Builders of the Broken Bazaar

Refugees are not a burden. Broken systems are.

We treat integration as a policy problem to be solved with checklists and funding lines. But for the 82,000 people currently waiting for asylum decisions in the UK, integration isn't a government program, it’s a daily struggle for survival and dignity. In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Severine Kipili, the founder of Bora Shabaa. Severine shares her profound journey from fleeing war and spending seven years in a Zambian refugee camp to becoming a pillar of support in her UK community. She challenges the narrative that refugees are a "burden," reframing them instead as highly skilled individuals, teachers, doctors, and innovators, who are often silenced by the systems meant to protect them. Together, they discuss the power of informal community spaces, the "healing" found in sewing circles and ESOL classes, and why the most vital part of rebuilding a life isn't just finding a house, it's finding a place to belong. This is a conversation about the bravery required to start over and the collective strength found when we choose solidarity over statistics. Because in a broken system, the most radical act is refusing to let a neighbor rebuild their life alone 🎙 “Dignity means beyond charity. We don’t just provide services; we empower people to lead, volunteer, and contribute.” 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar [https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar] Host: Dr. Tabish Zaman Guest: Severine Kipili, (Founder of Bora Shabaa). Editor: Liam Gadsby. Research and Impact Officer: Mohammad Alauthman.

Some People Measured. Others Are Filtered

Episode 25: Some people are measured, others are filtered! Description: We treat the global digital economy as a level playing field, yet geography still dictates who is allowed to participate. What happens when world-class talent is trapped behind concrete walls and arbitrary blockades? In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Kathrine Tinggaard Nicolaisen, the founder of Olives & Heather, a Palestinian marketing agency connecting local talent to global impact businesses. Kathrine challenges the standard "charity" narrative, arguing that Palestinians don't need more pity-based training—they need the same access to clients and trust as any other founder in the West. Together, they discuss the reality of leading a team where personal lives are defined by war and checkpoints, why professional rigor is a vital form of resistance, and how digital work has become the ultimate bridge into a world that often tries to filter Palestinians out. This is a conversation about work as dignity and building infrastructure that refuses to accept exclusion as inevitable. Because in a broken bazaar, some people are indeed measured, while others are simply filtered out—it’s time to change who gets to do the measuring. 🎙 “Solidarity opens doors, but it doesn't close deals. At the end of the day, work must be measured by excellence, not just sympathy.” 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar [https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar]Host: Dr. Tabish Zaman Guest: Kathrine Tinggaard Nicolaisen (Founder, Olives & Heather) Editor: Liam Gadsby. Research and Impact Officers: Mohammad Alauthman & Sanskriti Sharma.

Gaza Bridge: The Logic of Survival!

What does it mean to be a "winner" in a situation where you have lost everything? For Mohammad Helles, it means turning systemic frustration into a roadmap for community survival. In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Mohammad Helles, a software engineer in Gaza who transitioned from construction labor to global tech with nothing but a basic laptop and an iron will. Mohammad exposes the harsh reality of the digital economy in Gaza—a place where payment gateways like PayPal are blocked, and remote workers are forced to pay exorbitant fees just to access their own salaries. Together, they discuss Mohammad’s latest venture, Gaza Bridge, a platform designed to provide a dignified, direct link between global support and the families in Gaza who remain unreachable by traditional aid. This is not just a story about surviving a war; it is a conversation about the bravery required to build a new infrastructure of hope when the old one is in ruins. 🎙 “If I just drop my dreams, no one will come and achieve them for me. I have to keep trying until I make an impact.” 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar [https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar] Host: Dr. Tabish Zaman. Guest: Mohammad Helles (Founder of Gaza Bridge & Software Engineer) Editor: Liam Gadsby. Research and Impact Officers: Mohammad Alauthman & Sanskriti Sharma.

We have built a system that hides truth

Episode 23: We have built a system that hides truth! Description: We are surrounded by more information than any society in history, yet we have never felt further from the truth. Complex global events are stripped of context, corporate influence is hidden in plain sight, and trust in traditional institutions has evaporated. In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Connor (Riverwand), a digital educator and investigative storyteller who is reclaiming the art of deep-dive research for the social media age. Connor dismantles the "myth of neutrality" in technology, exploring how Big Tech and state power have fused to create a system of techno-nationalism. Together, they discuss the power of "slow storytelling," the "Donation a Day" initiative for global mutual aid, and why digital literacy is now a vital form of civic self-defense. This is a conversation about moving from being a passive consumer of information to an active builder of understanding. Because in a world of 10-second clips, the most radical act is to stay in the conversation until you see the structure behind it. 🎙 “Before a system collapses, something else usually fractures first: the story we tell about how the world works.” 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar [https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar] Host: Dr. Tabish Zaman Guest: Riverwand (Systems Storyteller & Digital Activist) Editor:Liam Gadsby Research and Impact Officers: Mohammad Alauthman & Sanskriti Sharma.

Culture is Infrastructure Not A Checkbox

Episode 22: Culture is Infrastructure, Not a Checkbox! Description: We treat Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as a compliance exercise—a set of optics to be managed in annual reports and strategy decks. But while the language of inclusion has become familiar, trust in our institutions is at an all-time low. In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Sunaina Kohli, a Global Inclusion Strategist who has lived and worked across six countries and four continents. Sunaina challenges the standard DEI narrative, reframing culture not as a benefit, but as the essential infrastructure of any sustainable organization. Together, they discuss the Zulu philosophy of Ubuntu ("I am because you are"), the reality of the "trap door" for women in leadership, and Sunaina's unique "Professional Auntie" approach to radical truth-telling. This is an invitation to move beyond checkboxes and toward a leadership style grounded in humanity, safety, and the courage to unlearn the narratives of power. 🎙 “Organizations don’t have a diversity problem; they have a leadership and cultural problem.” 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar [https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar] Host: Dr. Tabish Zaman Guest: Sunaina Kohli (a Global Inclusion Strategist) Editor: Liam Gadsby Research and Impact Officers: Mohammad Alauthman and Sanskriti Sharma