What comes around, can rebound : Ken Gibbs

So it was that following some work in Nepal in 1979, where I ran into a number of VSO volunteers, that I felt compelled to visit the Head Office of VSO in London on my return to discuss my observations. While in Nepal, I’d seen that while VSO volunteers nearly all completed at least their 2-year minimum contract; and while virtually all became proficient in the local language, at the same time, their technical support was, sadly, rather ‘wanting’. I planned to suggest to VSO Head Office that they might want to consider the use of slightly older – and better qualified – volunteers.

I was most cordially received by VSO, London, and they heard me out and nodded wisely. It was suggested that as I had just returned from Nepal and as VSO was currently undertaking a pre-briefing of new recruits for Nepal, that I come and discuss my observations with them. It would be helpful for them to know what to take and what to leave at home; whether to visit the dentist before departure; and what medications to put in the First Aid box.

I joined the recruits and had some useful discussions with them and one of them, in particular, was keen that she remain in contact with me so she could get advice during her time in Nepal. She sounded young, enthusiastic but very sensible, so I agreed and handed her my business card.

Very soon after this, I was recruited as the Chief of Water and Sanitation in UNICEF, Bangladesh. This had – for the young VSO volunteer - a distinct advantage because the cheapest flights between Kathmandu and London were routed through Bangladesh. Accordingly, twice she visited me in the UNICEF offices in Dhaka and we had interesting discussions. I like to think that she benefitted.

About 8 years later when I was posted to Quetta in Pakistan, I was informed that an engineer was going to be posted to my office in Quetta. I was astonished because the name I was given was that of the English VSO volunteer from Nepal. As a counter suggestion, I pointed out that the Peshawar Office of UNICEF was in great need of an engineer while the Quetta Office already had a resident engineer – me. Accordingly, she was posted to Peshawar and we met periodically over the next couple of years.

Move on to April 2002 following a request from the UN to UNICEF to provide a disaster relief specialist in water supply and sanitation for an inter-agency group to start an international response to the IDF incursions into Jenin, Palestine. By this time, the former VSO volunteer in Nepal had been appointed the Chief of WES in UNICEF, New York HQ, and she felt that the ideal candidate was - guess who ?

Why me, O Lord, why me ?

Why did I ever remonstrate with VSO, London, in the first place ? If I’d simply left well alone, I’d have missed all the excitements of working in Palestine as described here: click here - showing that what comes around can rebound.