Nuzhat Shahzadi
I was heading UNICEF-Kiribati and the UN Joint Presence Office, UNICEF Pacific (under EAPRO). I was based in Tarawa, Kiribati for almost 4 years. The isolation was too much so I decided to quit. HR termed it as "early retirement."
How old do you feel?
Not sure. On some good days I feel young, vibrant and optimistic. On bad days (mostly influenced by global happenings) I feel defeated. I ask myself "did I/we do
anything to make change happen??"
Where do you live?
Vienna Town Center–– an endearing neighborhood in the greater Washington DC area (technically northern Virginia––12 miles from downtown DC).
What book do you currently read?
I love fiction. Just finished reading "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros. Now halfway through "Welcome to the Hyunam -Dong Bookshop" by Hwang Bo-Reum
If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go?
Guatemala. (however, I still travel quite a bit. Recently travelled to Thailand and the Dominican Republic as well as within the US)
Your best experience with UNICEF?
Too many ...when school girls in Afghanistan laughed with me . . .in Kiribati when they showed me how to carry a large Tuna fish with bare hands . . . when boy scouts in Quetta told me how they brought their younger sisters to school . . . when women and men built sanitary toilets with local materials and proudly used them . . . when Government health workers promoted PENTA 3 vaccines on motor bikes in Tarawa . . .when successful NIDS happened in numerous countries... when girls in Kenya openly shared their experiences regarding female genital cutting . . . when adolescents in Bangladesh were being empowered through BRAC-grassroots programs and many more . . . and the countless instances we stood beside children and families to support them
Your biggest challenge when working for UNICEF?
NEPOTISM within our system. It was out in the open but people (who had power to make changes) didn't want to bell the cat.
What is your biggest fear, in relation to the future of children? What is your greatest hope, in relation to children?
Fear: Global crises––war, climate change, inequities are making children more vulnerable
Hope: Children are resilient. They are change makers and will find a way, definitely. Like others working in the humanitarian/development sector, I have experienced this in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Uganda, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka . . .
What is one piece of advice you would wish to give to the UNICEF Executive Director?
Listen and act with honesty to make a change. Accept that our limitations and unethical dealings are nothing but true.
Do you have any suggestions to improve XUNICEF - content, format, ideas, etc..?
I think we can cut down on republishing the news already out there. There are different ways one can access them. Unless it's specifically related to the UN or development agencies we can limit repeating the news.
I was thinking of a "letter writing corner" where anyone is able to publish their view, comments on issues of their interest/concern ––no delegated responder is required. Any reader can respond. Sort of op-ed?
I was heading UNICEF-Kiribati and the UN Joint Presence Office, UNICEF Pacific (under EAPRO). I was based in Tarawa, Kiribati for almost 4 years. The isolation was too much so I decided to quit. HR termed it as "early retirement."
How old do you feel?
Not sure. On some good days I feel young, vibrant and optimistic. On bad days (mostly influenced by global happenings) I feel defeated. I ask myself "did I/we do
anything to make change happen??"
Where do you live?
Vienna Town Center–– an endearing neighborhood in the greater Washington DC area (technically northern Virginia––12 miles from downtown DC).
What book do you currently read?
I love fiction. Just finished reading "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros. Now halfway through "Welcome to the Hyunam -Dong Bookshop" by Hwang Bo-Reum
If you could travel without restrictions, where would you go?
Guatemala. (however, I still travel quite a bit. Recently travelled to Thailand and the Dominican Republic as well as within the US)
Your best experience with UNICEF?
Too many ...when school girls in Afghanistan laughed with me . . .in Kiribati when they showed me how to carry a large Tuna fish with bare hands . . . when boy scouts in Quetta told me how they brought their younger sisters to school . . . when women and men built sanitary toilets with local materials and proudly used them . . . when Government health workers promoted PENTA 3 vaccines on motor bikes in Tarawa . . .when successful NIDS happened in numerous countries... when girls in Kenya openly shared their experiences regarding female genital cutting . . . when adolescents in Bangladesh were being empowered through BRAC-grassroots programs and many more . . . and the countless instances we stood beside children and families to support them
Your biggest challenge when working for UNICEF?
NEPOTISM within our system. It was out in the open but people (who had power to make changes) didn't want to bell the cat.
What is your biggest fear, in relation to the future of children? What is your greatest hope, in relation to children?
Fear: Global crises––war, climate change, inequities are making children more vulnerable
Hope: Children are resilient. They are change makers and will find a way, definitely. Like others working in the humanitarian/development sector, I have experienced this in Afghanistan, Rwanda, Uganda, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka . . .
What is one piece of advice you would wish to give to the UNICEF Executive Director?
Listen and act with honesty to make a change. Accept that our limitations and unethical dealings are nothing but true.
Do you have any suggestions to improve XUNICEF - content, format, ideas, etc..?
I think we can cut down on republishing the news already out there. There are different ways one can access them. Unless it's specifically related to the UN or development agencies we can limit repeating the news.
I was thinking of a "letter writing corner" where anyone is able to publish their view, comments on issues of their interest/concern ––no delegated responder is required. Any reader can respond. Sort of op-ed?
You can contact Nuzhat at: nuzhatshahzadi@gmail.com
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