I did some research about HALO organization:
I came across a community that discusses it. I always like to see what others say, feedback is more important than what an organization presents to the public.
So here it it:
https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/threads/ngos-halo-trust-etc.19153/
A great quote by Tiger-Monkey:
'A nation can survive its fools and even the ambitious. But it cannot
survive treason from within. An enemy at the gate is less formidable,
for he is known and carries his banners openly against the city. But the
traitor moves among those within the gates freely, his sly whispers
rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government
itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in the accents
familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their garments, and
he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He
rots the soul of a nation; he works secretly and unknown in the night to
undermine the pillars of a city; he infects the body politic so that it
can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.'
-- Cicero, 45 BC
Dread's comment explains in depth his/her experience with this NGO and it's worth reading (Copied response, as usual, after a while some pages "disappear" on the web or get deleted...
"
Hmmm where to start? I am an ex-Gunner Capt now
working for the UN in Kosovo (and earning approx EUR110,000 per annum,
all allowances included). The problem with a lot of NGOs is that some
actively dislike Army types (they prefer guardian reading lefties), a
greater problem is that you are British: many international NGOs have
unnoficial quotas of the number of Brits, Yanks and Scandanavians that
they will employ at any one time. Why? Because the French, Greeks,
Spaniards, Italians do not want to be shown for the lazy buggers they
are.
Many people you will meet in an operational area (i.e. Kosovo, Aceh, Sri Lanka, etc) will have their own agenda that has nothing to do with improving the lives of the people they are supposed to be helping (the French and the Germans are worst for this). You could say that this is because they have a different culture and work ethic and a different ethos, but it would be missing a perfect opportunity to slag them off! Many people you meet will also be doing all they can to extend their contract. This leads to "short-termism"; a policy where they only undertake minor projects and missions that can show a concrete results in 4-5 months (for when their contract renews), rather than them starting a major project that will take 1-2 years to bear fruit, but actually make a much more positive difference to the local situation.
I would break down the percentages of the types of people as follows:
People trying to make a positive impact (may still be a nobber): Voluteers 100%, Salaried people: 35%
Complete cnuts: 30% (of which 30% will also be actively corrupt and dishonest)
Lazy_Bastards: 10%
Really decent guys, working hard and good to have a beer with: 25%
For a UN mission in Africa the above percentages change to:
Complete Cnuts: 98% (of which 100% will also be actively corrupt)
Decent guys (Brit, Scandanavian or Yank): 2%
Some outfits are a lot better than others. The UN (who I work for) are useless and driven more by petty politics and bureaucracy than by any desire to get things done. 80% of the fcukers seem to just there for the money and to renew their contracts. Corruption (as seen in news Oil for Food etc, is a real problem. They love employing black lesbians from little african toilet countries and turning a blind eye to corruption. Complain that they are incompetent and if you are Brit or Yank then you will get accused of racism.
Same can be said of UNDP, UNHCR etc, but these cnuts are even more left wing, forcing their own tatty politics and social engineering ideas on unsuspecting locals. I hate them.
IOM: Pots of cash and good guys. American lead (funny that) and they go by results and want results fast. One of the only UN affiliates that actually puts its money where its mouth is and does something. Very hard to get into though.
For all of the above it helps (enormously) if you have AT LEAST a good degree and 3-5 years experience in the field being recruited. To progress beyond 2-3 years with any of them you will need a Masters Degree.
NGOs. There are millions of these little cochroaches underfoot. They go from well known, well established and rich to one man and his dog in a landrover, and they interfere (err... assist) in every aspect of an operation. The best ones are neutral, the worst are the religeous and biased ones (we will only build houses in Albanian areas next to Serb areas because we are Muslim and we hate the Serbs etc).
You mentioned 2 of the most respected NGOs in your post: HALO Trust and MAG. I have seen both in operation, and was almost foolish enough to join HALO in 2001! The interview is fun (it was at their offices in the middle of nowhere in Scotland), as all the members currently there pile into the room and fire questions at you. The founder of the Trust is one of the sharpest and most intense people you will ever meet. He controls over 3,000 people around the world with an HQ staff of about 4 (some Brit and Yank Comds take note!).
If you pass the interview they will speak to your previous commanders and should they still like you (i.e. you didnt try and 'Walt' them), then they will offer you a job. The initial 6 months or so will be in a stable country learning demining (was Cambodia, might have changed). After you have gained your Class 1 deminer qualification you will then go to one of their more 'active' countries and for 6 months you will shadow the expat in charge there. Then he will leave and you will be on your own with up to 600 locals.
Anyone who works with the HALO trust has my respect (and I think they are mad). They do not tend to work in the 'easy' countries, but go where no other demining NGO will go. They were first into Eritrea, and until the last bombing round (Dec 2001?) they had over 800 people in Afghanistan as well as central african countries. You can be a couple of days drive from the next white man or restuarant, and living conditions are hard. Takes a very rare sort of person to work with HALO for more than 2 years. Did I mention that you will also be kept working 18 hours a day for all that time? They are pushed hard.
