14 September 2010

Three Projects and an Announcement: A Hong Kong September

Lei Ho from Hong Kong! For this installment of an update, I was going for
the Wikipedia effect. There are lots of clickable goodies to be found below,
just don’t let them distract you from my big announcement at the end!

Note: I LOVE hearing back from you in response to updates and in updates on
your life!


*Time pies when you’re having fun*
Accountability is vital in the world of humanitarian aid, without it, things
can get ugly fast. This is one of the motivating factors for the following
report! We keep timesheets with fervor around these parts and every two
weeks it produces a very gratifying pie chart. As my supporters in thoughts,
emails, encouragement and funds… you basically pay my salary. Therefore, I
feel compelled to let you see what you’re getting for your money in the work
that I do every day!
I would LOVE it if you sent me questions about any part of this… I guarantee
you will have some after reading the standardized categories.


*Heart Haiti*
I stumbled into the roll of Disaster Response Coordinator as my first week
at Crossroads coincided with 5 consecutive typhoons flooding Manila. This
past year my days have become that much longer and more full as Indonesia,
China, Haiti, Qinghai and now Pakistan have been struck by natural
disasters. I’ll be real honest with you, these times get me down. On a daily
basis I am neck deep in humanitarian plight and when an already vulnerable
population gets nailed by one of these, I have a hard time finding the
silver lining.

Then, just when I think I can’t bear another day, I get news that one of our
shipments has cleared customs and much needed goods are immediately put to
use saving lives! Read a firsthand account from one of our beneficiaries in
Cap Haitian.
As they watched medical equipment emerge from the container: “IV poles,
neonatal resuscitation units, hospital beds and trolleys, opthamology
equipment and masses of hygiene kits. As incubators followed, one of the aid
workers cried out, ‘We can start our neo-natal unit!’” The doctor dashed off
to tell his colleagues.

*Pakistan receives some love*
They say there is no rest for the weary. I think they are right. The people
of Pakistan- the mothers, children, fathers, sons, sisters and brothers of
Pakistan- daily, battle for their lives against hunger, poverty,
corruptions, terrorism, war and then came the floods.
I have been on the phone with several partner organizations providing aid to
thousands of affected families and the situation gets worse with every call.

We have loaded a container of aid that
is due on the banks of the now 18 mile wide Indus river in late
September. For so many, it won’t be soon enough, but for others it will be
just in time. Although I read the reports, watch the videos, sit in on the
interviews and brief our team on the situation, my mind has not been able to
comprehend the impact of 20 million people losing everything. I hold on to
stories like those from Haiti, holding on to the fact that I am on the
hopeful side of near hopeless situations.


*The importance of giving feedback*
We require feedback from each of our consignees after they have received an
aid shipment. This is not only for accountability, but for our donors’
encouragement and our own accountability as a non-profit organization. As a
volunteer, I am dependent on my supporters and sponsors, so I want to share
with you. In this spirit, I present you, my supporter, with feedback from my
last appeal!

Thank you for donating towards these specific needs I was facing:
Chiropractor: I now have enough funds to cover my appointments through
October! I even had some left-over to buy a much needed back support for
chair at work. It has been one full year of no chronic pain!
Public Transport: I am now free to move about the city.
Sanity: I have indulged in fair-trade chocolate, loved the results from my
vintage medium format camera and even saw 'Inception'! My sanity has
remained balanced. Thank you (those around me also thank you).


*Current needs: *
Tickets: As my commitment here draws to a close, I am beginning to wonder
how I am getting home. Really. If you have frequent flier miles you would
like to pass on, or funds to contribute to an airline ticket… Mom would be
grateful to have me home by Thanksgiving!
Living: If you’d like to join the motley crew of supporters, I’d be more
than grateful! They give towards my rent, food and electricity bill in
amounts that vary from $10-$250/month and trust me, every penny counts! I am
a bit behind on my support raising, so if you’d like to contribute, details
are below.


*Big announcement!!!*
Ok, this is what we have all been waiting for (even if you didn’t know you
were waiting for it)… drumrollllllll… I have been accepted into
Medair’s ROC Training course as an experienced relief worker!
Though this does not mean an automatic job placement, it does mean I have
managed to get through a pretty thick vetting process and if I survive the
week-long simulations, trainings, interviews and evaluations (
I am required to bring a Swiss Army Knife?) and
am deemed worthy, I will be placed in one of their field offices!

This is very very exciting (even though not everyone who completes the
course gets a job). They are one of the few organizations which will train
you in disaster management and rehabilitation, are well respected in the
international development field and even provide a modest salary!

So, at the end of October, I will be flying from Hong Kong to Geneva for a
“week [which] will be very intense… with the purpose of exposing you to the
reality of the field”. I have requested not to be placed in a field office
until after December, if I am offered a position. This way I will be able to
see all of your beautiful faces!


*In conclusion...*
Things are wrapping up fast here in Hong Kong and I have been very grateful
for all of your love that has kept me going through the work I am doing
here. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here coordinating the above
projects... you are reaching thousands of people through your support!

Amazing how it all works out.

Much love,
courtney anne