Bringing the spotlight to the people I serve. was my motto when I decided to dedicate myself to this industry. As a digital native and a communications specialist, I want to use the digital space as a way of shining a light on people who are forgotten and whose voice is unheard through the media
After working in the regional and liaison offices in the West African region and the Republic of Korea respectively, I am now based in the Lao PDR country office. Since country offices, or ‘field’ offices are those where WFP has direct contact with people in need, I am now directly involved in WFP’s life-saving and -changing activities.
WFP is playing an important role in the country’s development, since challenges in sustaining food security and nutrition still exist. The recent socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and high inflation rates threaten over 1 million people with food insecurity. When this is coupled with geographical limitations and challenging access, people’s livelihoods are even more threatened.
Due to the nature of my work here as a communications officer, I have had several chances to visit communities and gather stories about people whose lives are changing thanks to WFP’s work. I have witnessed what difficulties communities, particularly those living in remote ethnic villages, are facing, and how WFP impacts their everyday lives.
I was especially thrilled to see this from my own home country, the Republic of Korea. Once, I was on a field mission to collect content about how rice donated by the Republic of Korea to underprivileged students from ethnic groups benefitted them. Their stories touched the deepest part of my heart. At Champassak Provincial Ethnic Boarding School, the School Principal told me that as a result of the distribution, students could have three meals a day and start their days full of energy. An 18-year-old student from another ethnic boarding school told me that he can now focus better on studying to pass a university entrance exam to devote himself to developing the IT industry in Laos, thanks to the donation.
The work can be tough sometimes. To help those in need who live in isolated, mountainous areas, we sometimes have to travel on muddy and unpaved roads for hours and hours. Travels are hard, but my heart feels the call even stronger to serve those in need.
Whenever I try making a connection with people in the communities we serve, they answer back with the most beautiful smiles in the world. The villagers are always keen to share with us whatever food they have. Although we do not speak the same language and have only very limited communication, we share the most common thing: food.
Source: Lao News Agency