In her role as President of Global Vision Institute, Alisa Clarke discusses about the case for human rights in the newly developed Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. Ms. Clarke explores how the SDG’s are tackling human right issues such as inequality in efforts to promote an overall well-being for all and lead to global fulfillment. We invite you to read the full article on this compelling argument by clicking on the following link: Clarke from 978-1-63484-709-4
In a continent where development is most often threatened by the lack of adequate health security, it takes alot of determination to be fully involved. This week, we talk to Ngime Epie, a Cameroonian volunteer/health communicator, on the role courage in his passion for peace building.
On a personal level, how have you experienced your courage?
For me, courage has been a permanent requirement for the completion of my everyday assignments, both professional and family related. In my neighborhood, where I grew up, courage is indispensable. From school fights, which I took part in, to crossing the road safely to trying to convince members of a community to take up a project, I have always needed courage. My first school fight taught me the greatest lesson in life. As a school boy, I was one of the favorite targets for bullies partly because I was always calm. Then one day when a guy about my age seized my pencil and asked me to write with my fingers, the whole class burst out laughing at me. My head swelled with shame but my heart also bit faster with anger. In that state of anger, I gave the guy a serious knock in the face and he fell. Every one stopped and looked at me in shock. The guy got up, rummaged his bag and found my pencil which he handed back to me. He never bothered me again. I realized from then that I could accomplish a lot if only I could summon the courage to do anything.
–What does courage in the international system look like?
The international system is composed of many sub-systems and coordinating all the sub-systems to function as a unit is an uphill task. It involves some tasks like asking people to change their mentalities and habits and this will take a lot of courage on the part of the actors and stakeholders. The fear to fail at an international level that is always lurking behind and around any project to be undertaken commands courage from those who implement them or oversee their implementation.
–What are the stumbling blocks you have ever encountered that could deter your courage?
I am my first stumbling block. Sometimes, I let fear get the better part of me and it stops me from accomplishing so many projects. Another factor that usually discourages me is the thought of lack of means and resources to complete an assignment or task. The dearth of financial and material resources is a constant challenge to my courage in carrying out some professional tasks.
–What is the place of Courage in carrying out a successful project?
The thought of succeeding invariably brings to mind the existence of failure. At the start of every project, there is the fear of failure lodged deep in the hearts of conceivers and actors of the project. Therefore, courage is at the heart of every successful project because taking up a project means overcoming the fear to fail.
Part Two
Who are you?
My name is Ngime Epie. I am a language services provider I multi-task. First, I work with a Cameroon-based NGO, Global Health Dialogue (GHD) where I serve as Assistant Project Officer. I am also a freelance translator (Fre<>Eng) and a contributor to a number of blogs
Can you tell us more about your work?
As the Assistant Project Officer in an NGO, I take part in sensitization campaigns in local communities, training of leaders of other NGOs. I also help to design projects, attend meetings and make recommendations to local authorities through reports. Most importantly, I design health projects to impact the most remote regions in my country. I also try to seek immediate as well as long term solutions to serious health problems plaguing remote areas in Cameroon.
What are some results you’ve seen in your work?
Some of the sensitization campaigns I take part in have resulted in change of attitudes and habits. Also some of the recommendations have helped local authorities in taking decisions that have affected, positively, the lives of the local peoples. Tackling a recent cholera outbreak in 2011 was one of my satisfying results because I acted spontaneously through GHD to tackle an epidemic in a community which I have never been used to.
What are your favorite things about working for GHD?
The best thing about GHD is flexibility. At GHD, most projects are designed with a lot of flexibility to minimize the impact of its failure, just in case. Also, the professional working environment is convivial
What are the challenges of working and living in your duty station?
It is not easy to live in town like Buea where information does not circulate freely. Information is also poorly managed and not archived. This is one of the challenges of carrying out a project in Buea. Lastly, the cost of living in Buea is slightly higher than average.
The day back into the office post-vacation can always be a bit brutal with a swirl of thoughts flooding your head as you make your way through the familiar corridors and offices of your department. You sit back down at you desk, which feels familiar but at the same time completely alien to you. And for a second, as you try to log into your computer, you completely forget your password.
Such are the instances of returning to work after having spent four meticulous months away and catching up with all of life’s simple pleasures; friends, old hobbies, book, and the latest episode on from your favorite sitcom. But while you may be releasing a sigh of despair as you check back into reality, there are still endless possibilities that can be revealed on that first day back.
You could have finally gotten that email from the contact you been trying to reconnect with on a particular project.
You superior may have finally gotten back to you on the results of a long awaited decision item.
Or better yet, a whole new possibility for a new project; something that you can do for you.
Without a doubt, GVI’s Newsletter has greeted you as you are skimming through the incalculable number of emails that have blasted your inbox. But while most of the messages relate to past projects or inter-department communications, GVI’s Newsletter offers a fresh new start – and all through the Photo Contest.
Have you ever had a project that you wanted to get initiated but couldn’t get the funds? Or maybe the budget for one that you’ve been working on for a while now isn’t just enough to properly get it to the level you want it to be.
Well fear not – you’re off to a new start.
You began your career at or around the UN with purpose and a sense of will to make a change.
You believe that and so does GVI.
Take part in the Photo Contest and post a picture today that reflects your passion and purpose for why you are committed to working within or around the UN System, and you could win up to $1,000 to finance a project of yours that helps you fulfill that sense of purpose.
Submit your photos and viewers will cast their votes and rate their favorite picture against yours to reflect the passion of each submission in pursing their purpose within or around the UN system. The picture with the most votes will receive $1,000 to support a purpose-driven project and give inspiration to continue to succeed.
So why not? You’re back from vacation and with a new fresh mind, so with fresh ideas and fresh initiatives, anything is possible.
Relevant information:
You can sign up to enter the photo contest to show us what inspires you or how your project helps fulfill your purpose within the UN system and you can win $1,000 in support money to fund it. To participate in the Photo Contest, click here.
Passion. Dreams. Vision.
At one point in our lives, we took a moment to stare at the stars and dream big. Maybe you were a child of ten with candied visions of what the future was for you or perhaps a recent college graduate with hopes and fears that stretched wide into the horizon. Either way, we dreamt with visions as wide as the very sky we stared at. We had hopes for the future and for possible change. Inside, there was a passion that burned to serve for purpose and serve for what was right.
It was for this reason that the many paths in our lives have brought us to commit ourselves to the work of the United Nations. Because we believed in what the organization valued and to promote a greater cause in the world in order to fulfill a united mission we believe in – a better world.
So what was that dream you had, so many moons ago, when it illuminated your desire to work within the UN? Does it still motivate you? Does it still give you purpose?
We want to see it.
With so much vision and passion, GVI, with its vision to empower actors within and around the UN to take values and turn them into behaviors, has taken the initiative to have you post what your purpose is for working within or around the organization -with the now up and running contest asking to know what inspires you.
A picture says a thousand words and we’re excited to see all the words that permeate in the photos that are submitted. Viewers will get to cast their votes and rate their favorite photo, to reflect the submitter’s passion to continue in pursing their purposewithin or around the UN system. The three winnerswill receive $1,000 each to support a purpose-driven project and give inspiration to continue to succeed.
So tell us – what inspires you? What makes you dream? Tell us your purpose.
Relevant information:
You can sign up to enter the photo contest to show us what inspires you and you can win $1,000 in support money to fund a project to reach your goal and inspire your dreams. To do so, click here.