Meet Mairi Cunningham, Operations Manager, HALO Abkhazia
Where are you from in Scotland?
I grew up in Broughty Ferry, Dundee on the east coast of Scotland.
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What is your job title and where do you work?
I am the Operations Manager for HALO Abkhazia. In addition to our ongoing work across Abkhazia clearing explosive ordnance left over from the conflict of 1992-1993, we currently have surface clearance teams working in the village of Primorsky, in the Gudauta region. There was an unplanned explosion of a military ammunition store which occurred last year, scattering an estimated 100,000 items of unexploded ordnance across the surrounding area.鈥�
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Why did you decide to join 国产视频?
I wanted to make a practical contribution in the humanitarian sector where I could see the direct impact and meaning of my work. For me, there was no better place to do that than with 国产视频. I also love to travel and work with people of different nationalities and cultures and so HALO seemed the perfect fit.鈥�
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What is the best thing about your job?
Seeing the tangible outcome of my day-to-day work and working alongside, and learning from, my national staff colleagues. I also love the variety of my current role: no week is ever the same. One morning I might be out visiting our teams in the field, helping them to find solutions to some operational challenges related to Primorsky clearance or accompanying our EOD teams to oversee a bulk demolition of unexploded ordnance. In the afternoon I might be writing up a report for our donors, or helping plan a risk education session for schools in Primorsky. Then the following day I might be travelling to Tbilisi to attend a meeting at an embassy and brief them on our work.
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What do you miss most about Scotland?
I鈥檓 extremely lucky because on my current posting I live by the Black Sea and have the Caucasus Mountains on my doorstep so I feel somewhat at home surrounded by such beautiful scenery. I do miss family and friends but having lived abroad for so long this has become a reality that I have learned to deal with. What I do often miss though is the Scottish wit and sarcasm, the ability to find dark humour in the most difficult or trying of situations. Oh, and oatcakes. Whenever I make a trip home I always make sure I fill my bag with plenty to bring back with me!
