August 5, 2024
Interviews
Would you like to know more about the Humanitarian Aid and Development Cooperation department in Caritas Czech Republic? We launched a series of interviews with our colleagues who will tell you more about our work worldwide. This time we interviewed Steven Issam, one of our project managers in Iraq.
When did you start working in the humanitarian sector?
I started working in the humanitarian sector as a volunteer in October 2016. I worked as a civil engineer for a church charity to rehabilitate houses damaged during the war against ISIS.
When did you join Caritas Czech Republic?
I joined Caritas in October 2022 as a project officer for a project supporting women-led enterprises, farmers, and youth in the Hamdaniya district of the Nineveh governorate in Northern Iraq, funded by the Czech Bishop’s Conference.
You now work as a project manager at Caritas Czech Republic. How would you describe your role? What is the project you manage about?
As a manager, I take all the responsibility for everything in the project I am overseeing, and I follow up on things that do not go as planned.
The project I manage right now helps Christian farmers and small business owners in the Hamdaniya district to be able to become self-sufficient and provide for their families by offering them agricultural supplies, grants, and trainings.
What does your typical working day look like?
My everyday routine is quite dynamic and depends on the specific daily demands. Typically, I start my day with a visit to the people we support or a meeting with my colleagues.
Throughout the day, I meet and collaborate with my team and project stakeholders to discuss emerging priorities of the project and ensure proper alignment of its activities. I dedicate a significant amount of time to preparing the necessary documentation about the project’s activities. Also, I allocate some time for any necessary routine tasks or administrative duties.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced at work?
In my role, I have observed how environmental changes, such as water scarcity and drought, are affecting farming, posing a threat to achieving agrarian balance and returning to the quality of previous agricultural production. Recognising the urgency of addressing climate change, I have actively sought ways to mitigate the impact of desertification and provide for a good agricultural environment by conducting climate studies, informing farmers and equipping them with modern agricultural irrigation tools and methods, such as sprinkler irrigation systems and drought-resistant seeds.
Caritas Czech Republic’s team supported me in successfully tackling this challenge.
What do you like the most about your job?
What I value most about my job is providing opportunities to all members of our society. The dynamic nature of my job keeps me engaged and enthusiastic; it allows me to work with farmers and other community members. That is gratifying because farming was the profession of my ancestors. It is a beautiful thing for me.
The collaborative environment within our team also plays a crucial role in my job satisfaction. I appreciate the opportunity to work alongside talented individuals who share a common goal of supporting people in need and fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual support.
Helping the community and seeing the results in front of me makes my job fulfilling. When you are passionate about what you do, it enhances your job satisfaction and contributes positively to the overall success of the team and organisation.
What do you like to do out of work?
I volunteer in the church in my hometown to get funding from our community’s diaspora in the US to support people in need in the area. As my family moved to the US last year, I now spend my free time with my friends.
