Afleveringen
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Humanitarian women are exposed to chronic stress, which can impact their experience of peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause.
In this episode of Embodying Change Scotti McLaren shares her experience and insight as it relates to this under-explored and yet powerful time of a womanâs life â before, during and after actual âM day.â
What are the symptoms and what can we do about them?
Scotti practices functional medicine and personalized nutrition, specializing in menopause and mental health. Following a career in audit and humanitarian aid (MSF), and eventual burnout, her process of recovery led to a profound shift towards the healing power of nutrition. Now, Scotti champions a gentle revolution in resilience and vitality, for herself and others. Her clinical practice is dedicated to investigating, identifying and addressing the root drivers of health â both illness and wellness - to help women reach their best health in midlife and beyond.
Check out Scottiâs website here: https://www.investigative-health.ch/
If youâre a humanitarian woman working internationally and youâd like to meet other women like you, request to join the free Humanitarian Womenâs Collaborative on Mighty Networks here: https://the-humanitarian-women-s-collaborative.mn.co/admin/landing-page.
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In this light-hearted episode of "Embodying Change," we sit down with Lucette Quarteron, a dynamic global citizen and visionary leader. Lucette shares her unique insights on self-leadership, the proper use of power, and conflict management, drawing from her rich personal and professional journey. Discover how Lucette transforms organizational cultures, fosters workplace trust, and empowers others to embrace change.
Key Takeaways:
The importance of self-leadership and healing personal wounds to lead others effectively.Strategies for managing emotions in conflict situations.The significance of standing up for your values and setting boundaries.How to build trust and acknowledge the contributions of others in a professional setting.Compelling Quotes:
"You need to heal your wounds. If you don't heal your personal wounds, you're going to create wounds in others. Self-leadership is being aware of yourself so that it impacts others positively.""When the emotion is overwhelming, the brain cannot function. You can just acknowledge that the person is furious and suggest discussing it later. Itâs about managing emotions first so that you can think clearly.""Stand up for your beliefs and values, whatever the consequences. If you don't respect yourself, nobody will. Itâs like not respecting yourself if you donât put boundaries."Resources Mentioned:
Conflict Management Workshop - Join Lucette on June 25th at the beautiful Chateau D'Ouchy in Lausanne.Gary Chapman and Paul White's Book on Workplace Appreciation - Learn about the five languages of appreciation in the workplace.The Leading Well report - Learn about the 10 practices sited by aid leaders to Lead WellConnect with Lucette Quartiron:
Lucette Quarteron's website: Explore Lucetteâs work and contact her for coaching sessions or workshopsLinkedIn: Lucette Quarteron's profileYouTube: Lucette Quartiron on Conflict Management (in French)Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to "Embodying Change" on your favorite podcast platform and leave a review. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and continue to bring you inspiring content.
Join Us Next Time: Stay tuned for more insightful conversations that help you embody change in your own life and work. Thank you for listening!
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Join us in this conversation with Helen Dunnett, Melissaâs accountability buddy. In today's episode, Helen shares her personal journey of transformation and discusses the powerful tools of nonviolent communication and assertiveness that have shaped her approach to coaching. She also shares the story of how she approached Melissa years ago to become her accountability buddy, and the five questions she designed to guide their weekly conversations.
What You'll Learn:
The story of Helen's career transition from communications and marketing to coaching.Insights into nonviolent communication and how it can transform workplace and personal relationships.Practical tips for becoming more assertive without infringing on others' rights.The impact of coaching on personal empowerment and stress reduction.Featured in This Episode:
Helen Dunnett, an ICF accredited coach, works with organizations to develop their teams. She brings together her experience of teamwork and team leadership with her coaching tools to create highly practical training modules that enable participants to walk out of each session armed with insights and skills that should create a step-change in performance. She has worked for over 25 years in the UK and Belgium with a diverse range of team structures such as freelance teams, volunteers, start-ups and small organizations, federations, multinationals and consulting agencies.
