The faces of CARE’s humanitarian work

by CARE Australia -

World Humanitarian Day – 19 August 2014

World Humanitarian Day is a time to recognise people who face danger and adversity in order to help others. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the globe.

For CARE staff, working as a humanitarian professional is more than just a job. It’s a mission. Helping refugees become empowered, transforming lives and evoking smiles on the faces of children through our poverty-fighting work are some of the recurring themes that motivate our staff.

However rewarding, being a humanitarian is extremely challenging. Many staff live in harsh conditions – they work in refugee camps or in areas destroyed by natural disasters – leaving loved-ones behind. They witness people’s suffering, listen to traumatic stories and empathise with the people they assist.

Yet compassion, initiative, empathy, optimism, equality and selflessness are some of the words CARE staff use to describe what humanitarianism means to them.

This World Humanitarian Day, we thank the staff featured below and all the humanitarians who have worked for CARE; for helping lift women and their communities out of poverty.

 

Efren is a Shelter Advisor for CARE Philippines
Efren, Shelter Advisor for CARE Philippines, says, ‘One of the most trying aspects of being a humanitarian workers is the hardship of being away from my family for long periods of time.’
Sandra works in CARE's Women's Rights program in CARE Egypt
Sandra from CARE Egypt says, ‘the most rewarding part of my job is when I meet Syrians in Egypt and they tell me that it’s great to finally have someone truly listening to them and caring for their well-being.’
Hassan with students at a CARE ran school in the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya
Hassan is head teacher at one of CARE’s schools in the Dadaab refugee camp, Kenya. He says, ‘Memorable moments happen every time I see one of my former students graduate from secondary school and then join me as a teacher. This makes me a proud, knowing that my efforts in providing education to the refugee community have borne fruits.’

 

Arnel is a driver for CARE International in the Philippines and has helped communities build back stronger after Typhoon Haiyan.
Arnel lives in Leyte province, Philippines – one of the worst-hit areas by Typhoon Haiyan. He came to know CARE staff after they came to help his village and soon after got a job as a driver. ‘I have seen how CARE helped my village. I was thankful and wanted to be a part of such work,’ says Arnel.

We put women and girls at the heart of our work. CARE Australia is a leading international aid organisation that works around the globe to save lives and defeat poverty.

We put women and girls at the heart of our work.

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