Welcome back ChatAholic listeners! In today's episode, we delve into the topic of humanitarian crises and the individuals who go above and beyond to help those in need. I am joined by Fahim Safi who will be sharing their experiences and insights on various humanitarian initiatives. From ADRA, an organization working tirelessly across over 100 countries, to the efforts in Madagascar's tree planting campaign, we'll explore how limited resources and various priorities impact the ability to provide aid. Fahim also discuss's the recent events in Afghanistan and the personal connection he has to the country. Join us as we navigate the complexities of humanitarian crises and the role we can all play in making a difference. Let's get started on this thought-provoking episode of ChatAholic!
Please note transcription accuracy may vary.
Music by - Neffex - don't want to let myself down
Neffex - A year go
https://adra.org/
https://msf.org.uk/article/five-lies-government-tells-us-about-its-rwanda-plan?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLA-HYvsqvRb_2NUiGGEhw26GIwxs5A6IYR6i0DE5kgAzNsF_THnsGRoC7_sQAvD_BwE
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/rwanda-commonwealth-leaders-must-call-uk-end-cruel-and-racist-refugee-deal?utm_source=google&utm_medium=grant&utm_campaign=BRD_AWA_GEN_dynamic-search-ads&utm_content=&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLEyMg4CkQ1jpquzh7SVjJKzsE06l20Bcn1_azFQNth42tjndMEt5rBoCHn8QAvD_BwE
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/afghanistan-war-how-did-911-lead-to-a-20-year-war
https://crisisrelief.un.org/
Welcome back ChatAholic listeners! In today's episode, we delve into the topic of humanitarian crises and the individuals who go above and beyond to help those in need. I am joined by Fahim Safi who will be sharing their experiences and insights on various humanitarian initiatives. From ADRA, an organization working tirelessly across over 100 countries, to the efforts in Madagascar's tree planting campaign, we'll explore how limited resources and various priorities impact the ability to provide aid. Fahim also discuss's the recent events in Afghanistan and the personal connection he has to the country. Join us as we navigate the complexities of humanitarian crises and the role we can all play in making a difference. Let's get started on this thought-provoking episode of ChatAholic!
Please note transcription accuracy may vary.
Music by - Neffex - don't want to let myself down
Neffex - A year go
https://adra.org/
https://msf.org.uk/article/five-lies-government-tells-us-about-its-rwanda-plan?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLA-HYvsqvRb_2NUiGGEhw26GIwxs5A6IYR6i0DE5kgAzNsF_THnsGRoC7_sQAvD_BwE
https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/rwanda-commonwealth-leaders-must-call-uk-end-cruel-and-racist-refugee-deal?utm_source=google&utm_medium=grant&utm_campaign=BRD_AWA_GEN_dynamic-search-ads&utm_content=&gclid=CjwKCAjwxOymBhAFEiwAnodBLEyMg4CkQ1jpquzh7SVjJKzsE06l20Bcn1_azFQNth42tjndMEt5rBoCHn8QAvD_BwE
https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/afghanistan-war-how-did-911-lead-to-a-20-year-war
https://crisisrelief.un.org/
Hello, hello, hello. Welcome back to another episode of ChatAholic. This episode I speak to Fahim I do have a question and my question is, if you live in a country where you're Fleeing the Taliban or an oppressive government. Do you think the stance of your government should be A. Let's see if we can help these people or B. Let's just say, for example, the United Kingdom once they arrive in this new country, after they've been fleeing an oppressive government, to hand them a deportation notice. I don't expect... everyone to have the same opinion as I do. That's just not life. We all have to have different opinions, and, different viewpoints on different things. So, that's my question! This episode it's a positive message about people who just try and help. others in, just in the most profound way. I'm going to start by asking you a bit about you. So what your name is, If you want to disclose your age and what is your occupation, anything you're happy sharing about you.
Fahim:Sure. my name is Fahim Safi and I'm a senior, monitoring and evaluation advisor with ADRA International. I'm based in the U. S. I live in College Park, Maryland. It's very close to Washington, D. C. And Virginia. I'm 36 years old. Yeah.
