David Matern’s Post

Need to know myanmar..

While reviewing some documents in my personal archive, I saw the job offer for my initial career opportunity in the humanitarian field within the INGO sector. My first assignment with Qandil, the Swedish Humanitarian Organization, which lasted nearly two years, marked a significant beginning and turning point in my professional life. For me, It is essential to remember our previous jobs to continually learn from the experience we gained there. #Qandil, #Swedish_Humanitarian_Aid_Organization, #First_mission, #Assignment.

life in Northern Ghana

Reflecting on Privilege and Opportunities As a Kurdish woman , I’ve always wondered if I am where I am because of my intelligence or just sheer luck. For a long time, I believed it was my hard work, determination, and brainpower that paved the way for me. But coming back to Kurdistan changed my perspective entirely. Here, I’ve met countless talented, knowledgeable, and skilled individuals—women and men with immense potential, often far more experienced or qualified than me. Yet, they struggle to access the opportunities I’ve had so easily. The difference? It’s not their ability or effort. It’s the fact that I hold multiple nationalities—German, American, British, and Kurdish—that opens doors for me. It’s a privilege I had never truly recognized. My nationalities have shaped my journey, making my path easier in ways I had taken for granted. Meanwhile, someone else—perhaps more deserving than me—faces obstacles simply because their passport doesn’t carry the same weight. This realization has been humbling. It’s made me reflect deeply on the structural inequalities that determine success, often irrespective of merit. As much as I value my hard work, I now understand that privilege has played an undeniable role in shaping my life. I share this because it’s important to acknowledge our privilege and think about how we can use it to create opportunities for those who deserve them but are held back by barriers beyond their control. #PrivilegeCheck #EqualOpportunities #Reflection #Gratitude #BreakingBarriers #Inequality #WomenEmpowerment #GlobalCitizenship #PassportPrivilege #OpportunityMatters #PrivilegeAwareness #HumbleRealizations #DiversityAndInclusion #KurdistanVoices #EmpowerOthers

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Growth opportunities

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr. On this #WorldMentalHealthDay, let's reimagine what mental health can truly mean for our communities. This powerful image from #Kenya in June 2024 challenges us to think differently. In the wake of tragic deaths of young Kenyans demanding justice, we see a profound moment of collective healing and resistance at Uhuru Park. This scene isn't what typically comes to mind when we think of "mental health interventions." Yet, it embodies a radical reimagining of wellbeing: 1. Community Resilience: Thousands gathered, finding strength in unity and shared purpose. 2. Cultural Healing: Music, dance, and communal celebration became powerful tools for processing collective trauma. 3. Active Engagement: Mental health not as passive treatment, but as active participation in creating a just society. 4. Holistic Wellbeing: Linking mental health directly to social justice and community action. 5. Joy as Resistance: Celebration not as denial of pain, but as a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience. This World Mental Health Day, let's expand our vision: How can we integrate community and culture into our mental health approaches globally? What if our "treatments" prioritized addressing societal injustices? How might our understanding of mental health shift if we focused on collective wellbeing? It's time to move beyond individualized diagnoses and medications. Let's reimagine mental health as a journey towards collective healing, social justice, and community empowerment. What does reimagining mental health mean to you? Share your thoughts! #WorldMentalHealthDay #ReimaginingMentalHealth #CommunityHealing #SocialJustice #HealingCenteredPeacebuilding

Wishing all our followers a joyous and meaningful Heritage Day! 🇿🇦 . Today, we celebrate the rich and diverse cultures that make South Africa so unique. Let’s take pride in our shared heritage and continue to build a future that embraces unity in diversity. . Happy Heritage Day! 🌍🎉 . . . . . . . #HeritageDay #ProudlySouthAfrican #UnityInDiversity #DM5Legal #DM5lawfirm #lawfirmoffice #legalassistant #lawfirms #legalservices #legaladvice #attorneys #southafricanlawfirm #sandtonlawfirm #joburglawyer #sandtonlawyer #corporatelawsandton #corporatelawjoburg #ThoughtLeaders

Asylum Is Not Enough: The Need for Global Action Against the Taliban The recent European Court of Justice ruling that allows Afghan women to seek asylum based on nationality and gender alone is, on the surface, a positive step. It recognizes the brutal oppression Afghan women face under Taliban rule and offers them a pathway to safety. But let’s be clear—granting asylum, while important, is not a long-term solution for the Afghan people. If the international community, especially the EU and other global powers, truly care about the future of Afghanistan, they must do more than simply offer refuge to those fortunate enough to escape. The core issue remains the Taliban’s oppressive regime, which continues to strip Afghan society of basic human rights, education, and opportunities for development. Real, sustainable change for Afghanistan requires putting substantial pressure on the Taliban to respect human rights and women’s rights. The international community must go beyond reactive policies like asylum and take proactive steps to challenge the legitimacy of the Taliban regime. This could involve diplomatic isolation, targeted sanctions, and comprehensive efforts to support civil society within Afghanistan. By offering asylum alone, we risk creating a brain drain, where those most capable of contributing to Afghanistan’s future are forced to leave. Instead, the global community should focus on empowering Afghan society from within, supporting grassroots efforts, education, and providing the tools for long-term societal development. This would help lay the foundation for a more stable and just Afghanistan, rather than simply offering escape. Let’s not reduce the Afghan people’s struggle to a refugee crisis. We need solutions that hold oppressive regimes accountable, prioritize human dignity, and provide Afghan society with the foundation it needs to rebuild—beyond just offering an exit. #Afghanistan #Taliban #HumanRights #WomensRights #GlobalResponsibility #Geopolitics

MAJ Vietnam for rescue in Hagiang province