Meet Gabriela, Humanitarian Designer

In today’s article, meet Gabriela, a designer working at TSF, in Latin America. As a Communication With Communities Officer, Gabriela is in charge of the content that is displayed in the shelters along the main migratory routes throughout Mexico, Guatemala and Colombia.

In her interview, Gabriela shares insights on her professional experience at TSF, her motivations for working in the humanitarian sector and the main challenges she faces, including the emotional toll of working as an humanitarian worker.

Here’s a sneak peak of her interview:

TSF Comms Team: How did you come to work in the humanitarian sector?

“For me it was very clear since I was a little girl that whatever I do has to have a positive impact in people’s lives”

TSF Comms Team: According to you, what are the main communication needs of displaced communities in Latin America?

“I see the need to communicate [informations about] the rights, the access, the danger that people who are in vulnerable migration situations are facing”

"I have to think: “if I am in the same position, what would be the most important need for me?”

TSF Comms Team: What does your job entail?

“As a designer in this context, I have to find many ways to make this project sustainable for displaced people. I am looking for information that can be important for them. I have to think: “if I am in the same position, what would be the most important need for me?”

TSF Comms Team: What are the main challenges that you face?

“The information comes from many places, so you have to be on guard on what is useful, what is real and what is fake.”

TSF Comms Team: What are the main dangers of fake news for displaced people?

“Recently I saw a news article saying that if you go to the authorities at the border and surrender yourself, they would give you free access to asylum.This was very sad because it was a lie and people did that and they were chained in a bus and sent back.”

"Sometimes I get burned out with this information that is strong and difficult to read."

TSF Comms Team: What is the main challenge that you face as a humanitarian worker?

“When I read all kinds of news, many times I found myself crying about how people get harmed, how kids get harmed. Kids are the responsibility of the whole society so for me sometimes I get burned out with this information that is strong and difficult to read. Your life is never the same after you read this news.”

TSF Coms Team: What do you like most in your work?