Sharing by Alumni

體仁藝智四項全能──潘曉怡

一位人道工作者，一個香港紅十字會國際及賑災服務部主管，一名可以在大型災難人道項目中，擔任領導角色的體藝師姐──潘曉怡，別看她弱質纖纖，過去12年，足印佈滿半個地球，置身無數災亂地區。

天災戰禍，師姐上陣。社區(尤其是落後地區)發展、緊急救援、災後重建，都是潘師姐的工作範疇，而在災害多發地區，更須與當地人一起建立社區能力，以便應對下一場災難。工作過程中要深入了解有需要的人士(特別是弱勢社羣)，設計及實施項目，使他們得到適切的援助，以及不會被遺忘，期間，亦需要帶領團隊監控每項細節及行動，再向受助人及捐款人交代。

遍及五大洲的人道行動中，師姐最心痛的經歷，莫過於援助敘利亞──飽受戰爭蹂躪的國家，內戰連年，頽垣敗瓦，死傷無數，滿目瘡痍，不過她認識的當地朋友們都很努力地生存，師姐感到自己只是他們生命中的過客，未必能理解災民們所承受的苦難，而能夠提供的支援，可能只是杯水車薪，不能長期解決他們面對的問題。

工作雖艱辛，樂趣卻不少，師姐和一班有心人一起為着同一目標努力，當看到成果，和災民的笑容時，便會更深切體味到工作的意義了。然而，一年又一年的風災、旱災、地震、衝突……災民或難民的人數與需要從沒有減少。此外，有時不能夠短時間、甚至是長遠都不能夠解決問題，挫敗感便油然而生，那時候便需要拍拍自己心口，給自己和同事鼓勵。師姐說：「要了解自己的局限，才能走得更遠，而我的局限不是烏煙瘴氣的環境，不是睡帳篷、大熱天時沒水洗澡，或者天天吃餅，睡不足，也不是蟑螂蚊蛇，而是感到無論怎樣做都好像幫不了所有人。這時候便需要調整自己的心態，不能輕易氣餒。耐心、毅力、不斷學習和創新，是克服困難的必要條件。」

仁心滿載的師姐是本校藝術生(91-98)，中六時擔任學生會會長，畢業於港大語言學及藝術系、榮獲港大國際和公共事務碩士、修畢曼徹斯特大學深造文憑環球健康課程，現時正作攻讀英國學士後法律文憑課程。而港大住宿舍時，更突破「體育白痴」的局限，參加壘球運動，為球隊奪標。

「我們這行最重要是調整心態──與當運動員一樣，還要有創意及保持對身邊事、物、人的觸覺──與做藝術工作的一樣。此外，在體藝生活時，培養的獨立思考和解決問題能力，都是在現時的工作中十分必要的。」師姐津津樂道。

師姐情深地給學弟妹們一句話：「當環境改變時，要像指北針一樣：知道北方在哪裏！」

An All-rounder of Ti-I – Karen Poon

A humanitarian volunteer, a Red Cross International Service Officer, a leader who helped out with lots of disastrous events – Karen Poon (Hiu Yee) is an alumnae of Ti-I. Though she may look vulnerable, in the past 12 years, her footprint can be found over half of the planet. She has served in countless catastrophic spots.

Natural Disasters or War Crisis – the Major Concern

Community (especially the underdeveloped one) development, disaster relief or rehabilitation are the major working area of Karen. When dealing with recurrent disasters, the Red Cross will empower local communities with improved capacities against possible disasters in the future. During the process, specific needs (esp. those of the minority groups) will be entertained so that appropriate aids can be provided.

Among all actions, the most disheartening experience should go to Syria – the country with years of civil war, with bombing reducing the towns to ruins and rubbles. However, the local residents are all trying their best. Taking a minor role in only an episode in their life journey, Karen may not fully comprehend their sorrow. The help offered may be pale in comparison to their suffering and is never a long term solution at all.

The Pecks of the challenge

Karen has been working together with her colleages for years. The perquisite comes whenever smiling faces of victims appear. That is the moment. That is the time when she found her job meaningful.

However, hurricanes, draught, earthquake, military conflicts break out again and again. The number and demands of victims are ever-growing. Without any long term or even temporary solution, sense of failure did come up naturally. That will be the moment for Karen to encourage herself and her co-workers.

‘One can only go further after learning one’s restriction. Mine? Not the disagreeable environment, not the miserable sleeping tent, not the hot summer day without water for a shower, not biscuits every meal, not inadequate sleeping time; nor is it related to cockroaches, mosquitoes or snakes. It’s helplessness. You just can’t help everybody no matter what and no matter how hard you try. You have to fine tune your mindset and most importantly, you must never give up. Patience, perseverance, innovation and life-long learning are the keys to overcome crisis,’ Karen exclaimed.

‘Karen Poon graduated from Ti-I as a VA major (91-98) and was the Student Union Chairlady (96-97 UNION) in F6. Graduated from HKU as a Linguistics and Art major, she further her studies and has acquired the Master of International and Public Affairs. She has also finished her Post-graduate Diploma in Global Health from the University of Manchester and is now studying the Graduate Diploma of Law. When staying in the university hostel, Karen, a sport idiot, even broke through the restriction by taking part in pitball competition and won the championship.

‘To fine-tune oneself is vital in our field. This revamp happens all the time to an athlete. Similarly, to an artist, creativity and sensitivity to the surrounding happenings are crucial. My independent thinking ability and my problem solving skills, both well-cultivated and well-developed when I was studying here in Ti-I, are mandatory and imperative in my current job,’ Karen reflected.

Finally, Karen shared her secret of success with Ti-I students –

‘Know your true North (like that in a compass) when the environment is always changing .’