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Press Release From Independent Source

Volunteerism: A gateway to career opportunities

A profile of Cecil “Alex” Jeffrey, Assistant Information Officer, Department of Disaster Management.
Cecil "Alex" Jeffrey. Photo:supplied
By Philomena Robertson

Twelve years ago, fresh out of high school, Cecil Jeffrey embarked on a journey that would ultimately take him along a career path he could not have predicted. Growing up in Purcell Estate on Tortola, Jeffrey dreamed of becoming a chef, cooking delicious, exotic meals and witnessing the delight his innovative cuisine would bring to customers.

But when he walked through the doors of the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) in 2000, it signalled the start of an incredible journey of volunteerism, leadership, selflessness and service to the community. A journey that now embodies the full scope of his career in disaster management.

Jeffrey was part of a group of more than 20 persons who at the time formed the Disaster Auxiliary Corps (DAC). The volunteers were exposed to training in several areas including shelter management, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, VHF radio operations, basic logistics and providing humanitarian relief. In addition to the training, the volunteers were able to gain first-hand experience in dealing with disasters with trips to places like Montserrat where the Soufriere Hills volcano had erupted.

Fast forward to 2012 - Jeffrey is now the Assistant Information Officer at the DDM, having gained full time employment with the department in 2002 when the position of Facilities Maintenance Technician became available. He has earned a solid reputation in the region for his skill in logistics and has conducted several training sessions across the Caribbean in inventory management. This particular area of expertise was developed through training he received from the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO) in the programme Supply Management (SUMA), which is software used to manage inventory in the aftermath of a disaster. 

First deployment

His skill in utilising SUMA was first put to the test in Grenada in 2004 after the passage of Hurricane Ivan. “I was on the ground two days after the hurricane hit and my main purpose was to set up the SUMA system and train local persons to run the system until the country could re-establish its normal port of entry and relief distribution systems.” Sharing the intricate details of that experience, Jeffrey said “it was basically going into a country you have never been to and having to hit the ground running. The destruction was real - there was a 99% loss of power, many persons lost homes and people were scrambling to find basic supplies.”

Though he witnessed the devastation firsthand, it was not his role to assess the damage. The capacity in which he was deployed required him to manage the relief supply system, ensuring that items got into the hands of those who needed them. “To give you an idea of what a day was like in Grenada, I got up at 5:00 a.m. and from 6:00 a.m. I was stationed at the sea port logging supplies until 6:00 p.m., sometimes much later. This was an all day process, logging everything that came in for relief, whether it was water, food or other supplies and coordinating transportation to different warehouses for distribution to the persons who needed them.”

In the aftermath of an event, disaster relief efforts can be quite stressful and requires a high degree of mental strength. “ You get home, there’s no water, no electricity, no way to unwind after a long day so the stress continues to mount mentally and you’re basically doing this for four, five days straight, there’s no break, you must concentrate on getting relief into the communities. It takes a real toll on you and you have to be mentally prepared,” Jeffrey disclosed. He admits to having lacked that mental strength in January 2010 when he was on standby for deployment to Haiti after the devastating earthquake claimed the lives of more than 300,000 and left millions of already impoverished persons in even more dire straits. “The extent of the damage, the number of dead bodies and the reports coming out of Haiti were overwhelming; this was devastation that we had never seen in the Caribbean before!”

However, the DDM officer has had other deployments, to Jamaica in 2007 after the passage of Hurricane Dean, where he did similar SUMA training; as well as Turks & Caicos in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in 2008. “In Turks & Caicos, I was representing the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), along with Director of Disaster Management, Ms. Sharleen DaBreo. Our role there was to assist in getting the National Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) up and running, putting a manageable distribution system in place and setting up feeding centres.  We were also tasked with providing support in the development of a recovery system for the islands.”

