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Tania Chalhoub, Field Security Coordination Officer, Syria
People may be surprised to learn that I graduated with a diploma as a Dental Technician, though I never worked in that field. Instead, I became a Security at the Canadian Embassy in Lebanon, before joining the United Nations in 2002. After spending five years with the UN in Lebanon, I joined the Department of ¹ú²úAVkeeping Operations and was deployed to Liberia, Chad and then Haiti directly after the earthquake, where assisted set up a new office. I then realized that UNDSS gave me more scope for promotion and responsibility, so I joined in 2011 and was sent back to Chad. In 2014, I moved on to Syria and have been in Homs ever since covering Central and Coastal areas. This is an extremely interesting place to work ¨C the security situation was very complex in Syria back in 2014 and it was a whole new experience for me to operate in a conflict zone. Making a difference for the people here has given me a good feeling ¨C I can honestly say that I¡¯ve done something very important with my life. I have learned and grown a lot since joining UNDSS, thanks to the support received from some excellent leaders. I¡¯ve become more responsible, more decisive and more productive ¨C and above all more willing to take calculated risks. The friendships you¡¯ll make will last for life, and you can discuss your challenges, opportunities and experiences with diverse people who really understand. I¡¯m proud to be a Field Security Coordination Officer with UNDSS and I¡¯m very excited about the future as the organisation continues to evolve and change. I¡¯m passionate about enhancing the gender balance here and I can¡¯t wait for the day when we will have a 50:50 ratio of men and women. |