Comments on: One of the reasons I like the job I do http://petercasier.be/writing/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-the-job-i-do/ My most notorious writings Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:25:30 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Peter http://petercasier.be/writing/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-the-job-i-do/comment-page-1/#comment-742 Peter Sat, 22 Nov 2008 17:18:00 +0000 http://petercasier.be/writing/?p=827#comment-742 @smile:<br/><br/>I try to avoid discussing internal stuff or criticising the organisation I work for, on my blog. Still I would like to answer you on this one.<br/><br/>First, I don't take it personally. ;-) Anyone who knows me in the organisation will know how critical *I* am.<br/><br/>Secondly, it saddens me that anyone would think of the organisation in this way. Why? Not because what they say is not true, but that an organisation clearly misses opportunities. You, as a volunteer, leaving disillusioned, for me, represents a missed chance, and shows in general -for all the work we do- we can and should do better. Surely no organisation can 'win them all', but still.<br/><br/>Now for me the bottomline is: in an organisation of 10,000 staff, things go wrong at many different levels, that is almost guaranteed. It is my drive, my belief, my "consolidation" that an individual can make a change. Even in a big machine. <br/><br/>That is why I don't give up. Despite the fact that it is a fight, every day, to continue believing, and to continue sticking to one's true beliefs, and not to give in.<br/><br/>Progress and change comes slow. The bigger the machine, the slower. And the more efforts to make it move.<br/><br/>And it does. If for any UN organisation (and I worked for/with several of them), one organisation has shown to be able to do extra-ordinary things, and to have extra-ordinary ways, and has extra-ordinary people working for them, then it is ours.<br/><br/>I truly believe that. <br/><br/>And I am sad the organisation missed a chance with you. I am sad this is the impression we gave. <br/><br/>Wishing you well.. If you want to discuss any further, don't hesitate to Email me directly... <br/><br/>P. @smile:

I try to avoid discussing internal stuff or criticising the organisation I work for, on my blog. Still I would like to answer you on this one.

First, I don’t take it personally. ;-) Anyone who knows me in the organisation will know how critical *I* am.

Secondly, it saddens me that anyone would think of the organisation in this way. Why? Not because what they say is not true, but that an organisation clearly misses opportunities. You, as a volunteer, leaving disillusioned, for me, represents a missed chance, and shows in general -for all the work we do- we can and should do better. Surely no organisation can ‘win them all’, but still.

Now for me the bottomline is: in an organisation of 10,000 staff, things go wrong at many different levels, that is almost guaranteed. It is my drive, my belief, my “consolidation” that an individual can make a change. Even in a big machine.

That is why I don’t give up. Despite the fact that it is a fight, every day, to continue believing, and to continue sticking to one’s true beliefs, and not to give in.

Progress and change comes slow. The bigger the machine, the slower. And the more efforts to make it move.

And it does. If for any UN organisation (and I worked for/with several of them), one organisation has shown to be able to do extra-ordinary things, and to have extra-ordinary ways, and has extra-ordinary people working for them, then it is ours.

I truly believe that.

And I am sad the organisation missed a chance with you. I am sad this is the impression we gave.

Wishing you well.. If you want to discuss any further, don’t hesitate to Email me directly…

P.

]]> By: Smile http://petercasier.be/writing/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-the-job-i-do/comment-page-1/#comment-741 Smile Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:55:00 +0000 http://petercasier.be/writing/?p=827#comment-741 3 months in Roma, nearly 9 in the field.. no difference though, different issues, same frustrations. Please don't take it as a severe criticism, again may be it was a bad period for volunteering, or may be just me too much idealist. I don't regret anything, like I said in my previous post, if the things are now different good on the whole organization, but most of all good on the people in need of help.. those were the most impaired at the time. Keep on the good work, Saluti, S. 3 months in Roma, nearly 9 in the field.. no difference though, different issues, same frustrations. Please don’t take it as a severe criticism, again may be it was a bad period for volunteering, or may be just me too much idealist. I don’t regret anything, like I said in my previous post, if the things are now different good on the whole organization, but most of all good on the people in need of help.. those were the most impaired at the time. Keep on the good work, Saluti, S.

]]> By: Peter http://petercasier.be/writing/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-the-job-i-do/comment-page-1/#comment-740 Peter Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:06:00 +0000 http://petercasier.be/writing/?p=827#comment-740 @Smile: <br/><br/>Thanks for your comments.<br/>Did you work in HQ or in the field?<br/>The feeling of connection and 'making a difference' is very different in both places...<br/><br/>P. @Smile:

Thanks for your comments.
Did you work in HQ or in the field?
The feeling of connection and ‘making a difference’ is very different in both places…

P.

]]> By: Smile http://petercasier.be/writing/one-of-the-reasons-i-like-the-job-i-do/comment-page-1/#comment-739 Smile Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:06:00 +0000 http://petercasier.be/writing/?p=827#comment-739 Is WFP changed so much? I mean, I worked as a volunteer a few years ago: I wanted to start in that way, intentionally, thinking that, may be, I would have made my mind and changed my career.. I did not like it at all, too much politics: I completed my "assignment" and bye bye everyone. Better my actual job with its ups&down. I however didn't give up with volunteering, and I keep on doing for local charity activities. We also have contacts with a very small organization in Mali. At least we see results, and I have not to assist on daily basis to people wasting the money of the donations and more interested in clambing the "ladder" of the success. As you might have picked up, my background with WFP was very negative. However if the "environment" overthere has improved, good on you all, it was time. Sadly, for what I saw and experienced, I am very happy not to have made that change. I still believe in good things.<br/>Kind rgds, S. Is WFP changed so much? I mean, I worked as a volunteer a few years ago: I wanted to start in that way, intentionally, thinking that, may be, I would have made my mind and changed my career.. I did not like it at all, too much politics: I completed my "assignment" and bye bye everyone. Better my actual job with its ups&down. I however didn't give up with volunteering, and I keep on doing for local charity activities. We also have contacts with a very small organization in Mali. At least we see results, and I have not to assist on daily basis to people wasting the money of the donations and more interested in clambing the "ladder" of the success. As you might have picked up, my background with WFP was very negative. However if the "environment" overthere has improved, good on you all, it was time. Sadly, for what I saw and experienced, I am very happy not to have made that change. I still believe in good things.
Kind rgds, S.

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