Capacity building training

For 11 days in November, Jeffrey will visit Italy where he will participate in what CDEMA refers to as an “intensive highly specialized capacity building programme for volunteers” at the Italian Civil Protection Department (CPD). The programme will include visits to the Italian Red Cross Headquarters in Rome; the Monitoring Information Centre (MIC) for the European Community and the European External Aid Service (EEAS) in Brussels.

The Italians have a very extensive volunteer system and Jeffrey’s participation will allow him to draw upon that significant resource. “I’m going as a sponge, looking to soak up as much as possible about everything they have done as it relates to volunteers. I will examine ways to adapt and introduce some of these mechanisms here to allow the VI to continue to lead in volunteerism among its Caribbean neighbours,” Jeffrey said with confidence.  “The whole point of the trip is to see, learn and adapt.”

Jeffrey’s Italy experience falls within the scope of the Enhancing Resilience to Reduce Vulnerability in the Caribbean Region (ERC) project which is funded by the Government of Italy with implementation inputs from the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CDEMA. CDEMA’s Technical Coordinator, Evangeline Inniss whilst cognizant of the impact volunteerism has had on disaster management in the Caribbean noted that “this initiative provides a unique opportunity for us to identify best practices from the Italian model that can be replicated or adapted to the Caribbean context.”

 The DDM Director welcomed the opportunity provided. “It’s known internationally that the Italians have presented models to the world to replicate, particularly in early warning systems, seismic operations and volunteering. The opportunity being afforded participants from the pilot countries VI, Grenada and Barbados, as well as the Caribbean Policy Development Centre (CPDC) and the Youth-In project is very significant. I think it’s the first time they have engaged the region on this level,” DaBreo said.

Volunteerism in Italy

David Miozzo of the CIMA Research Foundation, which is the competence centre for the CPD explained that while Italy has a long history of volunteering, it was only in the last 30 years that efforts were made to put all the volunteer associations within the centralised system of the CPD so they can be deployed with maximum efficiency. According to Miozzo, this comprehensive system has proven to be extremely useful, particularly with the harsh events the country has faced.

“In Italy, volunteers sign up with agencies which in turn cooperate with the CPD so there is a comprehensive rather than ad hoc approach to volunteerism,” Miozzo stated and was quick to commend the VI. “I see that the VI is doing an excellent job and we are offering an opportunity to share our information regarding our system so that further improvements can be made.”

He acknowledged that Jeffrey and other participants will face a very tough schedule that will entail a mix of observation and fieldwork. . “They will start in Rome, visiting the CPD to get an understanding of how the volunteers are coordinated and deployed. They will also learn how meteorological officers work with disaster managers and the volunteer component of the CPD. In Brussels, at the MIC, they will be exposed to how states in Europe work together and share information when facing mega catastrophes.”

Miozzo explained that one of the cornerstones of Italy’s successful volunteer programme is the high level of collaboration among agencies. “Although meteorological officers, volunteers and disaster managers take care of different components of disaster management activities, they have to work together and that is the cornerstone of our work.” Miozzo, who’s the Focal Point for Output 2 of the ERC said he hopes participants will be able to replicate and share the knowledge gained when they return to their respective countries.

VI to develop comprehensive volunteer database

For the VI, the post Italy planning is already underway. When Jeffrey returns he will be spearheading an effort by the DDM to create a comprehensive volunteer database and provide training for volunteers. The department already has a group of 40 persons who have expressed an interest in volunteering. Now, the focus is on expanding that group and providing the requisite training.  “In the event that we are significantly impacted by a hazard, volunteers could help us get back on our feet a lot quicker. They may not be able to climb a pole and restore electricity but they can help in some ways like distributing water, assisting with First Aid, conducting search and rescue. With volunteers in roles like these, it would take a great strain off the emergency services,” said Jeffrey.

 He urged potential volunteers not to discredit themselves if they feel they might have what it takes to be an effective volunteer.  “We always need volunteers to assist in many areas, whether it’s answering the phone in the office, assisting in a shelter or just being our eyes and ears on another island and sending us reports. If you know you might have time and you are willing to volunteer, just come, we will train you,” he said encouragingly.

