Roby + Momrath, please post

Parent Cafe
61

<p>I am sure there are many worthy groups. </p>

<p>I am a cheapskate at heart so I love the idea of my money going as far as it can. (I had a very negative experience many years ago with Untied Way-- I could not believe their office space, expense account lunches, and overpaid staff. While that may have changed subsequently I am always really careful which organizations I give money to because I want as little as possible going to admin, overhead, etc.)</p>

<p>Also, I feel confident because a very close friend of mine is one of the bare bones staff of this group. She is one of the people constantly doing world-wide research trips-- choosing which medical clinics, orphanages, etc are doing the best work in a given area and helping decide where the Direct Relief funds & supplies should be directed. Not everyone is chosen to receive their help; they really do their homework. Also, they are underpaid-- they do this for love. Several on staff are quasi retired or have spouses with better incomes and this is like a giant community service for them.</p>

62

<p>Since i last posted (sorry, laptop is dying and capital letters are hard to come by), I had a nice private message that also explained more about direct relief, and I went to their website and donated there too. I too was impressed by the information and am glad to add this to my list. Basically, it sounds like there a number of very good relief organizations all devoted to doing good work. And thank goodness for the military helicopters finally delivering some emergency supplies, and for the way so many nations are coming together to help. And for people like Mini who go to the ends of the world to help however they can.</p>

63

<p>Speaking of Mini and his wonderful efforts, I am wondering if anyone here can give some insight into the type of background/education that would be appropriate for someone interested in working for an international (or domestic) relief organization. My daughter has mentioned several times that she would like to know more about this type of work and as we watch the Tsunami recovery efforts she has brought it up again. I did a search on the internet for her but came up empty-handed. If anyone has any thoughts or direct experience in this, I'd appreciate hearing from you.</p>

64

<p>Carolyn - </p>

<p>I've never done any exhaustive research on this topic but anecdotally it seems that internships and church-related volunteering are good first-steps. I know that students at/from Quaker-affiliated LACs are often involved in these areas. Also, Macalester grads have built a pretty good informal network for NGO information.</p>

65

<p>Carolyn, I know scores of people in Indonesia who work for NGO's, foundations and US government organizations with humanitarian focuses. Some are affiliated with colleges, some with big organizations like the UN or the World Bank, some with grassroots do-gooder groups or religious associations. I tried to think of a common educational thread and realized that these are VERY well educated people with degrees in just about everything under the sun! Those who are in managerial positions (or whatever they call headhonchos in the public sector) for the most part have PhD's, in a wide range of disciplines: like economics, anthropology, public health. The worker ants are also a diverse group, again with advanced degrees from some of the best colleges. What they seem to have in common is an intense concern for the world's well-being and the ability or willingness to work for relatively low salaries. Many came out of the Peace Corps.</p>

<p>I think that just about any field of study can segue into an altruistic direction; helping hands can contribute to so many areas, for example, health issues, education, environmental causes, economic recovery, human rights. Each one of these is a multi-faceted career path. For international work language skills are a big plus. There is a interconnecting network between NGO's, foundations and government organizations. Once someone is in the loop, jobs seem to flow from one to another. The government agencies contract to the NGO's and the foundations provide funding. What I've noticed at social gatherings is that they all seem to know each other.</p>

<p>If you take a look at the website of relief organizations, foundations or other types of NGO's, they usually have a "careers at" section. Here are a few examples.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index.html&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.savethechildren.org/careers/index.asp%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.savethechildren.org/careers/index.asp&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.fordfound.org/employment/index.cfm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.fordfound.org/employment/index.cfm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

66

<p>to respond to all the questions. Currently, I am desperately searching for a windows 2000 link to update my blog. We are in Nagapattinam, center of the tsunami damage, and things we saw today are quite harrowing. The destruction is on a scale that can scarcely be believed.</p>