Ad:okay, thank you. the reason I wanted to speak to you is because I wanted to speak to someone who people could try and understand maybe a little bit what it might be like from a different perspective. I feel like, and also the organization that you work for is doing. all of these amazing humanitarian things that I just, I just really wanted to speak to you. So you were born in a refugee camp. Whereabouts was that?
Fahim:I was born in a refugee camp in Pakistan. So back in the 1980s when, so I'm, I'm originally from Afghanistan, actually. So when, back in 1980s, when the Soviet Union attacked Afghanistan, they wanted to invade the country. So like my family, millions of. Afghan families decided to, to move to other neighboring countries yeah, Pakistan and Iran, basically. So my family moved to, to Pakistan and I was born there in that refugee camp when my family moved due to the war and, and problems they have faced in, in the country, in Afghanistan during the invasion of the Soviet Union.
Ad:How long were you in the refugee camp for?
Fahim:Well, I was there until 2002 when the U. S., you know, when 9 11 happened and then when the U. S. attacked Afghanistan and kicked out the Taliban regime, my family and a lot of other refugee families moved back to Afghanistan. Back in 2000, end of 2003, 2002. Yeah, beginning of 2003.
Ad:Okay. How much do you remember about being there? Just only because I'm just intrigued just to know what that must actually be like, what it was like.
Fahim:Well, I, I think, I remember everything. I mean, being a refugee, living in a country where they don't, you know, they don't recognize you as a person. Or, I give you I would say that comments that you, you could, you know, live there legally. You remember those bad days, like when you have been facing problems and issues there, so I would say, you know, life was not easy, you know, we didn't have a school to go we didn't have resources, you know, so with big families, you know, feeding everyone in the family is not easy, so my parents had to work very hard, you know, you know, finding some little resources and helping, you know, children, you know, eat once or twice a day. So life was not easy, you know, you know, and then and then, you know going to school or, you know, using some of those free because we were refugee, we were not allowed to go to school there, you know, basically, because first, you know, they were not for refugees. Second, we couldn't afford them if they give us the permission. So there were a lot of issues. and challenges back in that time.
Ad:So you your family had to leave their home I understand why, but you won't be able to explain this to me, but. What I don't understand is why, because of your circumstances, you were not given, in the Western world, we would classify as a basic right, the right for, right to education, the right to food, the right to shelter. I don't understand why any country would think that's okay.
Fahim:Well, yeah, I mean, for, because there were millions of refugees who moved to these countries, neighboring countries. And I think for the neighboring countries also, you know, with limited resources, they had their own issues. So, you know, with millions of people, it wasn't easy to, you know, for those people to provide. you know, rights or, you know, basic rights to, to these refugees. So we were living in, in refugee camps where we had to, you know, stay in a, for example, in a tent So, although there were some international organizations that were helping the refugees there, but the resources were not enough because there were a lot of people need those resources. So, and eventually, You know, some of these organizations were able to, build some primary schools in those camps and children, you know, like myself, were able to go to schools in the refugee camps and, and could get some basic educations like primary, you know, yeah.
Ad:Okay. Thank you. because I live in this very idealistic world where I feel like everything should be perfect for everyone. I will ask questions that are very obvious, but sometimes I just need someone who's been in that situation to at least explain it to me, if that's okay, if you don't mind. I'm going to try and keep my interruption as quick as possible. So this is me interrupting, obviously. So, it never occurred to me, and I'm sure some people listening have thought, well, of course we don't want refugees coming in. And it wasn't until Fahim said it, and He wasn't bitter, he wasn't angry, it was just, this is the situation, when countries have an influx of refugees, they don't always have the resources in place to be able to accommodate them in terms of the basic needs, food, shelter, education. However, the Prime Minister in the country that I live in, Rishi Sunak, who makes a point of saying that You know, his parents were refugees. Okay, Rishi, so if your parents were refugees, you should have some compassion. You should have some compassion rather than thinking, Oh, what will we do when they come over? I know, we'll send them over to Rwanda, which is a small island in Africa. I don't know if it's a small island, I just know it's an island in Africa. And you know what Rishi, as the son of immigrants, do better. Can I ask you though, what is the difference between, I know we. You can Google and find the answer, but I just wanted to hear it from you. What is the difference between a refugee and a migrant?
