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A Tribute to Madame May. The Unexpected Role Model

17/04/2017 by sissel Leave a Comment

Monks collection alms in Luang Prabang, Laos (by Istolethetv)

Last week was the traditional Lao New Year, reminding me of the things I miss from Laos, such as the best mangos in the world.

It also makes me think about inspiring human beings I have met, and how you might come across role models where you least expect it.

When asked about their role models many mention the obvious and famous ones, from Emma Watson to Nelson Mandela.

If you take a closer look, you might be able to find outstanding role models among those often ignored. I did.

Madame May was the cleaner in our office. This is not her full name, but that is what we called her. She would probably be very embarrassed, if she knew what I am writing about her; so, out of respect, I will not reveal her true name.

Here is why she became my role model. [Read more…]

Traffic Behaviour: A Parameter for Development?

08/04/2017 by sissel Leave a Comment

Traffic can be a daunting experience in many countries. And much more so in lesser developed countries. Several times (read: many) I have showed other drivers what I feel about their behaviour.

Not very commendable, despite lambasting them from inside a car, in my own language. And of course, to no avail.

In order to calm my nerves, when stuck in a traffic jam, I started to reflect on the link between traffic behaviour and level of development. And came to the conclusion, there must be a connection.

Examples

The first day in my own car, in the traffic in Vientiane, Laos I experienced several heart attacks and nervous breakdowns. A motorbike, suddenly making a U-turn in front of me, or a lorry, deciding to park there and then, in the middle of the street. [Read more…]

‘If I had a Little Money’: Why Money is Not the Biggest Challenge to International Aid.

29/03/2017 by sissel Leave a Comment

ABBA – Money, money, money (pcutler, Flickr)

Ahead of last Year´s World Humanitarian Summit, Kristalina Georgieva wrote an article on IRIN about the biggest challenge to humanitarian aid not being money, but the lack of cooperation.

She was a member of the High-Level Panel on Humanitarian Financing. As a result of research made by the panel she described the aid community as : ‘An overcrowded market place… [where] turf wars duplicate effort and saps precious energy.’

I cannot agree with her more. Furthermore, this does not only hold truth for humanitarian aid but also development aid. The problems with non-cooperation within these two artificially separated communities are much the same. [Read more…]

Disaster – The Enemy Within

15/03/2017 by sissel Leave a Comment

“Disasters are manifestations of unresolved development problems”.

The quote is from the Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR) 2015. It is an issue pivotal to development, but still mainly overlooked. It is a message that should be shouted out with a megaphone large enough to reach all politicians, donors and decision-makers around the world.

Why is that important?

That is important because disasters can no longer be regarded as external threats.

Disaster risk is by and large a product of poverty. [Read more…]

5 Essential Features of Maturity

10/03/2017 by sissel Leave a Comment

Anne Frank (1929 -1945) – a role model of maturity

This blog is called ‘From Aid to Maturity.’ Hence, in this post I will talk to you about the importance of maturity. And why the human race, and the aid community in particular, needs to evolve from its present teenager stage into a more grown-up one. Teenagers are often self-centred and unable to see the wider effects of their behaviour.

A mature person understands that they are responsible for their own lives; and are aware of how their behaviour and actions affect other people.

Sadly, I have experienced a large number of international aid people acting highly immature. This is a business where mature behaviour should be the norm, considering the severity of the causes we work on.

Agencies and individuals acting out of self-interest, refusing to cooperate or share information, are all signs of a profound lack of maturity. Even worse are the deliberate attempts to sabotage and hurt others for some short-sighted gains. We need to grow up. [Read more…]