World Humanitarian Day falls on August 19th, the day in 2003 when 22 aid workers were killed in a bombing at the UN headquarters in Baghdad, Iraq. It’s a day to commemorate all people who have lost their lives in humanitarian service and to celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the world.
We at Concern celebrate our dedicated humanitarians whose energy, enthusiasm, hard work, and commitment make positive change happen for those most in need. These six profiles represent all our extraordinary staff whose passion and humanitarian imperative make the world a better place.
Samar Finianos
Lebanon
Samar didn’t plan to become a humanitarian worker. After pursuing environmental studies in college, she spent an entire year looking for work. Eventually, by coincidence, she found a job as a water quality field officer. Now she is happy to be in a job that is both in keeping with her studies and in the humanitarian field. Samar currently works with Syrian refugees in Lebanon where she manages a team of hygiene promoters who teach healthy hygiene practices among refugees to prevent the spread of disease.
“I cannot describe how lucky I feel to work with Concern. It is not only about me helping people – they are helping me, too, through the indescribable feeling I have every time we interact with each other.”
Read more about Samar at worldhumanitarianday.org
Gloria Kafuria
Tanzania
Gloria’s first ambition was to become a doctor, but she chose a different path and became an engineer. Now, her job as a water and sanitation engineer allows her to have a similar impact on the community.
“Instead of waiting for people to get sick, I prevent them from getting ill by providing water and sanitation.”
Gloria’s work includes conducting topographical surveys in villages, designing and supervising the construction of water supply systems, and ensuring sustainability of those systems. She also works on school latrines, solar-powered systems, and rainwater harvesting tanks. She is a leading advocate for HIV/AIDS and women’s rights in her community as well.
Read more about Gloria at worldhumanitarianday.org
Eddie Cranmer
Ireland and Worldwide
Eddie was working in a factory in the suburbs of Dublin, when one day he took off from work and cycled up the Dublin mountains. He somehow ended up getting lost, cycling home the wrong way. Just by chance, he passed by the Concern office where his brother was working at the time and decided to drop in for a cup of tea. Chatting to some of the people who worked there, he learned more about the organization and that was it — thirteen years later, and Eddie is still with us at Concern!
“I am lucky to get the opportunity to travel frequently to the field and be involved in our programs in a practical way and to see how they benefit those whom we are continually striving to assist. There is a fine balance; often the things you see are quite disheartening. But, I think that overall, the positivity of the work we do outweighs the negative feelings and often acts as a catalyst to drive our desire to help others.”
Read more about Eddie at worldhumanitarianday.org
Ernesto Azuela
Philippines
When Super Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines in November 2013, it was one of the strongest storms ever recorded, killing thousands of people and displacing hundreds of thousands. Ernesto Azuela’s dedication to community work and the environment led to him be the first local person recruited by Concern for our emergency relief program in Concepcion.
Ernesto was initially assigned to lead the distribution of emergency relief items. He now helps to plan and implement livelihoods programs, and he is heavily involved in Concern’s boat program, focusing on design and quality. Ernesto also works on community mobilization, awareness raising, and relationship building.
“I’m happy because I see people happy with the services and assistance they receive. And I feel fulfilled because I can see people regain hope and recover from the typhoon through our work. I feel very humbled delivering genuine services to people. It’s great to build relationships with them.”
Read more about Ernesto at worldhumanitarianday.org
Per Andersson
Lebanon
As a child in Sweden, humanitarianism was at the forefront of Per’s attention. He has always had a desire to help others, alleviate suffering and fight inequality. In college, he volunteered with the Swedish Red Cross and he became active during the war in Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Per works on large infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, and water supply systems. As an emergency engineering manager, his role is flexible and during emergencies is centered on safe water supply and safe disposal of waste.
“In complicated and sudden emergencies, it is rewarding to engage quickly in lifesaving activities and to see how the work we do can restore health, trust, and hope as well as the willingness to rebuild and improve in times of calamities.”
Read more about Per at worldhumanitarianday.org
Azad Al-Mamun
Bangladesh
During the floods in Bangladesh in 2000, Azad and his family were forced to spend two weeks living on a school rooftop. After the waters cleared, he and his family learned they had lost everything.
Despite this setback, Azad was able to continue his education, and he went on to work with organizations including the World Food Programme, Oxfam, the National Alliance for Risk Reduction and Response Initiative, and Concern Worldwide.
Over his career, Al-Mamun has worked in an impressively wide range of roles, including needs assessments, response planning and implementation, distribution center monitoring, coordination and communication, project proposal writing, and resource mobilization.
“Having been a victim, I wanted to be a humanitarian aid worker. I am happy to help reduce suffering.”
Read more about Azad at worldhumanitarianday.org
