Dear Future Humanitarian,

Welcome to the world of humanitarian aid.

Your decision to step into this sector speaks volumes about your compassion and dedication.

As you embark on this journey, I’d like to share some reflections and prompts to guide you.

Immediate Motivations

Reflect on your current emotional motivations for wanting to enter the humanitarian aid sector.

Consider the following:

1. Current Position: Where in your journey are you currently?

 2. Initial Attraction: What did you fall in love with about this journey?

 3. Personal ‘Why’: What is your ‘why’?

Focus on being present with your feelings.        

 4. Suitability and Fears: Why do you think you’re suited for this work, and what are your biggest fears?

Future Motivations

Now, let’s look ahead and reflect on your future motivations: 

Future Purpose: What will wake you up in the morning five years from now with a sense of purpose? 

Self-Reflection: What will make you feel good about yourself despite the inevitable challenges?        

Your presence here today shows your belief and emotional capability to work collectively for a better future.

Practicing daily compassion in your work is essential, and your presence can make a difference in moving towards decoloniality in humanitarian aid.

Transforming Coloniality into Hope

Remember, you are awake and aware of the flaws in the systems around you. This awareness is your greatest gift. It’s essential to flip the switch from horror to hope with the realization that the system exists to support you. Though outdated, you’re not here to uphold this system but to make it work for those you serve, especially those who can’t navigate its intricacies.

Key Concepts for Reflection

You Do Not Work for the System, the System Works for You        

Understanding and actualizing this concept is crucial. By strategically unlearning the power of oppressive systems, you foster active empathy. Compassion becomes your compass in research and practice, guiding you to stay open and agile.

 Listening Over Action

The most effective way to challenge colonial language in humanitarian aid is to listen, not act. Show your limitations transparently and trust those whose lives you aim to impact. This approach, rooted in empathy and collaboration, transforms humanitarian research into advocacy.

 Embrace Your Unique Perspectives

Your diverse educational and professional backgrounds are strengths. Leverage these differences to approach problems proactively. Stay true to your motivations and feelings to avoid becoming a cog in the system. By connecting deeply with your humanity, you can break down epistemic violence and shift towards decoloniality.

The power of decoloniality lies in its ability to feel, contrasting the numbness of colonial systems.        

The more we connect with each other as humans, the weaker coloniality becomes.        

Welcome to a journey of compassion, empathy, and profound impact. Your dedication to this work is not only inspiring but essential for the collective betterment of humanity.         

With deepest respect,

Safieh.