CARE’s real-life humanitarian heroes- Denice

 

Denice at a Borehole 06 site during borehole rehabilitation (borehole flushing) exercise on 10/08/2020 in Hagadera Refugee Camp in Dadaab Refugee Complex/CARE Kenya.

 

a)      Name, age, job role, location, number of years working as a humanitarian

 

My name is Denice Owino Abonyo. I am 48 years old working as a plant and mechanic engineer with CARE Kenya in Dadaab Refugee Camp for the last twenty (20) years.

 

b)      What does it mean to be a humanitarian worker to you?

 

Serving humanity by being able to offer assistance to those in need and enriching them through services such as the provision of water for daily use. It also means achieving CARE’s purpose in eliminating poverty, and achieving social justice.

 

c)       Why did you decide to start helping your community– why did you choose to do it, how did you get into it?

 

Growing up it was my desire to serve communities through the provision of services and items that make their life better. I was lucky that my mentors were established in humanitarian work and they became role models. I was able to join the humanitarian work with the assistance of close friends who were also working in the same sector.

 

d)      What are some of the biggest challenges and obstacles you have to overcome in your work and the current response? i.e. stigmatization, access difficulties, dangers, lack of support, etc.

 

Recurring security incidents in my line of work hinder timely service delivery such as repairs and maintenance of boreholes whenever there is a breakdown. Furthermore, currently, we are working under limited hours and restricted movement due to Covid-19 safety guidelines by the government and by CARE organization.

 

 

 

Denice fixing pump electronic control for Borehole 06 on 05/08/2020 in Hagadera Refugee Camp in Dadaab Refugee Complex/CARE Kenya.

 

e)      What lessons have you learnt along the way?

 

When people are empowered they can live a dignified life by using the skills acquired to fend for themselves and stop depending on donors for support in everything.    

 

f)        Has this work or this emergency response changed you in any way and if so, how?

 

Yes. I had been away from family for a long time especially during Covid-19 movement restrictions and lockdown. Sometimes, the weather is extremely hot in Dadaab and there is limited access to basic amenities.

 

g)      How do you balance your home life and work-life? What kind of duties do you still have at home after you clock off from a hard day’s work?

 

I create time in the evening after work to call and talk to each family member.