April 25, 2024
News
Would you like to know more about Caritas Czech Republic? We have launched a series of interviews with our colleagues who will tell you more about our work across the world. Meet Kristýna Kvasničková updating and training staff on policies at Caritas Czech Republic.
You have been working for Caritas Czech Republic for almost a year now. Is this your first experience working for an NGO?
I did my bachelor's in management for NGOs, so I have always worked in the field. Before I came to Caritas Czech Republic, I worked for a very small NGO that supported NGOs in Lebanon and provided them with medication. I also lived in Poland and then in Beirut working non-govermental organisations there.
You seem to have had quite some experience working in humanitarian and development organisations. What convinced you to start working for Caritas Czech Republic?
My Master's background is in international migration and development, so I have always been interested in the field of humanitarian aid and development cooperation. I was following the work of Caritas Czech Republic. When the opportunity came to work at MEAL unit, which focuses monitoring and evaluation, an area I am interested in, I jumped at it.
You have already briefly mentioned what the MEAL unit means. Can you explain a little more about how this unit works and what exactly your job entails?
Sure. As I mentioned, I work within the MEAL unit, which is the abbreviation for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning. I originally came to Caritas Czech Republic to do the Learning and Accountability part. However, my manager went on maternity leave, and until she is back, I ensure everything is working within the unit. Every day and week, the tasks vary, but I mainly focus on updating policies. We also facilitate training for the staff of our country offices on these policies. In addition, I collect and deal with the feedback from our country offices to ensure the people we work with are respected and protected. The work of a MEAL officer helps to keep projects transparent and aligned with the organisation's goals.
Since your manager left for maternity leave and you took on more tasks, you suddenly had quite a big responsibility. What was it like to have such a big responsibility right after starting?
It was actually good because my manager helped me understand everything necessary about our work. Having her here for the first six months after I started was very helpful because she helped me grasp the tasks so I could execute them myself. I liked that I was immediately part of the team and worked on crucial issues, which can also be challenging.
That sounds like a good work environment. How do you generally perceive working for Caritas Czech Republic?
I think the value of working for a development NGO such as Caritas Czech Republic is exciting, especially seeing how it works behind the scenes and realising how much decisions and work are done or how the projects are planned. When you are thinking about making a difference or doing something that matters, not only the intention but also the precision and execution of the work are extremely important. I think here, in Caritas Czech Republic, there is much willingness for us to grow, and there are many possibilities to talk to people like your manager and receive feedback. It is also very interesting to see the whole network of Caritas organisations worldwide. Even though we are all independent, seeing how we cooperate on projects is interesting. Most offices focus on development projects, which we work on for longer. However, we also provide humanitarian aid, and it is important for me personally to see that we fulfil our duty as a humanitarian organisation to help in situations of extreme crisis, such as the one in Gaza.
You mentioned that you worked in Lebanon for a while. Can you tell us more about your time there and what exactly you did?
I had lived in Lebanon for almost two years before returning to the Czech Republic to work with Caritas Czech Republic. In Lebanon, I was working on my research for my Social Geography and Regional Development PhD, which I am doing at Charles University. I was a visiting research fellow at the Lebanese American University, so I mainly conducted my research, did interviews and worked towards my PhD. While there, I also worked with the NGO I mentioned before that brought the medication. Lebanon and the region, in general, have been of interest to me throughout my studies at Charles University.
What do you love about Lebanon and the country’s culture? Is there anything that you miss?
I miss everything. There is something about the hospitality and acceptance in the countries in the Middle East, which makes it very easy to feel at home. Of course, Lebanon is currently going through an extreme economic crisis and insecurities that affect the people. I think nobody can ask them to be resilient anymore because they have endured enough, but when it comes to loving and protecting their family or the kind of friendship they offer, they still manage to be welcoming and kind. In addition, the country is very beautiful, it is incredible how much you can do and see in such a tiny country. I would like to live there again one day.
Your work at Caritas Czech Republic and your PhD studies have probably been very demanding. What is something that helps you relax and free your mind?
I love photography, especially in Lebanon. I like street photography and I used to stroll the streets of Beirut together with my friends. It was always very inspirational. I enjoy the arts in general, like visiting museums or galleries or creating something.
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