Fahim:I would simply describe that as a refugee, someone who wants to leave his or her country due to certain violence and conflicts that is affecting their life. And that could be, you know, killing them, direct threats, and all that. So it's not by choice, and you, have to leave because you would be targeted or, you know, face some of these violences. Migrant is, in my opinion, I think is the person who choose to move, and it usually happens. It's easier, I mean, through legal ways that they call it in the UN terminologies, but yeah, I think that that's the main difference. You know, it's refugees not by choice, but migrants is more of understand the, you know, they may have some paperwork and all that and want to leave the country. For maybe for a better life.
Ad:So if you're a refugee and you want to try and get over to United States, which is what happened in your case, how easy was that as a process?
Fahim:as I mentioned, I was born as a refugee back in Pakistan, but moving to the United States, I move as an immigrant which was, you know, a bit easier compared to, to, you know, moving to a country as a refugee. So I was working for US government in Afghanistan before I moved to the United States as an immigrant. So I came through a kind of legal process where, you know, received the visa. In the U. S. Embassy and then move to the States because of my work history with the U. S. government there. And back in those days, you know, The problem with people who works for the U. S. government in Afghanistan were, were because they were being targeted by bad people. You know, they don't want you to work for the U. S. government or, you know, U. S. forces in Afghanistan. So that was the reason I decided to move to the United States because of the threats and, and, and violence. I was facing in Afghanistan because of my work history with the United States government there. So, yeah, but yeah, as again, you know, moving to a new country, you know, with culture differences, you know, everything with no job and you don't know anybody in a new country even moving as an immigrant, had a few resources here. When I moved in, because some of the resettlement agencies were helping us, but it wasn't easy. It wasn't an easy experience coming to a new country.
Ad:I can't imagine it was Could you tell me? You work now for, when I read it, I read it as ADRA. What do those letters actually stand for?
Fahim:So, ADRA it's an Adventist Development and Relief Agency. It's an international faith based non profit organization that works all over the world. You know, we are in more than 107 countries. Providing humanitarian and development work in communities, serving people who have been affected by different problems refugees, migrants people who are facing droughts, flooding, people who have been affected by disasters.
Ad:have you seen more places around the world, more people in need of help since you started? is the number of people... who actually require help because we have, because I know war is, war is not a new thing. I know environmental issues is not new, but are the numbers increasing?
Fahim:Yes, I mean, I can speak from Adra's perspective. You know, we have been expanding our operation to more countries. It's because there's a lot of need everywhere. You know, a lot of factors is affecting that, you know, like Covid. Thank you. You know, say like before COVID, there was more of a war and, you know, disasters and other issues that has affected millions and millions of people all over the world. But after COVID, you know, COVID has impacted people a lot and that number has significantly increased. Especially, you know, people who need food. There is lack of food everywhere and, you know, people have lost, for example, jobs. economies of a lot of countries went down and that has impacted their citizens, people who lives in those countries. So a lot of these factors have impacted people and that number has been increasing everywhere. You know, and again, war and, and conflicts. have also played a critical role in increasing the number of people who need food or, you know, who need help and support.
Ad:you said you're not for profit. For the organisation to be able to do what you are required to do to help people, where does that funding come from?
Fahim:So, ADRA basically have two types of funding. Our, we receive funding from the U. S. government. U. S., they call it U. S. and U. S. government humanitarian aid that Implement humanitarian and development work in the marginalized communities in places that need help. So we submit funding requests and proposals to the U. S. government and they provide us funding and we implement in those countries. That's, that's one source of our funding. The second one is private, we call them private grants. It's a donation that we receive from people, people who are our donors and they provide funding and, and support to ATRA. And then we use those fundings and, and help people in other countries.