In a reassuring tone Jeffrey said “don’t think you are not good at anything, you might be surprised when we train you that you become so good in a particular area and then you are able to spread that knowledge. Every simple effort that is made goes a long way at the end of the day.”

Providing further clarity on the pilot project, the DDM Director said the goal is to create a national database that would also capture persons who may have relevant skills. “We are really trying to create a national system where people can register, not just individuals but groups as well, so if we experience an event, there will be a cadre of persons who are trained and ready to hit the ground running.”

The bottom-line is about enhancing capacity in the VI.  DaBreo elaborated, “when you bring untrained volunteers in after an event, it stretches the capacity of the disaster management team so it’s important to register and train them beforehand and ensure their familiarity with the different roles they will be required to perform.” She also noted that the database will not be strictly for the DDM but would serve as a resource for other agencies that utilise volunteers as well.

Putting the overall ERC project into perspective, DaBreo said it’s important that the VI and its regional neighbours find ways to build the capacity of their respective national disaster offices. The volunteer database project is being piloted in the VI but the goal is to have it replicated in all CDEMA member states.  

VI takes the lead in volunteerism

This is not the first time that the VI has assumed a leadership role in promoting and structuring volunteerism.  Back in 1995, propelled by a very active hurricane season the preceding year which saw the likes of Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn, the DAC was established. In the ensuing years the corps achieved many successes and received a CDEMA (then CDERA) award for community preparedness. The history, evolution and success of the corps was also documented at the request of CDEMA and served as a best practice guide for other member states. In fact, quite recently, Guyana launched a similar disaster corps which mirrors its VI counterpart.

Jeffrey: a model volunteer

Reflecting on Jeffrey’s initial involvement in the volunteer corps, DaBreo said he was evaluated as having excellent people skills. “He is able to get people moving and logistics is one of his strengths and these are the things you look for in volunteers – people who can play a leadership role and get things done.” 

She added, “Jeffrey represents a huge success story because his growth and development demonstrates how volunteers can achieve upward mobility in the formal structure if that is what they desire. The volunteers are exposed to general disaster management and they can then choose to specialise in a particular subject area, whether it is public relations, mitigation or any other discipline that fits into our disaster management programme here in the VI.”

Jeffrey looks to the future

What’s next for Jeffrey? Right now, he’s in the process of trying to establish Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) which is essentially teams of persons who can assist the first responders in the event of a disaster. “If there is a hurricane, a fire or medical emergency, local persons within the community can assist emergency responders in executing various tasks. Jeffrey explained that “these persons would not be emergency responders but they can assist with tasks such as placing someone on a backboard or engaging in light search and rescue or undertake fire suppression, things of that nature.”

In terms of more personal goals, Jeffrey aspires to move into the Community Preparedness Officer position at the DDM which would put him in more direct contact with the community and working more closely with volunteers. He already possesses an Associate degree in Disaster Management and in 2013, he plans to begin work on his Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management. “Right now, I’m focused on pushing myself to the higher rung of the ladder,” he said with quiet confidence. Ultimately, Jeffrey envisions himself at the helm of disaster management in the VI, heading the organisation that transformed him from a young and inexperienced boy to someone who plays a key role in helping his community prepare for disasters, bringing relief in the aftermath of an event, training others in effective relief management and being involved in the community generally, empowering people and helping to make a difference as it relates to disaster management in the VI.

Jeffrey’s track record clearly epitomises the many possibilities that the simple act of volunteering can create, if in fact, one is interested in pursuing disaster management as a career or one of the many subject areas that fall within its purview.

 

 

1 Response to “Volunteerism: A gateway to career opportunities ”

  • Bro. Bevin George PHA (15/11/2012, 17:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good Job Brother this is wa we do keep up the good work and god goin bless you.


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