UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Organizational culture in four pictures. Wrapping up my first three weeks in Budapest with amazing colleagues all around. Being a bit more reflective than normally this morning, walking down the corridor to my allocated office, it struck me that the photos we choose to make public also tell a story of organizational culture. 1. Bring your dog days. I was quite skeptical initially but must admit that it is a great idea to have colleagues bring their dogs on selected days. Its create many additional 'water cooler moments' build connections and brings joy. Thanks to Besenyi Marta! 2. The board. I made it onto the matching dress board yesterday (blue circle :-)). Such a wonderful idea by Reema Masoud to capture anyone who happens to come to work in matching outfits. Speaks to community, belonging and generates lots of laughter. 3. Volunteer day. Colleagues volunteering for 1/2 day in Budapest, picking rubbish, helping out at dog shelters or preparing food for those who need support. Fantastic way of paying back, community engagement and creating relationships across work areas. Thanks Zsófia Gábor! 4. Team events. The last picture of team events spoke to me as a celebration of team work, the sense of community and the power of team performance. It could have been a board with individual pictures, our organigram, but no. Instead a board full of team pictures :-). Love it! What I also appreciate about these initiatives is that most, if not all, have grown from the bottom up! Thanks to colleagues in #GLDC and #UNHCR for your can-do spirit. Do share similar 'day-to-day' organizational culture building initiatives. Yet another day in life of #humanitariansAtWork Kasia Popiolek

Since the conflict began in Sudan, I have witnessed the devastation it has caused everywhere. In silence, from UNHCR Gedaref we have worked tirelessly to support both refugees and IDPs, old and new cases alike. Our commitment to humanity has always driven us, but I can't help but wonder, for how long? We desperately need this war to end, as it has destroyed everything. Looking back on the past three years in UNHCR Gedaref, I wonder if those who initiated this war in Sudan even know about us. Do they know about the dreams we had and the efforts we made to rebuild the lives of refugees who sought peace in Sudan? Are they aware of the countless children displaced from their homes, searching for safety, education, and opportunities for a brighter future? Do they realize that these children dream of returning to rebuild their shattered homes? What about the women who have been displaced multiple times, yet have shown incredible resilience and determination to move forward with their children? Have they considered the countless hours, days, and months we have spent driving to the camps in the harshest conditions? Are they aware of the numerous convoys we have received from the border in the dead of night until the break of dawn?Do they comprehend the overwhelming joy we felt when the first convoy arrived from the border at midnight? Do they understand the significance of the first rainy season in Gedaref for the refugees ? How many tents collapsed, and how much effort and cost it took from UNHCR to rebuild the camps with the support of partners, donor organizations, and the refugees themselves? Can they fathom the distance between the refugee camps and Gedaref and the profound satisfaction we derived from reaching the camps and providing assistance? Do they know that as female staff members, we would perform our personal care routines in the vehicle because time was a luxury we couldn't afford when we returned? Do they realize the tremendous efforts we made to raise funds for building schools, CFS, hospitals, and providing crucial assistance for the refugees? Are they aware of our comprehensive strategy to engage with the people we serve, which we had planned for 2023, just a month before this conflict erupted? Do they know the targets set for each staff member, community volunteer, project, and organization? Sadly, they will never know. If this conflict persists, only those engaged in the war will gain, while everyone else will suffer immeasurable losses. #EndTheConflict #UNHCR #SudanStrong