Pay is not good. In 2001 a new employee would be paid about GBP22k per annum gross (but tax free). All meals in camp are provided, but if you want anything other than road-kill and rice then you pay for it. I cannot remember the number of flights per year you get or time off. I just remember thinking that it wasnt near enough (but then they want people motivated by the desire to achieve something, rather than by cash - after all they are a charity).
Many people you will meet in an operational area (i.e. Kosovo, Aceh, Sri Lanka, etc) will have their own agenda that has nothing to do with improving the lives of the people they are supposed to be helping (the French and the Germans are worst for this). You could say that this is because they have a different culture and work ethic and a different ethos, but it would be missing a perfect opportunity to slag them off! Many people you meet will also be doing all they can to extend their contract. This leads to "short-termism"; a policy where they only undertake minor projects and missions that can show a concrete results in 4-5 months (for when their contract renews), rather than them starting a major project that will take 1-2 years to bear fruit, but actually make a much more positive difference to the local situation.
I would break down the percentages of the types of people as follows:
People trying to make a positive impact (may still be a nobber): Voluteers 100%, Salaried people: 35%
Complete cnuts: 30% (of which 30% will also be actively corrupt and dishonest)
Lazy_Bastards: 10%
Really decent guys, working hard and good to have a beer with: 25%
For a UN mission in Africa the above percentages change to:
Complete Cnuts: 98% (of which 100% will also be actively corrupt)
Decent guys (Brit, Scandanavian or Yank): 2%
Some outfits are a lot better than others. The UN (who I work for) are useless and driven more by petty politics and bureaucracy than by any desire to get things done. 80% of the fcukers seem to just there for the money and to renew their contracts. Corruption (as seen in news Oil for Food etc, is a real problem. They love employing black lesbians from little african toilet countries and turning a blind eye to corruption. Complain that they are incompetent and if you are Brit or Yank then you will get accused of racism.
Same can be said of UNDP, UNHCR etc, but these cnuts are even more left wing, forcing their own tatty politics and social engineering ideas on unsuspecting locals. I hate them.
IOM: Pots of cash and good guys. American lead (funny that) and they go by results and want results fast. One of the only UN affiliates that actually puts its money where its mouth is and does something. Very hard to get into though.
For all of the above it helps (enormously) if you have AT LEAST a good degree and 3-5 years experience in the field being recruited. To progress beyond 2-3 years with any of them you will need a Masters Degree.
NGOs. There are millions of these little cochroaches underfoot. They go from well known, well established and rich to one man and his dog in a landrover, and they interfere (err... assist) in every aspect of an operation. The best ones are neutral, the worst are the religeous and biased ones (we will only build houses in Albanian areas next to Serb areas because we are Muslim and we hate the Serbs etc).
You mentioned 2 of the most respected NGOs in your post: HALO Trust and MAG. I have seen both in operation, and was almost foolish enough to join HALO in 2001! The interview is fun (it was at their offices in the middle of nowhere in Scotland), as all the members currently there pile into the room and fire questions at you. The founder of the Trust is one of the sharpest and most intense people you will ever meet. He controls over 3,000 people around the world with an HQ staff of about 4 (some Brit and Yank Comds take note!).
If you pass the interview they will speak to your previous commanders and should they still like you (i.e. you didnt try and 'Walt' them), then they will offer you a job. The initial 6 months or so will be in a stable country learning demining (was Cambodia, might have changed). After you have gained your Class 1 deminer qualification you will then go to one of their more 'active' countries and for 6 months you will shadow the expat in charge there. Then he will leave and you will be on your own with up to 600 locals.
Anyone who works with the HALO trust has my respect (and I think they are mad). They do not tend to work in the 'easy' countries, but go where no other demining NGO will go. They were first into Eritrea, and until the last bombing round (Dec 2001?) they had over 800 people in Afghanistan as well as central african countries. You can be a couple of days drive from the next white man or restuarant, and living conditions are hard. Takes a very rare sort of person to work with HALO for more than 2 years. Did I mention that you will also be kept working 18 hours a day for all that time? They are pushed hard.
Pay is not good. In 2001 a new employee would be paid about GBP22k per annum gross (but tax free). All meals in camp are provided, but if you want anything other than road-kill and rice then you pay for it. I cannot remember the number of flights per year you get or time off. I just remember thinking that it wasnt near enough (but then they want people motivated by the desire to achieve something, rather than by cash - after all they are a charity).
the inquiry as what does IMO stands for:
response by Jest265
International Organization For Migration...
They help people to emigrate if they have no chance of making it in their own former War torn Country, they also help re-job former warring factions etc.
Usually take on a local capacity i.e. Doctors and Staff and normally run by an International Head of Mission (Swiss, American, Canadian etc.)
They help people to emigrate if they have no chance of making it in their own former War torn Country, they also help re-job former warring factions etc.
Usually take on a local capacity i.e. Doctors and Staff and normally run by an International Head of Mission (Swiss, American, Canadian etc.)
The above could give a clear idea if you like to apply or work for HALO NGO.
What's your experience? Do you recommend it?
Comments