Ad:Okay. the government, the US government. when you request the funding, is there a stipulation on, so if you said, okay, we want this funding to help people in top of my head, let's say Ukraine, can they, can they actually say, Can they say no, or do they, or is that not one of the requirements?
Fahim:So U. S. government has their own priorities on, you know, funding funding requirements and, and, and, and regulations, but in most cases where ADRA has presence and has worked in those countries when, you know, depending, because it's not only ADRA, there are a lot of other organizations that work in humanitarian sector. So we, you know, like you give an example of Ukraine, Ukraine, we have been supporting Migrants and refugees in Ukraine, and there are a lot of other organizations that receive U. S. government funding and help and provide support to the people of Ukraine. So it's, it's not usually that they would say no, but it's What their priorities are and what our priority, because ADRA first cannot work everywhere because of our limited resources. So, and it's not only funding, but it's human resources as well, you know, where we, if we don't have people on the ground, we cannot provide, you know, help even if, if we are asked to do that in some cases. So, Usually yeah they usually support our implementation and help.
Ad:Okay, because ADRA is listed as one of the best charities in America. So I did, that was one of my questions, so I did want, I did want to ask you. What, it sounds self explanatory, it's one of the best charities, How does the organization get that status
Fahim:And I think it's, it's of ADRA has a huge network. As I mentioned, we have worked in more than 100 countries and we have offices. A network of offices of in more than 100 countries which I think not other organization has this level of. You know, capacity. We, we are, as I said, we are present in a lot of countries where if, if there is a health needed, ADRA is always the, the first nonprofit organization to start helping people, especially in emergency situations. For example, when the Turkey earthquake happened, you know, ADRA started you know, supporting people there. And if, you know, in any other countries where a disaster happens, you know, ADRA has on the ground resources always, or, you know, project teams in those countries and start providing support to people. And I think that that is something that not a lot of other organization has. And since, as I mentioned, since ADRA is a faith based organization, It's an Adventist organization. We work with the local churches and communities directly. And that helps us in a good collaboration and implementation in those countries.
Ad:how does ADRA decide where's going to get the help? Because you do have to some extent, limited resources, limited people on the ground. So how is that decision made on, okay, where are we going?
Fahim:ADRA as an organization wants to help everyone, you know, places, as I mentioned, we want to. Support as many people as we could, but, you know, with limited resources, we, unfortunately, ADRA cannot serve everybody. the way we decide, you know, we have presence in our, have offices in more than 100 countries. And, and that actually help us in, in a good collaboration and implementation in those countries. So when we believe like in the types of humanitarian support we provide we believe there is a need in a certain communities, we provide proposals to the donors and if they approve it. it's not that we implement and provide support in those countries. In addition to that, when a disaster happens, it's more on the emergency side. For example, if flooding, earthquake or, you know, hurricanes or storms happen and the countries need help, ADRA is always providing. It's not the decision we make, that whether we should help or not, but Adra would definitely deploy teams and help those countries in an emergency situation. we don't decide based on the countries or on the communities, but it's more on, on the support those countries need.
Ad:Do you. ever get opposition from the people who, I don't know, I imagine you don't get opposition from the people who are living there because you're going to help them. For example, some of the governments in some of those places.
Fahim:So, we work with the government. It's in collaboration with the countries, governments. So ADRA is a registered organization in all these countries where we work. So we have license and proper registration. And then we collaborate with the local government. even before we implement our projects. So, yeah, Adra, we have never faced any issues where we had opposition from the local government or from the people for, during our implementation and support.
Ad:why did you decide to get into this? Why did you feel? that actually you wanted to give back, that you wanted to help people.
