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Friend on FacebookAt the end of Day 4 Wendy, or project coordinator, was frantically adding up the visitor numbers. I was about to close the gate on the final tour when we realised that if I did, our visitor numbers would be around 4,995. Unacceptable. So we rolled out our secret PR weapon of the cutest baby in the world with her mom the guide to invite a few more visitors to join us and got our visitors numbers up, past 5,000. Success.
Ottawa was great, so many volunteers turned up to help us with the behind the scenes and so many guides donated their time to talk to the public about their experiences. Some visitors did the whole tour twice they enjoyed it so much – although perhaps “enjoy” isn’t the right word. It’s not exactly Disney World in the refugee camp. But people are getting an emotional experience from it. After my last tour, I was taking some questions from the group about how much of an impact NGOs can have on the world, why there is so much conflict, neglect and hatred…………a lady asked me “Do you get discouraged?” “No” I replied “I get encouraged”. An interesting question that made me think. And made me slightly emotional. Even our mock refugee camp is relatively sanitised compared to a real one, but it is difficult not to get emotional about the subject matter and I too had to take a moment to compose myself and get a glass of water.
I’m pretty sure I speak on behalf of the team when I say – thanks to the volunteers who turned up to help us load and unload the truck and to run errands for us. Thanks to the guides, all experienced MSF staff, who did tour after tour, many of them for 4 days in a row – I know it’s not easy. And thanks to the 5,027 people who took the time to hear our stories.
So, to end Ottawa on a slightly lighter note - one of the reasons that I get encouraged is the dedication of MSF staff to making things better, as aptly illustrated by Matt, another one of the project logisticians:
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June 2nd, 2010 at 10:35 pm
I’m pleased to see Matt’s brilliant delivery captured for all to see. He was the guide for the group that I was with going through the camp in Ottawa, and performed brilliantly — able to reach both the young students and the adults in the group. He also related some of the personal challenges he faced in providing logisitic support to camps — although we didn’t get the funnel demonstration. I would like to congratulate MSF for bringing this demonstration to cities around Canada and for your ongoing work abroad. You have my continued support.
June 4th, 2010 at 8:43 pm
Chris,
It is an honour to have you and your emotions on the tour. It is the emotional component that that is most note worthy and convincing of the innovative population that we work with.
Cheers