For Our Listeners:
Check out Helen's website for a copy of the Accountability Buddy Starter Kit here:
https://www.helendunnett.com/home/accountability-buddyMany thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the podcast and Michelle Sandler for help designing the Kit!
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Join host Melissa Pitotti as she welcomes change advocate Cindy Rocha for a morning conversation filled with insights on embracing vulnerability and stepping out of comfort zones for transformative personal and professional growth.
Highlights:
1. Defining Embodying Change: Cindy explains how real change involves putting oneself in the 'growth zone' â a space beyond comfort that necessitates learning, unlearning, and relearning.
2. Navigating Change and Discomfort: Discussing the discomfort that accompanies change, Cindy illustrates how adapting to new situations is crucial for development and progress.
3. Impact of Technological Evolution: They delve into the accelerated pace of technological advancements and its effects on society and individual adaptability.
4. Transformation through AIESEC: Cindy shares her transformative journey with AIESEC, highlighting the organization's role in fostering international understanding and leadership skills.
5. Applying Lean and Six Sigma in Humanitarian Efforts: The conversation turns to how Lean and Six Sigma methodologies can streamline operations and improve efficiency in humanitarian contexts.
6. The Critical Role of Mental Health: Cindy and Melissa discuss the importance of acknowledging and supporting mental health in the workplace to ensure a healthy, productive workforce.Listeners are encouraged to reflect on how they can push beyond their comfort zones and embrace change both personally and professionally.
Follow Cindy on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and gain more insights into making impactful changes. linkedin.com/in/cindyrocha
Cindy Rocha has spent the last 15 years creating bridges between different sectors and managing programs to create positive change. This all started while she was a college student in Sinaloa, her home state in northern Mexico, and joined AIESEC, an international student association present in 100 countries. Founded after the 2nd World War with the mission of "peace and fulfillment of humankind's potential," AIESEC is a youth-led organization that facilitates international understanding through exchanges and leadership development programs. While those opportunities are readily available for students in the Global North, that was not the case in Cindy's local context. She worked for AIESEC at the national, regional and global level, joining AIESEC International, a multicultural team leading a network of more than 60,000 volunteers worldwide. In her final AIESEC position, Cindy was appointed Director for the Africa region, and became the first woman in that role in 60 years of organizational history. After AIESEC, Cindy has held a variety of jobs in the social impact field: She worked in corporate responsibility and process improvement for a multinational company, then as a UNDP consultant to engage the private sector in projects around the Sustainable Development Goals in Mexico, transitioned to the nonprofit sector in a disaster response organization, and currently focuses on mobilizing philanthropy to strengthen the ability of communities to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur.
Tune in next time for more inspiring stories and practical advice on the Embodying Change Podcast!
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Annemarie Shrouder shares her personal journey with identity and discusses her work building inclusive cultures and communities. She and Melissa explore the difference between learning and BEING something (embodying change), the challenges of mixed race identity, creating safe and/or brave spaces, and the importance of representation, belonging and community support.
Topics Discussed:
Identity and embodying change Inclusion and belonging in organizations Leadership, empathy and localization Diversity in leadership and overcoming barriers Creating inclusive cultures and speaking up against injusticeKey Insights:
Embodying change means living what you learn, not just talking about it Inclusion alone is not enough without addressing oppressive systems Self-care and vulnerability are acts of resistance for historically disadvantaged groups Both safe spaces and brave spaces are needed to have meaningful conversations (and this article by Elise Ahenkorah takes it a step further talking about accountable spaces)Annemarie Shrouder â international best-selling author of Being Brown in a Black and White World: Conversations for Leaders on Race, Racism and Belonging - has spent more than 20 years in the field of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) as a facilitator, consultant, and international speaker. An expert in EDI with a Masters in Bias Awareness, Annemarie assists in the creation of healthy workplace communities through her Signature Methodology and Inclusive Leadership Program. Organizations turn to Annemarie when they are looking to build environments where people can learn and are supported, and where they are acknowledged and valued. She also delivers presentations and keynotes, and can be booked for speaking engagements that inspire people to notice more, and raise awareness about the importance of inclusion. Annemarie works with diversity broadly and is passionate about healing the racial divide and supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion.
