My first experience as a overseas volunteer

I remember that very day. It was 3^rd January 2005. I was working with Oxfam in Tsunami response project and was posted at Nagercoil in Tamilnadu, south India. That day I was in the field in a small village named Kolachal. I was busy in my work.. Suddenly one white car stopped at me. Two ladies, still I remember their names – Carol and Elena- wearing  MSF T- shirt approached me and introduced themselves. We had a friendly discussion on various aspects of Tsunami response activities by different NGOs. I wanted to know about MSF. They briefed about MSF. I caught interest and asked for details.   They advised me to visit their web site. That evening I looked up the MSF website and knew that MSF is a politically neutral, humanitarian organization and is well known for witness and advocacy. It doesn’t discriminate on the basis of caste, creed, sex or color and works in places of natural or man-made disasters. I  found reasons to work with them.

After completion of the  assignment with Oxfam I applied  to MSF  for a  volunteer post. After telephonic discussion they called me at Delhi for an interview. And I was selected.

I attended the PPD training at UK in November 2007. It was very exciting. 30 volunteers from different parts of the world attended the course. The training was of seven days duration. We are taught about different sides of MSF - its evolution, values, principles, charters, areas of expertise, mode of operation, operational areas, roles of a volunteer and experience of volunteers of return-projects. No doubt it was a wonderful experience for me. I retuned home from PPD with  great  hopes and expectation for my first mission. Next six months it was only “wait” , “wait” and ‘wait” …. for a call from Delhi – MSF  office. As the days passed by the dream of working with MSF started becoming faint.   

 It was 14^th of May. In the morning I got a call from one Delhi based INGO  for the confirmation of my selection as a Sr. watsan specialist in their organization.. I requested them to give me two days time for the confirmation from my side. That time I was jobless and I did not have any choice and by this time I lost all hopes to work with MSF. Still I don’t know why I asked for two days time , may be the God had some other  thought for me. That very evening  I got a call from MSF, Delhi  to know my availability  for a  mission in Uganda. I did not have any other thought and without any hesitation I told them “YES”

Since it was my first assignment overseas I was bit anxious and tensed, thinking if I would be able to meet the expectation of the organization especially in a circumstances where every thing is new to me – people. their culture, way of life, food habit ,language, weather , … every thing. But I accepted the challenge.

I arrived at Kampala on 26^th May. After a short briefing at Kampala office by HoM, Logco and Finco I arrived Kitgum on 28th^th May. The team consisted of 7 expatriate members: a Project Coordinator from Kenya, a logistician from the Zambia,, two medical doctors from Holland and Norway, a watsan specialist from UK and two nurses from Holland and Germany. Out of 7 expatriates two – one medical doctor and one watsan specialist were specially deputed for Hepatitis E intervention. Kitgum office was the base of the operation of two projects  - Hepatitis E and MSF’s regular programme on HIV/AIDS and support of operation of health center at Mudi Opei.

On 29^th May at Kitgum office I was briefed on project activities and security guidelines and proceeded to Mudi Opei. The MSF flag was flying high on the vehicle. I was bit inattentive and also anxiously thinking of my coming days in the project. Suddenly I heard the voice  of the driver over radio phone .

 “ base  base  at Hug 10” 

   “Hug 10 go ahead”

              “We are departing from  base to  alpha . over”

  “Affirmative”

 “Kilometer 00 and 1 pax on board.. Next contact after 30 mikes. Over and out”

“Safe journey”

