March 8, 2023
Interviews
Would you like to know what is it like to manage Caritas Czech Republic’s office in Iraq? We spoke to Onelda Perndreca, Acting Country Director of our office in Iraq, and asked her what she likes about working at Caritas Czech Republic and what her job entails.
How long have you been working at Caritas Czech Republic and why did you decide to work here?
I have been working at Caritas Czech Republic since February 2021. Having spent some time in the Middle East, I was interested in working with an organisation that has been a pioneer in the provision of economic resilience to internally displaced persons and host communities.
How do you like working at Caritas Czech Republic? What do you enjoy most about it?
We are a small team that spends a lot of time together. We strive to support one another and value diversity. My position as a humanitarian allows me to make a huge impact on a large number of people. We assist and support the most vulnerable and neglected people in our community, which gives me a sense of purpose.
Since you started at Caritas Czech Republic, you have worked in two different positions. First as Grants, Reporting, and Communications Manager and now as the Acting Country Director for Iraq. How would you compare these two positions?
I take every assignment or role very seriously. My professional work as a Grants Manager has focused on expanding the organisation's portfolio and fundraising capabilities. Whereas the role of Acting Country Director requires leadership, strategy, and actions that affect and involve the entire organisation, and the level of accountability is greater. Hence, the stakes are higher and my engagement with the team is stronger, and I do my best to give everyone a voice.
How do you enjoy working as Acting Country Director, and what has been the biggest change for you in your new position?
With my new position comes greater responsibility for strategic thinking and long-term planning. Although I was already rather busy before accepting this position, my workload has increased significantly, and I have come to embrace the challenge of making often difficult decisions.
What challenges do you face in your position?
The transition to durable solutions means that our organisation, like other NGOs, must cope with funding challenges and adopt new strategies in order to maintain its presence and operations in Iraq. Another difficulty is that the majority of our projects are short-term, requiring us to rebuild the team very rapidly, which hinders team development and long-term planning.
How does your typical workday look like?
My typical day starts with our weekly coordination meeting, which takes place at the beginning of each week. After that, I meet with the staff on a regular basis, and I get daily updates on what's going on. A typical day involves a significant amount of decision-making and addressing issues that have an impact on our field offices, as well as our partners and donors.
What would you say has been your greatest achievement while working at Caritas Czech Republic?
Even though I cannot take credit for this success alone because of the collaborative nature of our team, I am pleased to have played a role in elevating our organisation to the position of a frontrunner among organisations providing livelihood assistance to internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in Iraq.
What do you like to do when you are not in the office? What are your hobbies?
In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with a few close friends with whom I can have deep conversations about anything and everything. My circle of friends tends to consist of people I've met through my professional life, and we're always giving each other insights. I love walking in the park, listening to jazz/classical/soul music, and reading about psychology. I've been going to the gym consistently for the past year, and that's something which I'm quite proud of.
