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Tania Chalhoub, Field Security Coordination Officer, Syria
People may be surprised to learn that I graduated with a diploma as a Dental Technician, though I never worked in that field. Instead, I became a Security at the Canadian Embassy in Lebanon, before joining the United Nations in 2002. After spending five years with the 缅北禁地in Lebanon, I joined the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and was deployed to Liberia, Chad and then Haiti directly after the earthquake, where assisted set up a new office. I then realized that UNDSS gave me more scope for promotion and responsibility, so I joined in 2011 and was sent back to Chad. In 2014, I moved on to Syria and have been in Homs ever since covering Central and Coastal areas. This is an extremely interesting place to work – the security situation was very complex in Syria back in 2014 and it was a whole new experience for me to operate in a conflict zone. Making a difference for the people here has given me a good feeling – I can honestly say that I’ve done something very important with my life. I have learned and grown a lot since joining UNDSS, thanks to the support received from some excellent leaders. I’ve become more responsible, more decisive and more productive – and above all more willing to take calculated risks. The friendships you’ll make will last for life, and you can discuss your challenges, opportunities and experiences with diverse people who really understand. I’m proud to be a Field Security Coordination Officer with UNDSS and I’m very excited about the future as the organisation continues to evolve and change. I’m passionate about enhancing the gender balance here and I can’t wait for the day when we will have a 50:50 ratio of men and women. |