Work Life

Firstly, my apologies for the impromptu hiatus. What can I say? I guess I got caught up in life here, and forgot to tell you about it. Oh dear.

It's June, which means I have less than 3 weeks to go. Work is going as well as can be expected, and I suppose I should talk a little about it!

My title is Organizational Development Advisor and my current activities include completing a review of the organization’s Strategic Plan, Personnel Policy and Administrative Manual. I'm also working with and training a support group for sex workers who are HIV positive. In terms of daily activities, I assist in smaller administrative ways – for example, building the capacity of the Admin. Assistant in taking effective minutes, or helping the field staff prepare a power point presentation for a meeting with donors.

 I work Monday to Friday, 9am – 5 pm, in a cubicle. Seriously.

In Canada, International Development may provoke images of people coming together to overcome the most unimaginable challenges, and rise above the most tragic circumstances: we’re fighting hunger, and injustice and inequality!

At the moment, the most frustrating challenge plaguing our office is how to get the damn internet to work. And it’s a serious one.

At the end of the day, we are still fighting for those things, but generally speaking, my work activities are fairly mundane. My days are full of reports and proposals, staff meetings and planning sessions. Within the scope of my mandate, creating change involves very similar obstacles here as it would at home: getting the team on board, creating ownership, obtaining approval from management and the board of directors...and the list goes on. Some days it can be incredibly frustrating. Some days it feels trivial. If I really think about it though, I know that these processes make the more important work easier. Imagine if your workplace didn't have a filing system? Or if there weren't strict guidelines on how much sick leave you were entitled to? What if there wasn't any given procedure for reimbursements or per diems in the event of travel for work? In Canada, I feel like these systems are in place and I merely take them for granted.

By the end of my placement, the organization will have an updated strategic plan with a monitoring mechanism, and revised administrative/personnel policies. The Women's group I'm working with have identified their Mission & Vision, and have recently completed their first strategic plan as well. This week, I will help them write a grant proposal intended to provide better health services access and education to the children of sex workers in their community.

I'm hoping for positive outcomes!