This was the beginning. Every time I traveled within the project area it was the common practice to keep in contact always with the base through radio. I was very thrilled and excited. Though the security staff appraised me earlier it was a wonderful experience and never faced before. It was a sunny day, the .The sky was very clean and greeneries all around. The road was muddy. Only some NGO cars and cycle were on the road. After one-hour drive I arrived at Mudi Opei. I was greeted by expatriate and other national staff including Guro - the expatriate doctor for Hepatitis E intervention, Regina- expatriate out reach team leader, Mariana – Nurse. Christine – the medical doctor and other national staff, Richards, Samuel, Peter, Charles, Catherine and many more.  After a small introduction session I went to Patika  IDP camp to meet Mat (Mathew Arnold), watsan expatriate. I was hired to replace him. That day soap and jerrycane distribution was going on in the camps. Thousands of people were in the queue to receive our assistance. As usual there was confusions, complaints and annoyance of some people but at the end of the all were happy. Mat received me well and introduced me with the camp commanders, village volunteers and with other MSF and non-MSF mates. I spent some time with Mat and moved around to see the MSF’s intervention in the area. In the evening I  returned to Mudi Opei with Mat. That evening Mat appraised me every thing about the project – its Strength, weakness, opportunity,  challenges, strategy, work progress and work ahead.

Except the PC and the logistician all other expatriate staff used to stay at Mudi Opei in week days . Mudi Opei compound was fairly big having 20 tukuls for accommodation of both expatriate and national staff. In the compound there was a kitchen, one drawing cum dining place and one storeroom. For water we used to depend on a adjacent village hand pump (Water carrier was there to fetch water for us). Though the type of latrine( pit latrine - no need to use water) was not my choice still I accepted  it sportingly. There was no electricity in the compound. We used to use solar panels for limited time for computer work and mobile charging. In the evening we used to spend time in playing games and gossiping and also star grazing (thanks Aslak – the medical doctor for his powerful binocular). We used to eat variety of food – Posho (cooked maize flour), bean curry, marshed potatoto, ground nut paste, dried fish curry, boiled cabbages, noodles, low spicy meat/chicken, boiled green leafs and rice. No doubt here the eating food was a fun; different people.. different Food habit … different taste. Any way I managed to habituate myself with this .

Work was a bit hectic as there was spreading/increasing of Hepatitis E cases while I was there and as a result there was always pressure of govt administration .The work was challenging. Every thing was new to me. Since it was my first mission I hardly had any experience on MSF’s modus of operandi, strategy, principles and values; (yes,  I got some idea/input during PPD and briefing) Also I was in doubt if  I will be received well by people with different attitude and culture, by national staff, by govt department, by other NGOs. There was also security threat. As it was an emergency I could not expect leisure in getting time to cope with the situation. Any way I accepted the challenge. In first few days  I kept myself occupied in making rapport with people by meeting people, attending meeting and visiting more camps. I spent four month in the project. MSF’s intervention in Hepatitis E intervention was mainly to contribute in promotion of public health condition in the camp areas by providing water and sanitation facilities  and support health centers with essential drugs and human resources.

We used to spend the weekends( Saturday and Sunday) at Kitgum. We had a good accommodation facility at Kitgum compound having enough space for every one with individual rooms – both Tukul( round shaped room with thatched roofs) and concrete building. We used to cook on the weekends as per our likings. . I used to make “Chapati” and  “Dum Aloo” – it was a common liking for every one. We used to enjoy the weekends by reading books, drinking beers, watching TV shows and DVDs, surfing nets and playing games – Vollyball at AVSI compound. Roaming and spend some time at  Kitgum market  was common to most of us. We used to arrange candle dinner often  in the compound with or without any reason. we were able to manage three days off  from the project and went to see Murchison falls and Safari.

MSF’s effort to combat Hepatitis E was well appreciated by locally and nationally by govt and non –govt organization.. It is satisfying for me that Hepatitis E cases have been reduced more than 50% over last 4 months. Local people seemed happy and friendly. I enjoyed a lot in working with  all of them including expatriates, national staff , friends of others agencies and govt department.

Four months gone. It was the time to leave.. National staff arranged a farewell party for me. It was a perfect farewell. Staff of MoH, friends of other NGOs, my expatriate friends and all national staff was present at the party. They greeted me with  honour.

 It was 20^th September,  morning. All my expatriate friends bid  a big goodbye to me . We hugged  each other, tears in my eyes. I slowly moved to the car… there was  “pin drop silence”

The car started  “  base base hug 15 ….. we are departing from   base to alpha . Kilomike  00 , 1 pax in board… next contact after 30 mites” .  The car rolled on .I felt pain in my heart and a sense of emptiness. GOOD BYE