Friends of Médecins sans Frontières Society: Advocacy Officer

Hello! My name is Sara Perez-Grill and I am excited to run for the advocacy role :)  I'm currently pursuing a Msc in Humanitarian Policy & Practice with a strong interest related to humanitarian crisis, politics, and international organisations! 

This year I hope to: 

1. Raise awareness about the humanitarian issues MSF addresses including their work in live-saving interventions,  disease outbreaks and natural disasters.
2. Organise speaker events  where guests can share their experiences open to all members & non-members (from undergrads to mature students). I hope to create space for open discussions and networking across all academic backgrounds, sparking career ideas and showing the real world connection between theory and practice.  
3. Lead advocacy campaigns through workshops (discussion opportunities), events (film screenings, panel discussions), and collaborations with other societies and FriendsofMSF University groups. These events would raise funds for MSF to continue their life-saving work.
4. Be the  advocacy point of contact between our society and Friends of MSF UK, sharing our goals with the Students Union.
5. Encourage member participation by presenting YOUR ideas! I'd love to listen and work together! 

As a former BAME Wellbeing Champion I loved creating inclusive events that celebrate diversity. My two UN internships deepend my passion for humanitarian work and I'm keen on bringing that energy to this role. I'm excited to see our members grow and connect throughout the year!

I'm a MRes STEM student passionate about both art and sciences - about using research to bring benevolent impacts, especially humanitarian work such as the MSF, and  communicating and publicising research through visual arts. I've had experience in publicity and advocacy as the graphic officer for a charity society as an undergraduate, where I designed graphics for publicising society events and fundraising campaigns  on social media, and designed our society's merch & posters for society fairs. As an Advocacy Officer, I would hope to help raise awareness of humanitarian issues through graphics on social media, and during in person society events. Thanks for considering me:)

I'm running for Advocacy Officer because I'm inspired by MSF's incredible work providing medical care where it's needed most. I believe awareness can spark real change, and I'd love to help more people at UCL learn about the global health and humanitarian challenges MSF tackles every day. 

As Advocacy Officer, I'd aim to organise speaker events, campaigns, and fundraising events that not only spread awareness but also inspire action. I want to make global issues feel more personal and show how each of us can make a difference - whether through learning, fundraising, or simply starting a conversation. 

I've been involved in volunteering and community projects including organising Course Contre la Faim charity runs, bakes sales and fundraising events for Alzheimer's research. These experiences have shown me the power of collective action and how small initiatives can have a meaningful impact - something I'd love to continue through Friends of MSF. 

Friends of MSF already has such a great community of motivated people, and I'd be really excited to help keep that energy growing !

I’m applying for the role of Advocacy Officer because I’m genuinely passionate about global health and humanitarian work.  I’ve got a few ideas that I’d be excited to bring to life. One would be to organise speaker events that feature people from a range of backgrounds e.g.  journalists who work in humanitarian settings. I’d also like to look at collaborating with groups like the Crisis Rescue Foundation, which is an initiative I have been involved with. 

Within UCL, I think there’s also a lot of potential for collaboration. I am heavily involved in RUMS WFC and I’d love to help coordinate joint events between UCL clubs and MSF UCL. E.g  fun charity tournaments, bake sales, a thrift market or even an open mic or comedy night at one of the UCL bars (where I also work). 

Alongside being organised and committed, I’d also describe myself as outgoing, approachable, and good at getting people involved. I’m also confident with outreach and communication, whether that’s at events or designing social media content. I’d love to help strengthen MSF UCL’s online presence by sharing posts about global health issues, MSF campaigns, and upcoming opportunities. 

Overall, I really care about what MSF stands for. I believe my connectivity to both the student union and societies have allowed me to develop skills and connections that can be applied to a role in the friends of MSF team. I believe I could bring creativity, enthusiasm, and strong teamwork skills to the