To learn more, check out:
Her website: https://annemarieshrouder.com/Her community for leaders committed to building belonging: https://ediwithheart.wordpress.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annemarieshrouder/Her book: https://annemarieshrouder.com/book/âEmbodying change is the difference between learning something and BEING something.â
- Annemarie Shrouder
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In this episode, Melissa Pitotti and Nasra Ismail have a candid conversation about navigating transitions, power dynamics, and the principles of localization in the humanitarian sector. They share personal anecdotes and insights into their professional journeys, discussing the challenges and opportunities they encountered along the way. From experiencing shifts in power dynamics to embracing localization as a personal and professional practice, they delve into the complexities of working in the humanitarian field and the importance of aligning personal values with professional endeavors. Join them as they explore the intersection of personal and professional growth, which could be helpful for anyone navigating career transitions or seeking to create meaningful change in their communities.
Background
Nasra Ismail is Alight's newly appointed U.S. Enterprise Executive Director, where she leads a team to build and expand welcoming communities for newcomers to the United States. With a career spanning two decades, Nasra's journey has taken her across the globe, from leading public policy in Washington D.C. to delivering humanitarian aid in East Africa and shaping social justice movement strategy in philanthropy for the past three years. As a first-generation immigrant, Nasra champions interconnected communities founded on principles of equity and inclusion, all working towards a shared future. Nasra has held leadership roles at organizations including the U.S Millennium Challenge Corporation, Care US, Oxfam International, Co-Impact, and GivingTuesday. Her unique blend of experiences in humanitarian, public, and philanthropic sectors all reflect her core values, which were enriched by her personal displacement journey from Somalia.
In this episode, Melissa and Nasra
reflect on their professional journeys, highlighting the transitions they've experienced and the lessons learneddiscuss the impact of power dynamics on relationships and professional interactions, sharing personal experiences of navigating shifts in powershare insights into the principles of localization and its significance in empowering local communities to drive change and participate fully in humanitarian effortsexplore the intersection of personal and professional values, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's purpose with their workoffer encouragement and advice for individuals navigating career transitions or seeking to create positive change in their communitiesdiscuss the role of community support and collaboration in fostering personal and professional growth, highlighting the value of mutual aid and solidarityMelissa's conclusion
Community is the #1 thing you need when navigating a values-aligned career transition in the humanitarian sector.
Resources mentioned
Nasra Ismail's LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/nasraismailNasra Ismail's X (Twitter) profile: @NAS_ismsNasra is the U.S. Enterprise Executive Director of Alight, and you can learn more about Alight at: https://wearealight.org/ Their previous podcast conversation can be found here: https://changemakingwomen.com/guest-series-embodying-change-4-nasra-ismail-director-of-the-somalia-ngo-consortium/ -
In this episode Melissa speaks with Joy Kolin, Executive Director and Board President of Giving Joy.
Joy has 20-years of experience in the field of international development, a career that has taken her to over 60 countries. Throughout her travels, Joy found herself touched by a common trend - the immense ability of women to affect positive change if given the resources and opportunities to do so. In 2018 she established Giving Joy as a way to harness and grow the power and the influence of women-led ventures the world over. Now, women from any country, across any trade or industry, can apply for a one-time grant between $250 to $500 to jump start and/or expand their operations.