<p>There are many aid organizations here, but they seem to be tripping over each other. In one area, in the center of the damage, one group started cremating bodies, only to set a broken gas main on fire, and 30 houses burned. World Vision (a good organization) is giving out tokens for food, water, clothing (we have WAY too much clothing), but the people are asking where they are supposed to put them. In other areas, there are emergency open-air shelters, but no food.</p>

<p>We are currently feeding 74,000 people. Tomorrow we will be cleaning out some of the schools - where children are now is not safe, and the sooner we can provide even the least bit of order to their chaos, the better.</p>

<p>But the real work will begin a month from now and the aid organizations disappear. Then is when my mother's group will make use of volunteer doctors, housebuilders, etc. She has her work cut out for her - and for us.</p>

<p>So - contribute now - but think about contributing later as well. This is going to be a long term thing. So much to write! (now if I can only get it uploaded!)</p>

<p>check my blog at shantinik.blogspot.com</p>

67

<p>Mini,</p>

<p>I will be doing a 10 day stint with Save the Children in Aceh at some point in the next 10-15 weeks or so, but after that would be interested in volunteering in India. I agree, the first push of aid is tremendous, but the medium term needs will be at least as substantial. Just think of how many orphaned children there will be-I am a pediatrician, by the way. Please keep me in mind. I know others here who are just wanting to pitch in, but volunteer access to Aceh has not been substantial. For housebuilding, there are active habitat for humanity groups at many of the international schools in the region, maybe even in Chennai...or certainly Delhi. </p>

<p>Aceh is open to foreigners for now, but I have a feeling that once the initial clean up and needs are met, the government might close it again. It all depends on the success of the "cease fire." </p>

<p>I tried to post this morning, Carolyn, to answer your question about NGO work, etc, but Momrath summarized very nicely. One of the most interesting people I know doing this sort of work is a facilities engineer-- he has even worked in North Korea. I agree with Momrath, these individuals are well educated, passionate but calm, good humored but serious, patient but eager, open minded...It is a personality type as much as the academic interest that defines them. Brown has an undergraduate major in development work. The girl who gave us our tour was planning to major in it. We asked why she hadn't gone far afield for the summer, and she answered that she wanted to be closer to home. I wonder if she knows that a sense of wanderlust is also a key element...</p>

<p>As an aside, a friend in Bangkok who summers in Encinatas has emailed me and told me that she had heard I was fine from someone who is on/reads these forums...small world. Small world.</p>

68

<p>Thank you all for responding to my question --- Actually, my daughter noted before the Tsunami hit that Earlham has several majors that would be a good fit for this type of work - one in non-profit management, one in human development that focuses on social services. She is also interested in education. She's done quite a bit of volunteer work with Catholic Charities here locally and when I watch her there, I can see that she has a talent for helping others. </p>

<p>Mini, I am praying for you and everyone you come in contact with. I have been tied to the news just watching scenes unfold and it tears at my heart. Please keep us up to date when you return about further donation needs for long term efforts. Robyrm, the scenes in Aceh and Jakarta are beyond description.</p>

69

<p>I just got an email from David, and I posted their lastest blog to their site: shantinik.blogspot.com
There are in the area that was hit and I believe they are helping clean a school today. I expect their stories and photos will be amazing when they get home.
Krishnamal is very thankful for the money they were able to bring with them and we continue to get donations which I will be sending on to them.
in peace, Ellen</p>

70

<p>Ellen, Thank you for continuing to keep us posted when David can't.</p>

71

<p>Mini here - in Kuthur. Many harrowing things seen, as well as some wonderful ones! I have posted 5 new blogs today, so I won't repeat here.</p>

<p>Robrym, my mother who is sitting beside me, says think about coming in a month. That's when there will be the greatest need.</p>

<p>More soon!</p>

72

<p>You can get more details on the website, but to summarize:</p>

<p>As of 1/3/05 Direct Relief International had received Tsunami-designated cash donations of $3.1 million, as well as product donations (medicines & medical supplies) with a wholesale value of $33.7 million.</p>

