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RCRC Mission, Experience, Learning, and Life – in the Middle East


As an official mission with the French Red Cross (FRC) in Iraqi Kurdistan, a new country has been added into my list, with an expectation of new learnings and experiences that I’d be gathering from this new venture. This is my 1st mission in the Middle East. 1St November 2017 is the day I joined the new job as Project Manager with FRC followed by orientation in the FRC HQs Paris, France. After an official orientation in 2nd week of November, I then directly flew to Duhok city. It was a great deal in my mind, “… Chiranjibi you're going to Iraq” “war… conflict….. new role…..new  lifestyle…” !!, Oho, “yes”, when I arrived the destination in Duhok, I received a warm welcome by my FRC team in office guest house and in the office too, was observing the scene curiously “a Nepali professional”. I spent more than a decade of my professional career in Nepal and; around seven months in the African continent in Uganda. As a development professional, the only thing I want to see is happiness “on the faces of people”, I always try to reflect “my happiness in the context”.

Well, again Duhok, my six months, chilled weather, beautiful city, lovely people, amazing food; started my project work with a new team – it took some time to understand each other – different context, culture, the way of working, thinking and expression, and psychology. Yes, I have been working with the divers’ team and locations, which I believe since “respect and understanding” are the foremost catalyst of team spirit, which, I intimate with context and team and “got it”.
 

Personal life, apart from professional life, I met some Nepali friends who have been working with different organizations in Duhok – Tulshi Sharma, Parsanta Adhikari, Tulsi Nepal, Krishna Bahadur KC, and Ajay Upreti, definitely helped me realizing “Chiranjibi, you are not alone here!!” I have some remarkable memories as well: Food serving in the restaurants - “embedded free foods”, weather and nature: extreme cold Oct-March that I experienced. I am desperately waiting for the summer, the season of extreme hot May-August. Rocky and desert mountain around, now it’s becoming greenery. 
 
I have been involved in the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement activities responding to the Syrian crisis with the EU Regional Trust Fund “MADAD” a consortium project in outside the camp area in Kurdistan region, leading the vocational training and small business creation such as skill-based livelihood intervention and market linkages, income-generating activities, and skills training package.

Finally, I have been granted this opportunity to learn and grow both professionally and personally. It’s an honor to be a part of the FRC team, friends, and supporters “thankful”.

Tamam, Chiranjibi

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