February 17, 2013

Abraham writes from Maban, South Sudan

Party to Aid
Way back in 1998 when I began with aid work, I felt things were driven largely by passion and commitment. Spending long and extended hours of work without too many casual holidays, brought in a level of unimaginable personal satisfaction. With salaries that were barely enough to manage ones’ living expenses and occasional drinks during the month, life was about ‘living content’ with what money one had. Over the years, aid work seems to have changed for its workers and it is quite natural since change is the only constant. However, I begin to wonder if this change is for the good or worse. I am forced to think it is more the latter, particularly waking up to the blaring music that has been going on all night in a nearby agency compound. In the pretext of being a ‘stress buster’, the aid agency parties seem more a norm these days. Having these parties just 100 metres away from the refugee camps, where IDPs are trying to manage with very basic needs makes me question the very need for such parties. Don’t we as humanitarian workers choose a stressful life, to be able to help people who are suffering? Doesn’t the expensive R&R’s serve the purpose as stress busters? Sporting the latest macs, laptops, music and mobile gadgets, it seems more about managing the money that one gets, than living a passionate life of a humanitarian worker

By Aby Abraham 

2 comments:

  1. Your point is well made. I find the best way to reduce stress is to address the source. From my experience in the field, most sources of stress were to do with organization procedure and adminstration. These were things that could be taken in hand and resolved.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really enjoyed by reading this post very well articulated and expressed the disappointment very well. Time to think and act.

    ReplyDelete