Humanitarian work: The untold story | Gísli Ólafsson | TEDxReykjavik

Gísli gives us insight into the reality of the humanitarian aid worker, which is often enveloped in an aura of nobility.
Gísli Rafn Ólafsson officially became a disaster geek over a decade ago, when he joined his two passions in life, information technology and disaster response. Today he helps responders get access to the internet in the most challenging locations of all, disaster zones. When not traveling the world responding to disasters, he enjoys spending time with his wife, five kids, and grandson.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@NonprofitWrench]

I'm on a humanitarian journey with my little charity. Trying to alleviate the effects of homelessness and disability in the US. It's hard and hopeless sometimes. Stay strong friends. ❤

[@shulammitetornyie8088]

Hi, don't give up, am also into it

[@shulammitetornyie8088]

Can we exchange emails

[@LSD209]

I'd like to also talk with you, regarding an idea that may not only restore your hope but may also be the exception to the idea that there isn't a grand solution which could address and rectify multiple issues.

[@abdimumin387]

Indeed all humanitarian workers a cross the world have the same heart, be blessed to those with the humanitarian heart

[@kahlerstultz5312]

Straight facts man, having worked in Gaza I could get inunderstand every word. It was no picnic , but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world .

[@ritagreenwood9397]

I'm wondering if the similarity is that of when soldiers return home and find it hard to adapt to the mundane in everyday life. Great speech and helpful as I think there can be a tendency to 'idealise' or 'romanticise' being a hero in a disaster situation, but as he said, the reality is the smell of dead bodies and watching people starve to death.

[@aannee9412]

This is one powerful speech.. As now I'm an aid worker it goes straight to heart. one person at a time!

[@zacharywhite211]

I missed the point. What is the message? I honestly just heard mostly self-pity, and then general encouragement to 'not give up' by thinking positive thoughts

[@bayargelenkhuu2933]

I love this man! If we only had more people like him the world could be much kinder place to live! Thank you for all your work and your beautiful heart. There is no way to express my gratitude to people like yourself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@CoreyEngelen]

Great speech. Really appreciate Olafsson's points on the "why" of humanitarian aid. A good question that should always be asked.

[@schrodingerscatisdead]

i want to be a humanitarian. i have a problem with being motivated to do things, when i don’t see clear sense in them, and humanitarian aid is one of the most meaningful things out there (in my eyes). surely it’s tricky to get a job where you’re actually helping and not just "helping", but i do believe there are such jobs. i want to study it, learn about it, and do it as well as i can. of course, i am careful too, and open to changing my mind if i found out this job isn’t for me after all. but i really want to try to do it, 100%. when i imagine being a victim to hurricane / tsunami / anything similar, i’d be so freaking grateful for ANYONE’S help. i want to be the helping person for those in need, even if i can’t help them all. this video helped me to believe in my dream a little bit more. i have a lot of friends saying it’s badly paid, dangerous, why would i wanna do it? etc. well maybe that’s exactly why i wanna do it. i do wish them to get those greatly paid jobs, happy family, big house, expensive car and kinda american dream life, if that’s what makes them feel good. it’s just not for me, and i think that’s okey too. i don’t want to live like that, when i know there are communities out there that need any help so desperately and when i actually can help them as a JOB. then i can’t even really think about the money. i want enough money to have roof over my head, food on my plate and clothes on my body. maybe some old car to see places or an extra dollar to buy a book. but that’s enough. i do believe anyone should live as they find the best and most fulfilling for themselves. i know this is long, but i’m throwing it out there, if anyone ever felt like me. don’t let others dictate how you should live. of course, use your brain, but don’t forget to listen to your heart, too.

[@Aethelhadas]

I RELATE WITH EVERYTHING :) how is it going?

[@schrodingerscatisdead]

@@Aethelhadas thanks, that's so nice of you

[@suddendeathgameplay5038]

Sheesh. I would write the exact same thing, with probably the exception of earning enough to feed not only me but my family too. But yeah. Damn. Thats what i think every day. In which Country are you applying for a Study and what is that Study called?

[@schrodingerscatisdead]

hi :) i am from czechia and i start at the college next week. the program is called "international social care and humanitarian aid" (loosely transformed😂) have a good one!@@suddendeathgameplay5038

[@schrodingerscatisdead]

@@create306 cheers to you ❤️

[@michaelcorley7008]

Powerful!

[@abbieamavi]

I want to work as a humanitarian, I just have no idea what sector...if that is the term.

