Tell us a little about yourself
I’m originally from Thailand but I’ve lived in the US for the past 11 years. I work in the Finance department for the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
How did you first get involved in humanitarian work?
Back in 2007, I did a three-month internship at the Bangkok Refugee Center as a Counseling Psychologist Intern. I got to consult a number of clients – all of them were either refugees or asylum seekers in the process of getting recognized by UNHCR to be eligible for durable solutions.
How did you first hear about Kaya and HPass and what made you start your learning journey with us?
Kaya is a part of the IRC learning platform, Rescue Academy, for all staff. When I was transitioning from my full-time role to a part-time one, I wanted to use my extra time to improve my skills and knowledge in humanitarian and emergency response.
What are your top 3 courses on Kaya?
Humanitarian Operations Programme (HOP), Field Visit Challenges as part of the FIELD Programme and Wellness and Resilience for Frontline Workers.
You were awarded your HPass Silver Level Learner of the Year badge – congrats! What inspired or motivated you with your learning?
I had a goal to work for an international department so I enrolled in relevant courses such as focusing on emergency response work to gain knowledge to enhance my professional profile. I kept thinking of my goal to stay motivated with my learning.
Has your learning changed your outlook or approach to your humanitarian work?
I recently was offered a global roving position in the Crisis Response, Recovery and Development department. Now I believe that I will get to apply what I learned with confidence.
My advice for fellow humanitarian learners? Keep learning when you have time. Humanitarian work can be very exhausting and sometimes you need a break. Use this time to educate yourself so you can do more later and make more impact. Be proud of yourself and never stop learning!
