The last time I felt this kind of awe – I was a little kid and was watching a copy of one of the Christoper Reeve-era Superman movies. I wanted to be Superman. Now, I want to be like the employees at Save the Children. Overly dramatic metaphor? Hear me out.
I’m currently in the Save the Children UK offices here in Dhaka. Why do I have to indicate the UK? Because there is more than one Save the Children office here. The US, UK, Sweden-Denmark, and others all have separate offices. When needed – like in a crisis such as that caused by Cyclone Sidr – they ally themselves and coordinate their efforts. It’s in the UK offices that I met up with Nick Downie again. It was the first time since I teamed up with him in the field. He’s been pretty much working around the clock since I’ve last seen him. He’s been all over the country to various disaster areas. When he’s not out in the field, he’s catching up with paperwork here at the Save the Children UK offices in Dhaka.
The thing is – this office is full of people just as dedicated and committed as him.
And, unlike me, many of them have come to a land where they have no relatives, no family, and no local language skills. Most if not all of them will be here for Christmas and New Years. I just can’t imagine that. During a time of year where people most want to spend with their loved ones – they are giving it up to spend it with people whom they don’t even know. And why? Cause these people need their help. If that isn’t the definition of hero I don’t know what is.
Yes, I am clearly gushing with praise for these guys. But trust me – it’s all deserved.