To learn more check out:
- Giving Joy: https://givingjoygrants.org
- Email: [email protected]
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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How can we better manage our workload, as per Commitment 8 of the Core Humanitarian Standard?*
In this episode Melissa speaks with Wouter Smeets, a design-thinker, about how to re-shape our work in a way that gives us energy, rather than drains it. He gives us some good questions to ask ourselves, like: How do we design our morning routine? What makes a break a good break? What task can we do first that will put us on good footing for the rest of the day? What are some life-centric strategies for managing our calendar? He also reveals a free, work-enhancing drug that has zero side effects. And he talks about a ground-breaking process heâs involved with to create a safe space for exchanging ideas that is also a brave space for experimenting with putting these ideas into practice to make our work more life-enriching.
Wouter Smeets co-founded Prototype You, a community lab for explorers who challenge accepted norms about work, to co-create ways of working where people and organisations thrive. Itâs a community lab with workshops, conversations, and experiments to cultivate work that enriches peopleâs lives. When heâs not working heâs usually visiting the sea, hiking, or running on the athletics track.
To learn more check out:
- Wouter on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wouter-smeets/
- Prototype You at https://www.prototypeyou.nl/community
- Wouterâs newsletter where he shares gems from the lab here: https://prototypeyou.ck.page/newsletter
- Wouterâs email is: [email protected]
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
*Core Humanitarian Standard Commitment 8: Communities and people affected by crisis receive the assistance they require from competent and well-managed staff and volunteers.
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In this conversation, Melissa speaks with Sabrina Prioli, the author of a memoir called âRise up, phoenixâ and one of the victim/survivors of the 2016 Terrain Compound Attacks in Juba, South Sudan. Sabrina shares her insights into how to better support victim/survivors and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. She also explains the nuances of the words âvictimâ vs. âsurvivorâ and how to cope when hearing about traumatic incidents like hers.
*Note: This conversation includes references to rape and may be triggering for some listeners.*
Sabrina Prioli is currently a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, Mental Fitness Coach and Mental Health First Aid (MHFA). She is an independent consultant and she supports organisations in raising awareness, prevention and preparation on the issue of sexual abuse, violence and rape. She worked for years as an aid worker and consultant for humanitarian projects. Sabrina helped develop the planning, monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) plans for her own and different partner implementing projects. She has worked as a researcher and PM&E consultant for universities, NGOs and governments in Latin America, Africa and Europe. She has experience and knowledge in the thematic areas of protection, education, economic empowerment and gender equality which allow her to develop the appropriate indicators and PM&E tools. In 2011 she created a foundation âFundacion Hilo Sagradoâ, dedicated to the conservation of culture and tradition of the indigenous peoples of Guajira, in Colombia, to strengthen the identity and social role of women. In 2021, for her civil commitment in favour of women victims of violence and abuse, she won the "Woman Award 2021" and the award âIl Paese delle Donne Award 2021." In 2022 she won solidarity award, âPremio SolidarietĂ â Premio Nazionale Pratola 2022. Sabrina has a degree in Sociology, a Masters in Project Management for International Organisations, and Certification in Monitoring & Evaluation & Facilitation.
Sabrina's website: https://en.sabrinaprioli.com/Sabrina's 2020 memoir "Rise up, phoenix": https://en.sabrinaprioli.com/il-mio-libro***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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In this episode Melissa speaks with Dr. Aiysha Malik, a mental health specialist at the World Health Organization working for a world that supports, improves, and does not harm mental health. They discuss the WHO guidelines on mental health and work and accompanying WHO-ILO policy brief. What do the guidelines say and what can you do with them?
Check out the WHO guidelines on mental health at work here: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240053052
And the WHO-ILO mental health at work policy brief here: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240057944
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
Please leave a review by scrolling down the show page, selecting a star rating, and tapping âWrite a review.â
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Melissa speaks with: Dr. Chinonso Emmanuel Okorie, an MSF doctor living in Rwanda who recently completed a mission in Yemen; Lindis Hurun, the General Director of MSF Norway; and Ryan Rodrick Beiler, a multimedia producer for MSF Norway. They and several colleagues were involved in the production of a video that has made waves in the humanitarian community for its handling of structural racism and patient dignity using a technique called âthe duet.â In this podcast interview they talk about why and how the video came to be, the organisational culture changes that were happening behind the scenes, the public reaction to the video, and lessons learned they want to share with other humanitarians.