Fahim:I mentioned earlier I was a refugee, so I know how difficult it is to be, to be a refugee, to be someone who needs help to be someone who have limited resources. So that in mind, when we moved back to Afghanistan in 2003, I because of the war in Afghanistan, there were a lot of demand for humanitarian workers because of, you know, people have left Afghanistan there were people who, you know, since I learned English at school in Pakistan, so I was able to speak some English. I was a high school student. And there was need for people to help with the humanitarian organization. So, and as I mentioned, I was someone who have been impacted by the war. So I wanted to help others, and that's how I decided to start working with a non profit organization in Afghanistan, supporting those serving those who were in need. And, and I worked back in my country in Afghanistan until 2016 with humanitarian organizations before I moved to the U. S. And in the U. S., as I mentioned before, I did not have a job here, but my intention was to work again with a non profit organization that helps others. in the U. S. as well. and that's how I started working with ADRA. I started applying for jobs here with humanitarian organizations, and I was lucky to, to be recruited by ADRA and, and have been working with ADRA since then. So, yeah, that's, that's my journey of how I've been working with with humanitarian organizations.
Ad:have you actually been back to Afghanistan since?
Fahim:Yes, back in 2018. Yeah, I went back for a couple of weeks because I have my family members there and I visit them.
Ad:I know Mainly what I read because I don't see anything so much on the news anymore over here. What is, what is life like over there now? it's everything that I can't ever imagine and it's everything that makes me so, so sad. It just makes me really sad and I guess I would like to know. I'd like to know that maybe it's not true that girls don't get to go to school.
Fahim:Yeah. And that's, that's the most difficult part in the, in Afghanistan right now. Women are not allowed to go to school. Girls are not going to school. and that, that's one of the biggest issues currently there. People have been facing a lot of other issues as well. It's a humanitarian crisis, you know, people have I don't have food to eat in some places, and that's not easy after, you know, the Taliban took over the country international organizations have, you know, some of the international organizations have stopped funding and providing support in Afghanistan, and that has Impacted a lot of people. So yeah, there are crisis, there are issues. and we hope and pray for a change.
Ad:when I reached out to speak to Fahim, I didn't know Afghanistan was going to come up. But obviously, Afghanistan's his country, so Afghanistan came up. And even now, it just takes me back to that moment of watching it on the TV. of when all the troops just, just left. Everyone left at the same time. Like, we were there for so long, and then, and then we left. I understand slightly why we left, because it wasn't safe for the soldiers to be there anymore. So, I understand that. But we just left them. We left them and we, we didn't have a plan. We just left. And... in however many years time, that will always be one of those images that I saw that, it will always make my heart hurt. And I'm going to just ask you something that doesn't make me sad. Would you be able to tell me about the planting trees in Madagascar? I read about it on the website and because I'm about. Humanitarian and environmental things. So when I saw it on the website, I wanted to ask you about
Fahim:Well, yeah, I've been, I've been working in Madagascar for so many years now. You know, I, there, ADRA has a few projects in Madagascar and I have been backstopping. I, I travel a lot to, to Madagascar. So Madagascar has launched a very massive trees planting campaign back in, I think it was Back in 2020 they were, you know, the campaign was to plant, I think 60 million trees all over the country. And, and I think that there was a massive, you know, and a very big campaign and there was very successful in their campaign. Madagascar, you know, it's an island country, a lot of area areas that has, it's tropical, you know, a lot of water. And, and trees. And in some places it's very dry and especially in the southern part of the country, so they need a lot of, you know, resources and trees there. So, yeah. And, and in addition to that, you know, as I said, we have been working in Madagascar for several years and, and through our programs we have been helping farmers and, and locals and providing agriculture support and assistance. For example, providing seeds or, you know, other resources so they could expand their agriculture and, cultivate different types of vegetables and trees that could help them become sustainable in the community. this has been a, a very good campaign that the country has launched
Ad:I don't know if I read this on your website or if I read it somewhere else. The 5. 2 million people. are in need of international protection. So I'm going to ask, in your opinion, I'm not saying this, whatever you say is right, or just your opinion, is the United Nations doing enough?
