“I have to submit this application! I simply
cannot miss this wonderful opportunity”, mumbling this to myself, I started
another unfinished job as my supervisor called out for me. It was another day
being spent in frustration, but the difference was that I had something going
on in my head! It was just about 5:30, perhaps the closing time, when I clicked
on the vacancies in CARE portal and uploaded my application on the same.
Next thing I knew, I was on the train to Delhi
to attend the interview in a project called Integrated Family Health Initiative
(IFHI). The interview was an experience which made me smile throughout the day!
One moment I was talking to a group of animated young professionals to help ‘us’
get to a conclusion during group activity, and the very next moment I was
sitting in front of a desktop analyzing my feelings in different situations!
My joy knew no bounds when I heard from ‘them’.
The first thing which caught my attention was the name of the organization;
“CARE” it evokes a kind of warmth to hear that. For a beginner who was still
not very sure of herself, it was ecstatic to hear from an organization which
had a ‘big name’ (Especially when I had tried hard to do an internship during
summers in CARE and had no success in that!).
I had not yet joined CARE, when I attended one
of its meetings. It changed my complete outlook towards my job. I wanted to be
right there, in the midst of those intelligent and passionate people working
for something which made a difference to lives. I kept awake that night,
waiting and wondering when I would be a part of it. My own life was in turmoil
personally as well as professionally when I joined CARE. I was not sure whether
the change of organization gave me that high feeling or was it something else?
By joining CARE, my college days came back to
me! I would sit with awe as our Technical Director would speak. I would put up
as many questions before him without even thinking for a split second (I
actually bugged many people in that process; as incidentally my question would
just pop up when we would be running late for Tea break!). I was like a child,
who was starved of knowledge, of ideas; my job had done that to me. But here I
was there, beginning to feel alive yet again!
It has been about 5 months today and I seem to
have come a long way forward. My family
often tells me that I seem to be radiating positive energy lately. It is
basically the game of the attitude on work; I have found so much of warmth and
optimism in people here that makes me belong here; in this team and this
project!
Working on a project on Maternal and Child
health was my dream since long! The issue closest to my heart is the health of
women in our society especially would-be mothers. A sensitive thought as put in
one of our meetings “Pregnancy itself is risk to life” clearly mentions the
grave danger our women (especially in developing countries) face during child
birth. One of the natural process become life threatening! Here we are trying
to make a change and remove road blocks from all sides; awareness among the
community members as well as quality of services in Public facilities. I always
was intrigued with ‘doctor-like’ technical details of things; what better would
be to heal lives? With continuous brushing up of our knowledge skills on
technical side of IFHI project, today I feel empowered to speak to front line
workers about some simple things which act nothing less than a doctor’s advice.
Gaining and use of this knowledge on field has given me immense satisfaction of
doing something worthwhile. Counseling of one mother successfully on field who
was resistant to get a TT shot gave me a peaceful sleep at night!
When ‘perceived’ cold and disinterested front
line workers listen to you with awe; and
start to share their experiences (apart from their usual grievances about
incentives not paid) is when my heart swells up with pride and confidence. I
can make them laugh too! Imagine a person like me, who used to be so very
conscious of speaking in front of even two people. Today I can conduct
trainings efficiently and ‘connect’ with people; my dream to teach is getting
realized too! Earlier I always needed my lines ready in the form of a paper
incase I go blank in front of an audience; but not anymore!
I had only read about soft skills of a manager
in our HR class during college, but my job had not given me an opportunity to
explore that. Here in CARE I seem to slowly understand the intricacies and
challenges to work with a team; and to experience people report to you! Believe
me, it gives you a high!
Most importantly I have witnessed in myself a
sense of receptiveness to ambiguity of situations. I personally am a person who
would be very uncomfortable in a situation which is unpredictable. Here ever
since we have joined IFHI, the project seems to be evolving! It feels we are
here to put our heads (and hearts) together to make something work. It gives me
the feeling of being in a perfect learning organization (another concept we
learned in HR class in college) which is giving me a golden opportunity to grow
professionally as well as personally!
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