Check out the video, âWhen you picture Doctors without Borders, what do you see?â - here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DFemg94ufU
Excerpt from the video:
âThis is not about us and them.
This is not about heroes and victims.
This is about global solidarity and humanitarian justice.
Because we are all just human beings, with the same worth and dignity, and the same right to live in safety and health.â
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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In this episode Melissa Pitotti speaks with Degan Ali, the Executive Director of Adeso, about the story behind the Pledge for Change 2030. They explore the ways in which the process that led to the Pledge was informed by lessons learned from the Charter for Change and the Grand Bargain. They consider the need for brave leaders to have safe spaces to come together on tough issues - and for leaders to be evaluated on metrics of success other than âbigger is better.â They end with reflections on equitable partnerships and accountability mechanisms.
Degan Ali is Executive Director of the African humanitarian and development organisation Adeso, as well as co-founder of the first Global South civil society network for local and national humanitarian organisations, the Network for Empowered Aid Response (NEAR). She is a Rockefeller Foundation Global Fellow for Social Innovation, and a contributor to the Overseas Development Institute/Humanitarian Policy Group and Global Food Security journal. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Al Jazeera and The Guardian. Degan holds an M.A. in international service from University of Roehampton and a B.A. from Trinity College. She lives in Kenya and works with organisations across the Global North and South.
To learn more about the Pledge for Change 2030 check out:
- The Pledge for Change website: https://pledgeforchange2030.org/
- The launch of the Pledge on the New Humanitarian Podcast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/event-launch-of-the-pledge-for-change-2030/id1420089508?i=1000584624738
To learn more about the CHS Revision Process check out: https://corehumanitarianstandard.org/chs-revision
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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In this episode Melissa speaks with Faye Ekong of RavelWorks Africa about common challenges in aid organisations, particularly as they relate to decolonising aid in a âpostâ COVID world.
Faye Ekong is the Managing Director of RavelWorks Africa. She has been in Human Resources, Learning & Personal Development for over 10 years. She is an SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), holds a Masters of Science in International Management and a Bachelor of Arts in European Studies and Modern Languages. To learn more, check out:
- Ravelworks Africa: https://ravel.works/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faye-ekong/?originalSubdomain=ke
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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Melissa speaks with Oge Chukwudozie about the Safeguarding Resource and Support Hubâs exciting pilot project accompanying 10 local Nigerian organisations as they work to change their organisational cultures. Oge emphasizes the value of cultivating a safe and supportive workplace culture and the importance of leadership âwalking the talk.â
Organisations often issue written policies without addressing the underlying social norms of the organisation that block the full implementation of these policies. A good place to start is for leaders to develop qualities like awareness, self-acceptance, empathy, curiosity in the face of criticism, and a learning mindset in the face of mistakes. Work relationships that are friendly and filled with laughter â rather than tension - can motivate and energise people to do their best work. Leaders who are nice are not necessarily weak. Mental health challenges and burnout are real. You want to ensure your staff are okay.
Oge Chukwudozie is a safeguarding and protection professional with 18 yearsâ experience in the aid sector. She has worked with different organisations, including Africare, Christian Aid and Save the Children. Oge has experience in various thematic areas such as education, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and emergency response. She is currently the National Representative for the Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub (RSH) Nigeria Hub. Her six-month pilot project is currently providing mentorship to 10 local Nigerian organisations to assess their organizational cultures, create a vision and prioritized action plan for change, track progress in reflection journals, and share learning with peers.
To learn more, check out:
- The Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub (RSH) website:
https://safeguardingsupporthub.org/
and Nigeria specific page:
https://nigeria.safeguardingsupporthub.org/
- Twitter: @SafeguardingRSH
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/oge-chinenye-chukwudozie-96164a2b
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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Melissa speaks with Dr. Gaya Gamhewage about her work in the worldâs premier health organisation, the World Health Organisation (WHO), to prevent and response to sexual misconduct.
