November 30, 2023
News
Would you like to know more about Caritas Czech Republic? We have launched a series of interviews with our colleagues who will tell you more about our work across the world. Meet Marek Bednarz, the Country Programme Coordinator for Georgia.
You graduated from International Territorial Studies. Is that why you decided to work for an NGO in the field of humanitarian aid and development cooperation?
Yes, it was exactly like this. My goal was to work for an NGO focusing on developing countries, so when I finished my studies I started looking for a job in this sector and that was when I saw the job offer at Caritas Czech Republic. I applied and luckily I was selected.
How long have you been working at Caritas Czech Republic and what is your position in the organisation?
I have been working here since March 2023. I started as junior desk officer and shortly after I moved to the position of country programme coordinator for Georgia. I coordinate activities between our office in Prague, colleagues in Georgia and donors either from the Czech Republic or other countries and institutions, and submit project documents. My job is very diverse and varies depending on the stage of our projects.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I enjoy being able to do what I always dreamed of doing. Also, that I can contribute to the development of Georgia and other developing countries, and that I can work with very friendly people who have the same goals as me. I am also learning a lot about how projects work in the field of humanitarian and development aid, and also about what is important for the development of Georgia.
You have been with Caritas Czech Republic for almost a year now. Is this your first experience of working in an NGO?
Actually, I have done a couple of internships in this field. One was in Ghana and another one at the Czech Embassy in Vienna. Then, I worked for a private company from Switzerland for a while before joining Caritas Czech Republic.
You mentioned that shortly after joining Caritas Czech Republic, you moved from a junior position to another role in the organisation. Was it difficult to take on the responsibilities of the new position?
It was quite a challenge to take over the coordination of the Georgian office because I had only been with the organisation for a month. It was hard for me to jump in because Georgia has an excellent team with a lot of experience. A lot of the activities were completely new to me. Some projects have been running in Georgia for several years, so I had to get familiar with them very quickly, as well as with other responsibilities of a country programme coordinator. I am happy to say that now I feel more confident in the position.
This summer, you also visited the Caritas Czech Republic office in Georgia. What was the purpose of your trip and what did you do in Georgia?
I went to Georgia to monitor the projects we are working on in the country. Mainly I was going to visit the mountain areas where we are promoting modern methods of cattle farming to provide a sustainable source of livelihood in poor regions. I visited many places, for example in the Dusheti municipality. Then in the south of Georgia, the Khulo municipality in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara. This area was the most interesting to me because most Georgians are Orthodox Christians, but in the Khulo municipality the majority of the population is Muslim. Islam came to this area thanks to the Turks, who ruled here for over 200 years.
How did you find Adjara?
The people in Adjara were very hospitable and invited us several times for coffee, cheese, and other dairy products from their cows. They live in the mountains for three months of the year and graze their cows in the summertime. When it gets cold, they retreat more into the valley. Tourists do not visit the Khulo municipality so much, but you can find beautiful old wooden mosques here.
What else did you see and experience in Georgia?
We also visited three homes that Caritas Czech Republic is building in the country as part of our activities to develop alternative social services in Georgia. We visited one house in Dusheti and two houses in Zugdidi in western Georgia. These houses will serve as family-type home care centres for adults with disabilities who previously stayed in large institutions. I also paid a visit to the screening centre in Zugdidi, opened by Caritas Czech Republic, which is the only screening centre in the western part of Georgia.
Caritas Czech Republic has offices in several other countries besides Georgia, for example in Iraq, Mongolia or Zambia. Would you like to visit any of these countries?
I would definitely love to see all of these countries, but probably not as a part of my work because I am responsible only for Georgia. I definitely hope to visit Georgia again. My dream would be to visit Mongolia, Zambia and Iraq. I have already been to Ghana, and I enjoyed my time in Africa. I am also very interested in the Middle East.
Is there anything you have learned since you started working at Caritas Czech Republic that will stay with you for a long time?
It is definitely adaptability, meaning adapting to new challenges and not letting everything stress you out. I am also very happy to work for an organisation that works in developing countries because it makes you appreciate what you have more. I also feel that this work has a deeper meaning and it makes me happy when our work improves the quality of life of people in other countries.
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