Fahim:in my opinion, I think as someone who is working in humanitarian field, I think we have not been doing enough to support people These these big donors, funding agencies, including United Nations they have not been doing a lot, although they have been helping or funding humanitarian organizations to support people in need. But since there's a very big demand, huge demand, there's more to be done to serve more people and To help others and kind of overcome this big challenge of food insecurity and other issues that people have been facing. So I think, no, international organizations have not been doing enough looking at all these crisis issues, food insecurity, and, Problems, all over the, countries.
Ad:I know we are also going through a cost of living crisis and all these other things that are going on. but just for myself and people listening, What can we do?
Fahim:again, in my personal opinion, you know, to even, you know, Start helping people, you know, even if they're in your communities in the UK or in the United States. If we can't help more in other countries it's, it's very important, you know, coming from as again, I'm giving my example because I've been to these these issues. So I travel, you know, seeing a school. Child in in Zimbabwe or in Madagascar who doesn't have shoes to wear who doesn't have food at school to eat and walk two three kilometers to get to the school just you know to to get that one meal because an Organization is providing that meal at school And so that child walks for for two three kilometers to get to the school from his home and just spend a couple of hours there, you know, learn something and then eat some food because he doesn't have food at home. I have witnessed that. I have seen that. So as a, as a person, you know, as I mentioned, we could help those in need whether they are in our communities, whether they are someone who know we know, or people that we could help through these non profit organizations, organizations that serves marginalized communities. are people who are in need. So if it's a monetary value or if it's a social support we could provide or we could voluntarily support these nonprofit organizations, that would be a huge, huge help in addressing in serving some of these people who are in need.
Ad:because you, you know, these things are going on, but you don't see them. Not you have seen them firsthand, but I haven't seen them firsthand. I think most of the people who were listening, haven't seen them firsthand, but just because you can't see something that doesn't mean. it doesn't exist and that doesn't mean we should just ignore it. that's my opinion and that's really why I wanted to speak to you. Can I just ask you one last thing? Does your job take a toll on you and how do you, how do you separate yourself from what you see or do you not?
Fahim:Well, I think it's not easy. I mean, I travel for work a lot. And my job is to, because we implement in, in a lot of these countries, want to make sure we, Implement in a good quality and serve more people in those countries. So I travel a lot, you know, and it's not easy to kind of disconnect from what you are doing in everyday's life. And the types of work we do requires a lot of attention. Even, you know, we, for example, a lot of our colleagues It's even, you know, response to emails on the evenings or on the weekends, you know, making sure we, we do not delay anything. So it's kind of an everyday life. We know working with a humanitarian organization, ensuring we serve people. So I think I would conclude that it's, it's not easy to disconnect from what we are doing because it's our, it's part of our life now. It's an everyday life and yeah, you can't forget, like when you see things, you can easily forget about it, you know, because you feel it.
Ad:Thank you so, so, so much. I can't articulate how big that is and it's not for you. You are doing it for other people. it's just a very pure type of kindness. So, Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for coming on and thank you to the person who was emailing me because they were very good.
Fahim:Oh, thank you. Thank you for that. And I think it's, it's good. It's, it's great what you are doing and, and reaching people who have, don't have that knowledge and it's good to share this information with more people. So, you know, if they are able or if they could help. That could, could create, even if it's a small help, it could have a huge impact on people's life, people who are in need. Thank you for doing this. And thank you for giving us this platform to share what ADRA has been doing and what we could do to, to reach more people. and, you know, as I mentioned, it's a good platform to share with your listeners that, there's a lot of need in the communities and I think it's good to help people and share this information with people so they could help more people. Thank you for doing this.
Ad:Have a good rest of the day. Bye.
Fahim:No, no problem. Thank you. You too. Thank you. Take care.
Ad:Thank you so much for listening to another episode of ChatAholic, and I'll be back in a fortnight. I really. I really hope you enjoyed this episode There's links on the show notes with more about the organization that Fahim works for and the work that they do. so there'll be a link to that. There'll be a link to probably quite a few links to things that may be interesting to read. and I'm really grateful for Just anyone who listens. I'm grateful for you. So thank you.