Working with ex-refugees in West Timor in 2008
When I finished my Masters education in France, I decided to join the international relief work. I joined International NGOs as Coordinator/Manager of humanitarian programs. First I went to a difficult and risky mission to war-torn Iraq after the american invasion. My job was to build hospitals and a children theatre. After that the Tsunami happened in Asia and I joined the relief work here in Banda Aceh.
My relief work experience was really great and a big part of my learning about life and myself. I travelled to amazing places, worked with local communities in remote areas where I never dreamed to be, lived magical and intense moments, was blessed with the opportunity to help people, I built schools, and hospitals, managed budgets, and staff, met with international people, learned local culures... It was really great.
It was during this process that I discovered more about myself and my purpose and decided to leave the relief work to focus on what I love most. I also decided to have a permanent base in Indonesia. Why Indonesia? Well for the same reason you guys moved to KL, to be around paradise islands and natural places. And this is exactly where I live!
Work ExperienceProject Consultant, UN-HABITAT, Banda Aceh
Feb 2009 – Dec 2009Consultant for UN-HABITAT Housing Sanitation Project funded by ADB
Supporting the team in management and coordination, developing donor reports and project guidelines
Insuring Quality Control (QC) of civil works, developing QC tools and monitoring checklists, and conducting field monitoring
Providing QC monthly analysis and recommendations
Program Development Manager, Austcare, Indonesia
Sept 2007 – Jan 2009
Based in Banda Aceh, work area include Nias and West Timor
Developing proposals and budgets, identifying humanitarian needs
Developing partnerships with local NGOs, identifying funding sources
Networking and liaising with donors and stakeholders
Conducting field assessments, in Nias, Aceh and West Timor
Setting up a livelihoods community support project in Kupang, West Timor
Program Coordinator, Islamic Relief, Banda Aceh
Aug 2005 – July 2007
Based in Banda Aceh, work area include Meulaboh and Calang
Construction of 22 schools funded by LDSC, DEC-CAFOD and Austcare
Rehabilitation of 10 schools funded by IDRF
Support to children in IDP camps funded by Plan International
Implementing a Mobile Library Program in partnership with local NGO
Capacity building for teachers in 16 schools
Budget follow-up, team management, proposal writing, reporting
Coordination with engineers and architects, site monitoring
Representation with donors and local authorities, staff recruitment
Tender launching and negotiation with contractors and suppliers
Program Coordinator, Première Urgence, Iraq
July 2004 – Jan 2005
Based in Baghdad then in Amman, visits to Karbala and Basra
Rehabilitation of 4 hospitals and distribution of medical equipment in Southern Iraq, funded by ECHO
Rehabilitation of theatre for children in Baghdad, funded by UNDP
Budget follow up, team management, negotiation with contractors
Representation with donors and local authorities
Lieutenant Engineer, Lebanese Army, Lebanon
Sep 2000 – Sep 2001
Supervision of the Lebanese Army construction sites during military service
Follow up with contractors, monitoring work implementation and progress
Check up of site plans and bill of quantities
Monitoring material specifications on site
Receiving gift from Aceh local Authorities for building tens of schools in Aceh after Tsunami