<p>Direct Relief has, as of 1/4/05, shipped more than 20 tons of specifically-requested medicines, supplies, & equipment through seven seperate shipments to India, Sri Lanka & Indonesia. The wholesale value of the materials shipped is $3,085,857. More is being assembled and shipped all the time; the next load is emergency medical supplies for regional hospitals in Tsunami-affected regions in India. </p>

<p>$83,000 of the donated cash has been spent on medicines, medical supplies, and urgently needed nutritional items ($23,100 of it was on shipping charges). Federal Express also took 7 tons free to Sri Lanka.</p>

<p>I talked to my friend who works there; she explained that it can sometimes be difficult to get donated medicines with an expiration date that meets import standards for foriegn countries, and sometimes an unusual medicines are requested-- then they buy supplies. Most of their inventory, however, is donated. They are constantly in touch with those in the field so they can supply exactly what is needed most. They are also mobilizing to anticipate future Tsunami needs, for example acquiring cholera-appropriate antibiotics in case of an outbreak.</p>

<p>Again, every dollar donated that is earmarked for Tsunami relief will go to straight to Tsunami relief. If they think that they are approaching a figure that they cannot spend productively, efficiently, and with adequate controls to ensure all donations directly benefit the victims of the Tsunami, they will impose a cap on directed donations. As of now, there is still much need and they are hoping for more donations. </p>

<p>Of course, one <em>can</em> always give an undesignated gift to this organization as well. They are active in providing medical support in all of the world's most needy places, including Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Haiti, etc; in addition to Tsunami relief these other needs are ongoing.</p>

<p>BTW there are scores of volunteers who have been showing up to schlepp boxes, answer phones, sort items.</p>

<p>Carolyn: they have diverse staff involved with: fundraiser & development, soliciting goods from pharmaceutical/medical firms, inventory/wherehouse, regional contacts who research various areas around the globe, one MD, one Pharmacist, and one Director. 29 in all, some of whom are part time, supported by many many volunteers.</p>

<p>A great organization!</p>

73

<p>I wanted to add something about Sri Lanka. The ceramic company my daughter works for has a supplier there and her company e-mailed him to ask where they could donate $25,000 for relief. The supplier suggested Oxfam because it is up and running and well organized already in Sri Lanka. The supplier, in Colombo, is still in business, but one of the employees lost 22 members of his family.</p>

<p>Carolyn -- In answer to your daughter's question, some years ago I looked into changing careers and investigated working for some NGO's. What struck me is that they want skills -- whether medical, legal, grant-writing, fund-raising, accounting, administrative, etc. There are many, many things she could major in and use to benefit aid organizations, from public health to business to law, but the key is to pick up the very practical expertise they need.</p>

74

<p>Skills I see people using for relief efforts at the moment:</p>

<p>nursing/ EMT training
language proficiency
logistics (someone I know used to be involved with setting up supply convoys in Bosnia, now doing the same for Aceh)
fund raising
networking (!)
public health programming-- the hugest effort will be here
accounting
large machinery operator</p>

<p>The list will go on and on over time. These are not the regular needs of development work necessarily, clearly emergency relief work is different.</p>

<p>Friends and I are working to try to establish 2 efforts...the first will be related to mental health of children in displaced persons camps, the second to re-establish schools. The latter, in particular, could be a great way for individual US schools (for example) to connect with these relief efforts. More info to come.</p>

75

<p>SBmom, I have been very impressed with Direct Relief's daily accounting on their web site and in email updates of exactly how and where they are using donations earmarked for Tsunami relief. It is truly exceptional how they are keeping donors informed. Thank you and Sandiegomom for mentioning Direct Relief in the first place - seems like a really squared away organization that I intend to keep donating to once the initial crisis is over. </p>

<p>Robrym, Please do keep us informed of ways we can help in the future. I am still struggling to get my mind around the scope of this disaster.</p>

76

<p>Yes; and sac, Oxfam is a great org too.</p>

77

<p>Yes, I donated to Direct Relief as well and that organization is very impressive.</p>