With the widespread impacts of COVID-19, we decided to move our event to an all virtual experience for this year’s Sunset Run for Refugees. As part of our commitment to shine a light on our partner organizations’ work around the world to support and facilitate critical services for refugees, our Public Relations Manager Mayra Ordonez, spoke with Angela Eiffert, a Global Connector from Alight (formerly known as the American Refugee Committee). Below you’ll find a transcript of their conversation.
Mayra: Angela, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences working with refugees in the U.S. and abroad. Can you please explain what kind of work you do as a Global Connector?
Angela: As a Global Connector at Alight, I build connections across people and programs to open new pathways for refugee communities to unleash abundant, high impact change for themselves and their communities. My work involves donor engagement and fundraising.
Mayra: What are some ways you are able to connect your work with that of other similar organizations working with refugees, both in the U.S. and abroad?
Angela: The ways I connect my work with other organizations supporting refugees in the U.S. and abroad include, local activation of volunteer groups to Do the Doable through $500 level programs that amplify the great work of others. We can go out anywhere to make a difference in the lives of others all around us each day with $500. It’s amazing what we can be a catalyst for when we team up and shine a light on the good of all the amazing people and organizations doing this work in the world. Whether it is in Uganda, Pakistan, El Salvador or the U.S., there is always something of high-value impact that can be achieved by simply Doing the Doable each day.
At Alight, we love to connect people to people. We believe this is the most abundant way we can unleash the inspiration, creativity and good intentions of refugees everywhere. By creating spaces for more people to meet, be heard, be seen and to believe in what’s possible, we build a culture of optimism and resilience.
Mayra: What has it been like these past few months, trying to navigate the changing landscape of COVID-19 and social distancing restrictions both in working with the clients you serve and in general working in the non-profit field? Any new programming implemented?
Angela: Our Minneapolis team, who is currently working from home, found a good stride very quickly. We learned we are very adaptable given the nature of our global work and cross-border work assignments. While things aren’t exactly transferrable to Zoom, with a little creativity we can make the experience work for us. Ideations with lots of post-it notes is definitely more difficult!
Teams in remote locations across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, however, have had many more challenges. For one thing, the most vulnerable communities we serve do not all have equal access to communications channels to ensure their safety at all times. Social Distancing in refugee communities has proven very challenging as well, as they tend to be densely populated and basic service points hold large crowds of people. Enforcing preventive health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have also been more difficult in some countries than others. For example, Uganda and Rwanda were very controlled environments with strong government support and enforcement of mask wearing and distancing. But, South Sudan and Somalia have had more difficulties containing the spread of the virus, as day to day activities have continued on as usual without much use of masks or social distancing.
As a nonprofit, it has been difficult to outfit our teams with proper protective gear, especially for frontline health and protection workers. The need for PPEs, gloves and other critical supplies to support sick patients was and continues to be a stressful situation. With constraints, however, come new ideas as well. To support the communities with supplies during lockdowns and border closures, we were able to activate local businesses and entrepreneurs to make much-needed supplies, such as soap and masks across our programs. It was a beautiful opportunity to activate local communities to lead their own response efforts on the ground through innovative and economic-empowered ventures. These ventures will carry on long after the pandemic, and their community leadership will inspire others to protect, support and be stronger together.
Mayra: What has it been like navigating the ongoing protests and current climate in the U.S. while trying to continue to provide services to your clients?. Could you tell us a little bit more about how your experience here has potentially affected your work?
Angela: In Minneapolis, our teams have been struggling with heavy hearts and eager minds to learn, grow and be better each day. Since our core business operates internationally, our team of 55 in Minneapolis has been given space to reflect, connect with others, and offer our volunteer support at local nonprofit organizations and various community support efforts. Many of our global team members, amidst their own pressures of COVID-19 response and the challenges of working remotely in their respective country programs, shared their thoughtful regards, love and concern for all of us in the U.S.
As we reflect on the history of racism and colonialism in the international humanitarian space, there are still many questions we have yet to answer about how we as an organization must show up for our global teams and customers. How can we be a platform for their own activations, to guide, lead and navigate on their own terms?
Mayra: You bring up an excellent point, as I’m sure many other organizations are also asking themselves that very question. Now, how can the work of people in an office setting inform the work of people in the field and vice versa?
Angela: People working in an office setting can share research and various topics or ideas. Those working in the field can provide real-time feedback from our customers.
Mayra: In your experience, what is unique about working with a nonprofit/NGO that works specifically with the refugee population? Any major challenges you’d like to share?
Angela: Experiencing the creativity, ingenuity and abundance that can come from highly constrained refugee settlements has been a great lesson of human resilience. What we can create and do when people dream and build together is truly amazing.
The geo-politics surrounding refugees are the toughest of all challenges. It is the biggest barrier to their freedom as people.
Mayra: Absolutely. What do you find most rewarding about your work?
Angela: Being able to meet new people from all over the world, and to be part of their lives through meaningful, changemaking work is the most rewarding aspect of my work. I’m thrilled to be making a difference and establishing relationships for those who need it most.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.