They talk about the importance of leaders being vocal, explicit and sincere about their commitment to living the organisationâs values. They also surface a variety of tangible things organisations can do to reduce the exploitation of power, like:
- admit when there are failures, even though it is uncomfortable
- give immediate, timely and sustained support to victims and survivors, irrespective of the status of evidence and investigations
- integrate and emphasize values in vacancy notices, hiring, inductions and trainings
- ensure hires are screened, briefed, trained and sign a Code of Conduct
- build confidence in systems for reporting and investigations by resourcing them and showing results (e.g. an open accessible dashboard on the website tracking complaints follow-up, timely investigations, and following through with disciplinary actions);
- prevent retaliation against those reporting misconduct, even the subtle forms (e.g. letting contracts expire)
- create psychologically safe spaces to learn and speak up (e.g. upstander trainings as well as facilitating interactions between men and women, professionals and non-professionals, international and national staff)
- obliging every team across the organisation to select a team objective related to values, and assessing progress at the end of the year.
Dr. Gaya Gamhewage is a medical doctor and public health expert with three decades of experience in the health sector. She has worked with the World Health Organization for over 20 years, mostly leading institutional capacity-building initiatives for health emergencies, including COVID-19 trainings. Since July 2021, she has been the Director a.i. for Prevention of and Response to Sexual Misconduct. Prior to this, Dr. Gamhewage was Head of Learning & Capacity Development for WHO's Health Emergencies Programme and worked in the Executive Director's Office where she introduced social learning for a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Previously she led new areas of work for WHO including in health communications & behavioral change; risk communications & community engagement; and most recently, lifelong learning for health which included the development of the first-ever WHO Global Learning Strategy for Public Health. Dr Gamhewage has worked for national and international NGOs including the Save the Children UK and Norway, and was at the beginning of her career the Director of Community Health for Sarvodaya, a Sri Lankan NGO working in more than 15,000 villages. She holds two Masters Degrees in addition to her medical degree - in International Health and in International Policy-Making and Negotiation.
To learn more, check out:- WHO Director-General's opening remarks. The role of CSOs in the prevention, detection, and response to sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment â 26 April 2022. https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks.-the-role-of-csos-in-the-prevention--detection--and-response-to-sexual-exploitation--abuse--and-harassment---26-april-2022
- Dotiv the Podcast, Episode 3: A journey from journalism to public health https://dotiv.life/dr-gaya-i-ep-3-a-journey-from-journalism-to-public-health/
- Twitter: @GayaG
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gamhewage-gaya-36a1677
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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Melissa speaks with Aseem Prakash and Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken about how governing boards of aid organisations can âgovern well.â They discuss the power dynamics present in any group of humans, embracing difference and true diversity, prioritising lived experience, modelling behaviours, and asking smart questions.
Professor Prakash studies NGOs and nonprofits, and voluntary/private regulation, environmental policy and climate governance. He is a widely published author. He has a B.A. (Hons) in Economics from St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi in 1986 and MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad in 1988. Since 2002, he has served on the faculty of the Department of Political Science at University of Washington, Seattle. He won the European Consortium for Political Research Standing Group on Regulatory Governance's 2018 Regulatory Studies Development Award that recognises a senior scholar who has made notable "contributions to the field of regulatory governance." To learn more about Aseem, check out his website: http://aseemprakash.net. He edited a symposium for Regulation & Governance on Dysfunctional Institutions here https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/17485991/2016/10/2.
Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken is an experienced INGO and philanthropic actor-focused consultant, leadership development trainer, and coach, change management expert, author, evaluator, and analyst with strong knowledge of international development, civil society organizations, leadership development, organizational development/organizational change, social development and gender and leadership. Co-author of âBetween Power and Irrelevance: the Future of Transnational NGOsâ, with Hans Peter Schmitz and George Mitchell, and published by Oxford University Press (July 2020). Co-author of several academic articles in peer-reviewed journals; author of many practitioner-oriented reports, blog posts, and essays. Podcast host of âNGO Soul+Strategyâ. To learn more about Tosca, check out her website: https://5oaksconsulting.org/about-tosca/
Toscaâs essay on culture as an explainer for INGO scandals: https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/npf-2019-0031/html?lang=en Toscaâs essay for the CIVICUS State of Civil Society report related essay (2019): https://www.civicus.org/index.php/re-imagining-democracy/overviews/3371-internal-democracy-within-transnationally-operating-non-governmental-organisations-are-we-as-democratic-as-we-thinkAnd the episode featuring Tosca's and Aseem's conversation on the virtue narrative: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/037-we-need-to-rethink-the-virtue-narrative/id1498390711?i=1000558519586Read the Governing Well report here: https://www.chsalliance.org/get-support/resource/governing-well/
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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In this conversation, Melissa asks Dr. Emilia Roig, the author of the book "Why We Matter," about how power shows up in our work, her concept of âradical solidarityâ and self care.
Accountability has been defined in the latest version of the CHS guidance note as "the process of using power responsibly, taking account of, and being held accountable by, different stakeholders, and primarily those who are affected by the exercise of such power.â
Dr. Emilia Roig, author of âWhy We Matterâ explains in this Embodying Change episode that âa lot of people don't see power, and that's a problem. Because if you don't see power, then you cannot tackle power imbalances. What we need to do is to make it visible. And currently power is not visible.â
In this conversation, Melissa asks Dr. Emilia Roig about how power shows up in our work, her concept of âradical solidarityâ and her thoughts on self care.
Dr. Roig is a renowned social justice leader, author, and expert on intersectionality, diversity, equity, inclusion and non-discrimination. She created the Center for Intersectional Justice (CIJ) and published a book called âWhy We Matter.â To learn more about Dr. Roig and her book check out her website at https://www.emiliaroig.com/ and Instagram feed at emiliazenzile.
***Thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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Melissa talks about organisational culture with Umut Dilara Baycili, a child psychologist working for Mavi Kalem. This humanitarian NGO and CHS Alliance member supports women and children in Turkey with a team that includes doctors, psychologists, sociologists and social workers.
It is not unusual for people working for NGOs like Mavi Kalem to experience stressful and traumatic situations. In addition, local and national NGOs often face an uphill battle in accessing sustainable funding. What can be done to support staff and treat them fairly and equitably (Commitment Eight of the Core Humanitarian Standard)?
Dilara gives examples of leadership recognizing and tapping into staff membersâ inherent skills, prioritizing learning and skills development, non-hierarchical communication infused with empathic understanding, ritualised conversations about organisational culture, annual exchanges of personalised feedback, a pragmatic handling of mistakes, and a realistic setting of targets.
To learn more about Mavi Kalem and Umut Dilara Baycili, check out:
· Twitter: @Mavi Kalem
· İnstagram: @mavikalemdernegi
· Youtube: Mavi Kalem https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuxxdEqGpST00mS-5l-IVYA)
· Web Site: https://www.mavikalem.org/
· Mavi Kalemâs E-mail: [email protected]
· Umut Dilara Baycılıâs E-mail: [email protected]
***We would like to give a special thanks to the Initiativeâs supporters: the CHS Alliance members, the Government of Luxembourg, the UKâs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (DFCO) and the Netherlands. And thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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Melissa speaks with Dr. Liza Jachens, an occupational health psychologist, lecturer and research associate who has partnered with six major humanitarian organisations looking at their staffâs experience of work-related stress and its effects on their mental health.
Humanitarian work carries a âhigh emotional loadâ often exposed to trauma. Dr. Jachens has found that humanitarians are two to three times more likely to develop a mental illness (like anxiety, depression and PTSD) than the general population. This phenomenon is often more related to organisational stressors than to operational stressors. Experiences vary according to location, gender, professional status, and role â but everyone is affected in their own way.
