Home

Writing Samples

UNMISS •

300,000 lives on the line – how UNMISS protects Bentiu residents from climate shocks

300,000 lives on the line – how UNMISS protects Bentiu residents from climate shocks

UNITY STATE - In the midst of 5,400 square kilometres of greyish, brown water and decaying trees, stands an ‘island.’

It’s tiny in comparison to the vast body of water that surrounds it – perhaps a little over three square kilometers – but the important thing is that it’s the last refuge for some 300,000 residents of Bentiu, the capital of Unity state in South Sudan.

The island is not a natural formation: It
UNMISS •

A Trust Fund success story: Grassroots-led projects transform Koch communities

UNITY STATE – Over the last four years, a series of small but real changes have turned Koch County, once marred by conflict, into a totally different and much friendlier beast. The legacy of initiatives funded by the Resilience, Stabilization, and Reconciliation Trust Fund is one of peace, optimism, sports, education, and gainful employment.

As international donors convened in Koch to assess the outcomes of the more than $15 million dollars’ worth of projects implemented since 2019, the sense o
UNMISS •

UNMISS assesses security and humanitarian situation in remote border communities

JAU, RUWENG ADMINISTRATIVE AREA – As the conflict in Sudan intensifies, the small border town of Jau, situated in South Sudan's Ruweng Administrative Area, continues to be a pivotal transit point for refugees and South Sudanese returning home.

Braving hazardous terrain and the risks posed by armed factions, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) recently sent a mission to Jau to assess the situation of the host community and newcomers alike.

“We used to welcome the occasional famil
ReliefWeb •

In flood ravaged Bentiu, UNMISS, South Sudan government continue protecting displaced people - South Sudan

UNITY – Viewed from the air, Bentiu, the capital of South Sudan’s Unity state, seems surrounded by large bodies of water.

On the ground, more than two years of excessive rainfall have taken its toll on communities living here.

The worst sufferers of these unprecedented climate shocks: A fluctuating population of some 100,000 – 160,000 people who live in temporary shelters at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp here.

To add to their burdens, the situation has been exacerbated by the in
UNMISS •

Peacekeepers and Pariang locals enjoy going the distance at fun-run

Peacekeepers and Pariang locals enjoy going the distance at UNMISS fun-run

RUWENG – A “fun-run”, they said, the Mongolian peacekeepers nearing the finishing line of their tour of duty in Pariang. Fifteen kilometres, they added, and the scepticism among eavesdroppers was palpable.

But was everybody needlessly worried? It turned out that there was plenty of fun in the sun to be had when Blue Helmets, humanitarians and locals metaphorically and almost literally ran or walked the distance in each
Axo •

Order types are missing from DeFi – why is no one talking about this?

Trading when the internet goes out, holding assets while you sleep, and placing orders during high price volatility are all ways your assets could lose value in a market. How can you manage these risks and protect your profits or minimize losses?

Every market participant is either looking to get into the market (buy) or get out of the market (sell). Order types define how this will happen, and the ‘how’ can make a big difference to a trader’s success and overall experience.

If we look at where
Axo •

Capital Efficiency Can Unlock the DeFi Revolution

Capital (e.g., fiat or cryptocurrencies) will go where it is treated best. In 2021, decentralized exchanges (DEXs) accounted for less than 5% of the trading volume of the entire crypto market — centralized exchanges (CEXs) accounted for all remaining trade volume.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi) is a revolution that won’t happen until greater participation in decentralized markets and a tidal wave of capital comes with it. Capital efficiency is the most important factor needed to engage most retail and institutional investors that remain on the fence about DeFi.
UNDP Youth Co:Lab •

Healthcare at your fingertips – the story of Linecare

In a world accelerating toward more and more connectivity, a team of youth from Asia-Pacific is harnessing that connection through digital technology to provide healthcare for everyone - healthcare at your fingertips.

is a South Korea based, youth-led social enterprise, bringing vital medical services to end-users via its mobile application.

‘Our goal is to accelerate the adoption of digital health care and improve its functionality, particularly in Southeast Asia and beyond,’ said CEO of Line
Youth Co:Lab •

From little thing, big things grow – the story of ClearPlate

, a youth-led social enterprise from China, is proving that small actions can make a big impact in their campaign against the global problem of food waste.

One-third of all , the world does not have a food production problem - it has a waste problem, and it brings with it enormous environmental and economic costs.

'[Food waste] is a huge crisis it causes lots of carbon emissions and financial losses and puts a strain on our resources,' said Jichen Liu, Founder and CEO of Clear Plate.

'ClearPl
Youth Co:Lab •

A guiding light for women’s reproductive and sexual health rights – The story of Laraib Abid

‘Mashal’ means ‘light’ in Arabic; and that is precisely what Laraib Abid is to many young women and men in Pakistan. Her social enterprise, Mashal, has transformed her into a guiding light for all searching for answers and information related to sexual and reproductive health.

Laraib grew up in a family of doctors. Whenever she had any question relating to health, she could rely on her family members for accurate information and advice. When she grew older, a chance conversation with a close fr
Vice •

The UFC's 'Fight Island' Was a Strange Portrait of Covid-Era Entertainment

To understand why the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) decided to spend untold fortunes on an audience-free fight at an Arabian island during a pandemic, you need to understand the company’s president, Dana White. He’s a 51-year-old, Irish Catholic, former amateur boxer from Boston who’s become famous for turning mixed martial arts into a multi-billion dollar business. And for doing whatever he wants.
UNDP •

Small Giants in COVID-19 response

MANILA - Less than a year into business, one startup went from streamlining local governance processes to connecting a national government to its people during COVID-19.

“At the beginning of the year [2020], our goal was to generate a revenue of at least $US 30,000 and create a platform that was scalable, “ said Co-founder, Lei Motilla.


Fast forward three months and the small team found themselves working alongside companies like Viber and Facebook, on a COVID-19 digital triage and informati
The Sydney Morning Herald •

Amar walked 40km in eight hours doing his job. He was not paid one cent

Amar Nath Barman was the guy who puts the shopping catalogue in your mailbox. Like thousands of others, he walked kilometre after kilometre stuffing the advertising pamphlets he had folded the night before into letterboxes....

Investigative Piece I did for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, It also appeared in the Saturday Age on page 2 and 3. Since publication Salmat's share price has dropped 20% (30 million).
Load More