Somalia Zamia
Since I was a child, I believed it was my responsibility to use my education to help alleviate the suffering of my people and this is what drew me to the humanitarian field.
My Day-To-Day as a Team Leader
Going from Field Monitor to Team Leader shifted and added more responsibilities to my work life. I am responsible for several different tasks such as observing client projects, conducting regular field trips to project sites, and monitoring food delivery and distribution in certain areas. It is also my responsibility to ensure that monitoring services run smoothly and effectively. Inspecting storage places for client commodities to ensure the project’s objectives are met is crucial. I also need to ensure that all checklists of all Food Distribution Points (FDP) are completed and submitted on time in the agreed format by the client.
The Challenges Faced
Being a Team Leader requires you to do regular field visits and some of the routes to the Food Distribution Points are not all smooth sailing. These sites are nestled between mountains and valleys and often the roads are poorly built leaving them rocky or filled with potholes. There were times when it took us 6 hours to get to one FDP. I remember a time when we travelled to an FDP on a rainy day and the valleys were flooded leaving us stranded on the side of the road until the rain subsided. We spent 9 hours in extremely cold weather with no food. Another challenge we face is female aid workers trying to interview male beneficiaries. They refuse as they see it as disrespectful therefore it’s difficult for us to get any information out of them.
What Drew Me To The Humanitarian Field
Since I was a child, I believed it was my responsibility to use my education to help alleviate the suffering of my people and this is what drew me to the humanitarian field. After 8 years in the field, I knew I was committed to helping women and children in need. It is so satisfying seeing them smile and knowing you are protecting their dignity and making sure they receive the necessities.
Working for CTG, I feel like I am making a positive change in the lives of vulnerable communities. It has also opened my eyes to new experiences and lessons both in a personal and professional capacity. Seeing beneficiaries appreciative and grateful for our work makes me forget about the stress and challenges we face in this job.
If anyone ever considers a career in the humanitarian field, they need to know exactly what humanitarian stands for and how to embody it. You have to be hard-working and able to overcome the challenges you may be faced with. Most importantly, you need to be kind and empathetic to vulnerable people’s needs.
