It’s all about the context...

Visited with the Senior Officer, Mohamed Shoman, here in the UN Humanitarian Compound. His primary focus is education — he believes it is the only way the camp itself will eventually become irrelevant. He is not open to just any education programs though, and I was glad to hear it. He believes that programs must provide open access, quality, and — the most difficult — proof of sustainability. There is often a trade-off between access and quality, he notes, and he is uninterested in one-offs or training that is not linked to improvements in the lives of the residents of the camps. I’m impressed, both with his passion and his thinking. As we talk, I note that there are steel plates that can be slid over the windows and double steel doors with bolt locks. This place can be turned into a bunker in a matter of minutes. Coming back to the compound, we move through three security checks, the last with a fellow walking around the vehicle inspecting the undercarriage with a mirror. I don’t know whether to be concerned or reassured — I settle on the latter. Stay tuned.