End of the Year Letter - The road to ‘Domaine des Quatre Chênes’! : Joanna and Geert Cappelaere

2022, it was. So let’s talk work first. Joanna’s second full year with GOAL, navigating an ambitous humanitarian agenda across 13 countries on 4 different continents. A world growing more and more complex; unfortunately, with more people becoming vulnerable and depending on aid. While the means to deliver becoming more scarce and NGO’s with a community focused agenda hard hit. Travels to Haiti, Ethiopia and South Sudan brought home the amazing impact GOAL colleagues on the ground continue making. Geert enjoyed being part of the great team in the UNICEF Partnership Office with the European Union. The adoption of the EU’s Strategy on the Rights of the Child, by the Commission and all 27 Member States was one of the forceful reminders of what teamed-up advocacy can achieve. Time now to translate the ambitions into the day to day reality of children in Europe and across the globe. 

And if you wonder how GOAL and UNICEF got along together, have a look at the picture taken deep South of Ethiopia (a generator, in case you are wondering).

We matured another year. Celebrating Geert’s birthday on Joanna’s was just one of the signs of how much wiser we are getting. We spent a wonderful weekend touring in Ireland.  A weekend where the Irish made another huge impression upon us. Swimming in the sea with water temperature hardly 10 C is only for the bravest. Another wonder moment was Joanna, while a true Scot, hinting that Irish whisky may taste a wee bit better than just water.

We had a fabulous stay in Ballina, on the river Moy with spectacular views to the Atlantic Ocean. 

2022 offered great opportunities to catch up with family and old and new friends. Joanna met up with her forever young university friends, the ‘Old Goats’. And Geert got together with his friends from High School and University days. With true friends, it does not seem to matter how long ago you met last. It feels like yesterday! With the passing of Joanna’s dad Jim, we are now both orphaned. A strange feeling, even for just no longer having answers for silly childhood questions that continue popping up. Jim’s funeral was on many counts a special tribute to life.

Wee Jock was throughout the year, and once again, an exceptional companion. Despite a strong character not always taking No for an answer, she is great company. And we help each other keeping fit with long walks in and around Oudenaarde or Pompignan. 

And suddenly it is 2023, almost caught by surprise. The past year has been a good one! 2023 will be exceptional for different reasons. We will start the writing of our next chapter in life once we will be retired on April 1st.  A new chapter where we have some of the main lines drawn. 

Our house in Pompignan is almost ready. The views from the house, even at dusk, always promising some magic. 

We are looking forward very much to our new chapter, and to enjoying your company, even for doing some of the writing. And why we call our new base ‘Domaine des Quatre Chenes’? Come and find out for yourselves.

Always welcome! Toujours les bienvenus ! Altijd welkom !

Joanna and Geert, Pompignan, 1 January 2023

Geert Cappelaere

 

UNICEF REPRESENTATIVE European Union Institutions

DIRECTOR UNICEF Partnership Office

 

Aarlenstraat 80

B-1040 Brussels