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

[@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.

[@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 .

[@alfahim9iner]

Have you returned?

[@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.

[@CoreyEngelen]

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

[@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?

[@sammyzorro8044]

How can I venture into these field?

[@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.

[@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

[@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?

[@michaelcorley7008]

Powerful!

[@emilyrose6546]

Thank YOU

[@emilyrose6546]

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

[@yasin9880]

You are a great person ❤

[@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.🌎

[@OLGAALEXANDRE]

strong

[@y2k95]

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

[@supagramster]

still good though

[@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?

[@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

[@supagramster]

this guys wierd

[@navsingh1529]

Graham Gearhart no your weird

[@tito619ramirez]

Weird is good

[@joyconnors3838]

U weird