Dr. Jachens has noticed a reluctance of aid organsiations to share their mental health outcomes publicly, but she has also has seen the benefits when peers come together to compare notes, as many are facing common challenges endemic to the sector. Learning Mental Health First Aid is one way to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and practice having conversations with struggling colleagues. Some stress caused by organisational stressors can be addressed through the better design and management of the workload, including through techniques like job crafting. Ultimately, everyone should prioritise their own mental health and contribute to positive workplace environments.To learn more, check out:
- Dr. Jachensâ publications at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Liza-Jachens
- Mental Health First Aid resources at https://www.imogenwall.co.uk/training-courses and https://www.ensa.swiss/en/
- Information on job crafting at https://hbr.org/2020/03/what-job-crafting-looks-like
***We would like to give a special thanks to the Initiativeâs supporters: the CHS Alliance members, the Government of Luxembourg, the UKâs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (DFCO) and the Netherlands. And thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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Shawna, Kristen and Rufaro tell the story of Root. Rise. Pollinate! and share learning from their experiment to shift culture through connecting inner and outer transformation.
Shawna Wakefield, Kristen Zimmerman and Rufaro Gwarada tell the story of Root. Rise. Pollinate! - informed by their previous experiences in aid and development. They share learning from their ongoing experiment to shift culture through connecting inner and outer transformation. They discuss practicing new ways of being and doing the work, counter-balancing harmful systems, accountability, responsibility and relationship, decision-making, inter-generational dialogue and much, much more.
Rufaro Gwarada is committed to gender justice, migrant rights, African-led solutions for Africans, and utilizing art and cultural expression as conduits for healing, liberation, and joy. Rufaro practices Zen Buddhism and grounds all she does in unhu/ubuntu â the understanding and way of life in which collective and individual well-being and thriving are one and the same. She co-founded ThriveAfrica.us and Wakanda Dream Lab and is a core-team member of Root. Rise. Pollinate!. Rufaro writes fiction investigating gender, power, and familial dynamics inspired by her homeland, Zimbabwe, is a Move to End Violence Movement Maker, and a Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Citizenship Fellow.
Shawna Wakefield is a facilitator, consultant and women's rights advocate with 25 years of experience advancing gender, racial and economic justice internationally and in the U.S. She accompanies leaders and their social justice and movement building organizations in feminist leadership and building organisational cultures that embody care, justice, equity and inclusion. She is a practitioner of Buddhism, trauma-informed yoga and somatics, with training in respectful confrontation. She is a co-founder Root.Rise.Pollinate!, Associate with Gender at Work, and was formerly Senior Gender Justice Lead at Oxfam International. Shawna is committed to the healing, well-being and freedom of gender justice, Black, Indigenous and POC activists around the world.
Kristen Zimmerman is committed to a world rooted in our fundamental interdependence and collective thriving. She is an artist-storyteller, coach, strategist, and facilitator with 30 yearsâ experience integrating embodied and creative practice into movement building, community and social transformation work. She is the co-founder of Root. Rise. Pollinate! Movement Strategy Center, Youth In Focus, and Community LORE and she helped to design and launch projects including the Transitions Ini tiative, Move to End Violence, and Decolonize Race. She is a practitioner of Zen Buddhism and is currently working on a graphic novel that explores themes of home, belonging and cultivating family.
To learn more, check out:
Their website: https://www.rootrisepollinate.us/Their blogs: https://medium.com/@rootrisepollinate Reimagining Resilience: supporting feminist women to lead development with transformative practice ://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13552074.2020.1717198?journalCode=cgde20 Email them at [email protected]***We would like to give a special thanks to the Initiativeâs supporters: the CHS Alliance members, the Government of Luxembourg, the UKâs Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (DFCO) and the Netherlands. And thanks to Ziada Abeid for editing the show.***
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