What does a typical day for you look like?
A typical day for me starts arriving at office around 8:30 am to check and respond to my emails before I leave for the field to oversee activities. My major concern is with visiting the construction sites in order to make sure that all compliance standards are met. I meet with local elders of the community to ensure that they are aware and involved in the local decision making. While returning from field sites, I often visit local line departments for bilateral meetings, and keep myself up to date with the concerns.
What do you like most about your job?
Helping susceptible communities in a dignified and involved manner. I remember one of my children asking me: “what do you do?” Confused how to explain my job to a four-year-old I replied: “I help people live better”. And the satisfying smile on my child’s face was worth all the effort.
…and least?
Being aware of people’s problems and not being able to help due to lack of resources.
Describe how you’ve seen PHPF funds benefit the communities you work with.
Provision of safe drinking water is the direst need of anyone’s existence. I’d like to quote here the example of Badan village, which did not have any access to clean drinking water and, therefore, the hygiene conditions were the poorest. After facilitation by PAWT during the PHPF project, not only the water needs were fulfilled, but the hygiene conditions were also improved drastically.
Key risks/challenges you have faced during project implementation?
Certainly, during the project implementation challenges must be faced, such as:
• Keeping every stakeholder on board at every step of project management. Sometimes, stakeholders aren’t able to give time due to their busy schedules.
• Severe weather conditions.
• Security conditions in the project area.
• Accessibility.
• Sometimes community members have higher expectations of us.
How do you keep yourself positive and healthy?
I keep myself positive by involving myself with community, keeping my targeted goals in mind and trying to be happy and enjoy my work in every kind of situation. Moreover, I do exercise regularly to keep myself fit and spend time with family to remain positive.