Teams link will be set up and sent out the week of the event for those who register online to join.

If anyone has any accessibility or disability needs please email samia.benbrih@lstmed.ac.uk.

Please note, cold food will be provided by Damas (Lebanese restaurant, 79 Renshaw Street Liverpool). Individuals are responsible for their own dietary requirements and allergies. Ingredient lists will be provided. We would like to encourage Arab and Middle Eastern staff and students to bring dishes unique to them to share at the event, food heating facilities will not be available, and ingredient lists should be provided.

Event running order:

• 12.00 - 12.05 - Welcome and Introductions by Samia Benbrih (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager) and Nour Essale (Community Mobiliser and PhD student)
• 12.05 - 12.15 - Poetry from LSTM's Professor Fouad Fouad
• 12.15 - 12.25 - Message from LSTM Palestinian PhD student Israa Saleh
• 12.25 - 12.45 - Poetry from Liverpool Yemeni Poet Amina Attaq
• 12.45 - 12.50 - Close and thanks (Samia and Nour)
• 12.50 - 13.20 - Music in Learns 3, 10 minutes seated to listen until 13.00, and from 13.00 there will be 20 minutes of music on going from Learns 3 that can be listened to with the doors open to Commons 4
• 13.00 - 14.00 - Food and activities including henna, embroidery, Afkar و Fikra Zine and brand One Dream clothing sales in Commons 4

Speaker and activity facilitator bio's below:

Professor Fouad Fouad

Fouad Fouad is a Syrian Professor of Social Sciences and Global Health at the Department of International Health at LSTM and published poet. He has almost 30 years of experience in research, programming, and public health leadership across academia, NGOs, and government institutions. His research focuses on migration and health, with a particular emphasis on forced displacement, health systems in crisis settings, and multidisciplinary approaches to humanitarian challenges.

PhD student Israa Saleh

Israa is a Palestinian medical doctor specialising in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) with various experiences in the humanitarian work, academia and research. Working in the Gaza Strip, suffering severe humanitarian crisis, Israa supports girls and women particularly the displaced groups in the field of SRHR and adolescent health. Israa is a PhD student at LSTM and survivor of the on-going genocide in Palestine.

Amina Attaq

Amina Atiq is a Yemeni-British poet, teaching artist and award-winning community activist based in Liverpool. Her work moves between poetry, theatre-making, and visual storytelling. She creates spaces for dialogue, healing, and activism; deeply rooted in her Yemeni heritage, Amina’s practice is shaped by a commitment to social justice, community cohesion and radical joy.

She has received several accolades, including the Steve Biko Young Achievers Award, recognition among the 100 Inspirational Women of Merseyside, was named on the Future List 2022 of Northern Woman awards, and is a finalist of BBC Words First. Her work has been published in various outlets, including Critical Muslim (Issue 40), We Have Also Survived: Poetry as a Tool for Resistance in Humanitarian Crises Around the World, and The Independent (“The Death of the Face: Yemen’s Humanitarian Crisis”).

Afkar و Fikra, Zine

As the founder of Afkar و Fikra, Iman is on a mission to celebrate Southwest Asia and North Africa's diverse identity, people and creativity. In a world that misrepresents who we are in the media and creative industry, Iman believes that it is important to give the spotlight to our own people to tell their own stories and share their vision.

One Dream clothing brand

One Dream is a purpose-driven clothing brand inspired by a legacy of kindness and giving. More than fashion, it’s a movement to create change. With every collection, we stand for humanity—our current line, “Support The Struggle,” directs 100% of profits to aid survivors in Palestine. When you wear One Dream, you wear hope, strength, and purpose.