After a 3 month trip across the world and countless hours of traveling back, I'm officially home in the United States! For the last two weeks I have been able to readjust and reflect on my time spent in Timor-Leste and what a magical experience it all was.
Surprisingly, the hardest part of the entire trip was coming home and attempting to fit back into my old life as a changed person. I truly was experiencing a reverse culture shock. For the last few weeks my brain was on sensory overload and I was having a difficult time getting back into a regular routine. I was thrilled to have such a warm welcome from all my friends and family and at the same time overwhelmed with the reality that I have created such a wonderful life for myself in the Bay Area.
The three months I spent in East Timor were undeniably life changing. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with an organization dedicated to improving the lives of the thousands of Timorese people. Although Tuba Rai Metin was not the organization I originally planned to work for, I am so proud of the work we did together.
I am so grateful to have worked with an organization that has a history of fighting through the hard times and coming out stronger, a strength that is palpable throughout the entire country. TRM started in 2001 as a local NGO-MFI ( Microfinance Institution) amid great instability while the country was freshly independent. However, TRM fought on, determined to serve their clients, and by 2009 they were one of only two MFIs left serving the Timorese people. They are continuing to expand and increase their borrower base and as of 2013 they were serving 8,000 clients, 95% of whom are women entrepreneurs, with most loans less than $500.
For a recap: I specifically created a training program for The Smart Campaign and worked on a brainstorming project to implement new ideas for microfinance, or Microfinace Plus programs. The Smart Campaign is an industry wide certification that shows that an organization is committed to protecting their clients by implementing the 7 Client Protection Principles:
7. Mechanisms of Complaint Resolution
I developed a training program for these 7 Client Protection Principles for the field officers throughout East Timor. On one of the last days in the office I had the opportunity to go to a bamboo factory in Liquica District to order boxes for each of the branch offices to be used as a complaint/suggestion box. Before I created this program, clients had no way of giving feedback to TRM. I was happy to be part of improving their business by taking the necessary steps to protect their clients.
The second project I worked on was to think creatively and strategically about what the people of East Timor need and want in order to improve their lives. I pieced together what I was learning about the country, the politics, the people, and the culture and found ways translate that knowledge into a poverty reduction program. Although this was extremely challenging, I learned an incredible amount about what I am capable of achieving in a short amount of time and how I want to continue working in International Development.
Surprisingly, the hardest part of the entire trip was coming home and attempting to fit back into my old life as a changed person. I truly was experiencing a reverse culture shock. For the last few weeks my brain was on sensory overload and I was having a difficult time getting back into a regular routine. I was thrilled to have such a warm welcome from all my friends and family and at the same time overwhelmed with the reality that I have created such a wonderful life for myself in the Bay Area.
The three months I spent in East Timor were undeniably life changing. I'm so grateful that I had the opportunity to work with an organization dedicated to improving the lives of the thousands of Timorese people. Although Tuba Rai Metin was not the organization I originally planned to work for, I am so proud of the work we did together.
I am so grateful to have worked with an organization that has a history of fighting through the hard times and coming out stronger, a strength that is palpable throughout the entire country. TRM started in 2001 as a local NGO-MFI ( Microfinance Institution) amid great instability while the country was freshly independent. However, TRM fought on, determined to serve their clients, and by 2009 they were one of only two MFIs left serving the Timorese people. They are continuing to expand and increase their borrower base and as of 2013 they were serving 8,000 clients, 95% of whom are women entrepreneurs, with most loans less than $500.
For a recap: I specifically created a training program for The Smart Campaign and worked on a brainstorming project to implement new ideas for microfinance, or Microfinace Plus programs. The Smart Campaign is an industry wide certification that shows that an organization is committed to protecting their clients by implementing the 7 Client Protection Principles:
1. Appropriate Product Design and Delivery
2. Prevention of Over-Indebtedness
3. Transparency
4. Responsible Pricing
5. Fair and Respectful Treatment of Clients
6. Privacy of Client Data
I developed a training program for these 7 Client Protection Principles for the field officers throughout East Timor. On one of the last days in the office I had the opportunity to go to a bamboo factory in Liquica District to order boxes for each of the branch offices to be used as a complaint/suggestion box. Before I created this program, clients had no way of giving feedback to TRM. I was happy to be part of improving their business by taking the necessary steps to protect their clients.
The second project I worked on was to think creatively and strategically about what the people of East Timor need and want in order to improve their lives. I pieced together what I was learning about the country, the politics, the people, and the culture and found ways translate that knowledge into a poverty reduction program. Although this was extremely challenging, I learned an incredible amount about what I am capable of achieving in a short amount of time and how I want to continue working in International Development.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the support of my family and friends. I can't say thank you enough, or accurately express how much everyone's support has meant to me, but I will try. For all of the financial support, thank you! So many wonderfully generous people contributed to my Indiegogo campaign, and I was able to exceed my original goal. To my friends who organized and attended the Second-Santa-Sweater-Stunner-Smash fundraising party, thank you! I am so lucky to have such an amazing group of friends.
Thank you: Tim Durkee, Meagan Montana, Kim Leduff, Michelle Frost, Connie Tramma, Judy Call, Barbara Barboza,Travis Clark, Ed Baby, Emily Chan, Fred & Claire, Jeff Jones, Cody Jones, Katherine Michel, Timothy Payne, Niquita Williams, Alexis Lee, Tina Monarrez, Jim Harrington, Mr. and Mrs. Michel, John Holzinger, Yogi Yokubaitis, Phil & Pam Durkee, Dani Borden, Kimberly Roel, Tara Scarrow, Aunt Joelle, Cheryl Cox, Chris Sherrard, Phil Campos, Angie Lee, and to everyone who bought stunners at the SSSSS! And a special thanks to Jackie Pomeroy and Tracey Morgan for hosting me and helping me feel at home 8,000 miles away from my home. And a VERY special thanks to Jim, Milissa, Helena and Liam for bringing me to East Timor and opening up their house and lives to me.
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| CEO of Tuba Rai Metin and me with a traditional tais on my last day |
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