[@kateporter4220]

same

[@nay2186]

Veni Vidi Amavi same here someone help

[@PMwithTahir]

I don't know how old you are, but if you are thinking about university then I'd recommend either 'Politics and International Relations' or 'Law'. Additionally: 1. Volunteer as much as you feasibly can 2. Sign up for free courses on disasterready.org, Coursera, EdX 3. Learn a second language e.g. French, Arabic or Spanish. A quick way to decide what is for you, is to look at the UN 'clusters' and the activities they undertake. From there you'll get an idea. Compound this idea by looking at the LinkedIn profiles of those who work within those clusters for more insight. Connect with them and ask! You'll get one answer per 100 connections on average. Personally, I'd stay away from the Hollywood areas such as the UNICEF, look into Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) or Civil-Military coordination (CIMIC) or work with refugees (UNHCR/NRC) as these areas with growth and clearer paths of progression from my experience.

[@nay2186]

Tahir Ahmad Thank you

[@nay2186]

Tahir Ahmad are you a humanitarian?

[@maverickleadership6801]

This poor guy has to realize that life in the field and life at home are two opposite planes of the same existence, similar but not equal, separate but not identical. So he must treat them differently, in order to maintain presence wherever he is. He is stealing time from his loved ones, otherwise, and does himself a disservice.

[@sammyzorro8044]

How can I venture into these field?

[@yasin9880]

You are a great person ❤

[@emilyrose6546]

Thank YOU

[@emilyrose6546]

Aquarian humanitarian to the max here btw ❤💚🩵🤍🧡

[@jamiemcgoldrick3350]

Were you talking about the Nepal earthquake when you began "48 hours ag I was...". I was UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Nepal, present when the EQ took place. Would be good to know?

[@fi672]

I wanna work as a humanitarian, later in life, hopefully, and I want to do Medicine as a degree- will this degree allow me to do so?

[@fi672]

jdsjsj i have no idea if this makes any sense

[@hien-anhhoang6225]

absolutely Medicine works. You can work as a medical advisor, program staff in NGOs that focus on Health (eyecare, hiv/aids, etc.). Goodluck

[@naz4488]

Yeah you can. Check MSF ( Doctors Without Borders)

[@shulammitetornyie8088]

Ofcourse I can help

[@OLGAALEXANDRE]

strong

[@supagramster]

still good though

[@sahil1158hajj]

3g-167(1) nit nh3 faridabad haryana delhi ncr india 121001/110001 ke samne ek street light lagwa dijiye bade sahab

[@yvonnehyatt8353]

Please study-Ernesto Sirolli thanks.🌎

[@y2k95]

UN volunteers. If you're a US citizen then Peace Corps or FEMA reserves.

[@justinnitsuj7041]

wow, this guy is pretty close to the real deal.

[@mikolajdrozd9255]

I have worked with him. Believe me, he is the real deal.

[@AMiah-jz8uu]

What do u mean by real deal

[@donalain69]

Hmm.. remember the white helmets in Syria, that are officially still seen as a humanitarian aid by the US and Europe, but used the donations they got to buy weapons for isis..I don’t doubt he is a good man, but I just can’t listen to him without being skeptical. I once visited a SOS children village in Thailand.. small village with nice houses and around 50 happy children. That all would be good... but if you know that there is a state run orphanage building nearby with thousands of not so lucky children you start to question if the millions of dollars in donations could not have been used to improve the life of all those orphans instead of just handpicking the 50 cutest of them, placing them in a Walt Disney style village and using pictures of their happy life as propaganda to get more donations.

[@Nope_dontknow]

Alain Koch i would like to learn more on this topic. Could you please post the link to those sites.

[@SS-ti1yt]

It’s evident that you do not know the truth about White Helmets and have believed dark web rumours instead. Do you research better if you want to be properly informed.

[@AgnesLesage]

NGOs are meant to be independant and neutral. Other stakeholders often use the aura of "humanitairan aid" for other agendas.

[@donalain69]

@@AgnesLesage that’s what they should be, yes. But I find it hard to find ANY humanitarian aid these days that actually does have helping people as primary goal.. guess most of them do it mainly to deduct taxes and get some of the money back trough salaries payed to relatives working there,, while using the opportunity to get social credits as Samariter.

[@donalain69]

@@SS-ti1yt well if it’s that evident to you, why don’t you share some of that evidence instead of only talking about. It? Or did your research on state controlled media not provide any actual facts to support the “truth” you are comfortable with?

[@supagramster]

this guys wierd

[@navsingh1529]

Graham Gearhart no your weird

[@tito619ramirez]

Weird is good

[@joyconnors3838]

U weird