Tech for Change
Hosted by the United Nations Foundation-Vodafone Foundation Technology Partnership, the "Tech for Change" blog shares insight and experiences from the frontlines of innovative mobile technology use in support of United Nations and other humanitarian work worldwide.
Thursday 26 June 2008, 8:49 PM
WFP's 'boot camp' for ICT emergency managers (part 2)
[Part 2 of 2]
Toward the end of the two week, when we began preparing for the dangers we face in the field, the training became most surreal. We once again departed from picturesque Pisa, and traveled to the Folgore campgrounds - the airborne brigade's training facility. Throughout the day we were shot at (with rubber bullets), exposed to (deactivated) mines, and even held in a mock hostage-taking situation for several hours, under the influence of both physical and psychological pressure.
I managed to avoid all of the rubber bullets in the ambush exercise, but other participants took as many as 20 hits and looked like leopards with all the paint! The hostage-taking was as realistic it could get without breaking bones or creating permanent injuries to the participants. My legs are still sore, and I can recall the smell of the hood they threw over my head.
Appropriately, our final day focused on stress management training. We went through not only how to tackle our own stress, but also how to identify and address high levels of stress of our team members. We went back through some of the previous days' exercises to make the points of the session.
I must admit, I had thought these two weeks in Pisa - far from the difficulties and dangers of the field - was going to be "just another training."; But oh was I wrong. The reality of the training combined with the great venue and trainers made it into an important and enjoyable learning experience. And I enjoyed meeting and connecting with staff from other UN agencies and groups that I am likely to be in contact with again when working in the field. It makes things a lot easier when you've already met.
Thanks to WFP, the United Nations Foundation-Vodafone Group Foundation Technology Partnership. and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa for one of the best training sessions I have ever attended.
---
A former Production Engineer for Ericsson AB, based in Sweden, Soderberg joined the WFP's ICT team after being seconded to the corporate humanitarian initiative Ericsson Response, a stand by partner of WFP. As a member of the WFP's FITTEST team, he deploys at a moment's notice to establish communications systems in emergencies. He has worked on projects in Sri Lanka (following the tsunami), Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia, to mention a few.
Toward the end of the two week, when we began preparing for the dangers we face in the field, the training became most surreal. We once again departed from picturesque Pisa, and traveled to the Folgore campgrounds - the airborne brigade's training facility. Throughout the day we were shot at (with rubber bullets), exposed to (deactivated) mines, and even held in a mock hostage-taking situation for several hours, under the influence of both physical and psychological pressure.
I managed to avoid all of the rubber bullets in the ambush exercise, but other participants took as many as 20 hits and looked like leopards with all the paint! The hostage-taking was as realistic it could get without breaking bones or creating permanent injuries to the participants. My legs are still sore, and I can recall the smell of the hood they threw over my head.
Appropriately, our final day focused on stress management training. We went through not only how to tackle our own stress, but also how to identify and address high levels of stress of our team members. We went back through some of the previous days' exercises to make the points of the session.
I must admit, I had thought these two weeks in Pisa - far from the difficulties and dangers of the field - was going to be "just another training."; But oh was I wrong. The reality of the training combined with the great venue and trainers made it into an important and enjoyable learning experience. And I enjoyed meeting and connecting with staff from other UN agencies and groups that I am likely to be in contact with again when working in the field. It makes things a lot easier when you've already met.
Thanks to WFP, the United Nations Foundation-Vodafone Group Foundation Technology Partnership. and Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa for one of the best training sessions I have ever attended.
---
A former Production Engineer for Ericsson AB, based in Sweden, Soderberg joined the WFP's ICT team after being seconded to the corporate humanitarian initiative Ericsson Response, a stand by partner of WFP. As a member of the WFP's FITTEST team, he deploys at a moment's notice to establish communications systems in emergencies. He has worked on projects in Sri Lanka (following the tsunami), Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia, to mention a few.
Previous
