Mohammed Saleh Qader is one of many individuals who joined the Heartland Alliance team remotely during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Getting to know a new organization and colleagues without being able to connect in person may seem difficult, but Mohammed makes the task look easy. As a Program Development Assistant based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Mohammed works to ensure Heartland Alliance International’s (HAI) human rights work with vulnerable groups, including women and girls, internally displaced people, and religious and ethnic minorities, does not go unnoticed.
How did you get started with Heartland Alliance?
I am originally from Erbil in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and I graduated with a degree in International Studies from the American University of Iraq in Sulaymaniyah where I am based now. I joined HAI in September 2020, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to begin working remotely. For three months after being hired, I received training as a Program Development Assistant, but I continue to learn from my colleagues every day. Simply put, my job consists of supporting our field teams by ensuring their work is properly highlighted.
How does your work support the communities we serve? Why is it important?
Though I don’t directly work with the resilient and disfranchised communities we serve in HAI Iraq, I am well-aware of the issues the communities face through personal experience and speaking with different team members. For example, HAI’s Future Forward project does an amazing job helping Iraqi women obtain a more prominent status in Iraq, and what I do is help the team showcase their success. I believe when we produce a solid donor report, the donor will notice the important work we are doing, and this will help maintain funding, so we can continue serving vulnerable communities. My support is very indirect, but I believe it is an integral part of our programs.
What is your favorite part of your work?
I have always enjoyed reading and writing, so my favorite part of the job is reading reports from our field staff that include stories of beneficiaries overcoming hardships. Editing pieces like that puts a smile on my face. It’s something I really like about my job.
What is something people don’t know about you or your work?
I love reading books, writing, and playing video games. I guess I spend a lot more time in my head than I do speaking. I would like to think of myself as a compassionate, understanding individual, who enjoys learning.
As for my work, I think my work is very dependent on the information I receive from field reports, which are sometimes very technical. I always suggest to “write like you are writing for a Martian.” A Martian is not familiar with our programs, culture, or terms so writing with this this mindset will make it easier for people, especially donors, to understand and raise awareness about HAI’s work.
You said you love to read and learn, is there a book or movie you recommend?
I would suggest more than one thing. ‘Seeing Like a State’ by James C. Scott is an eye-opening book and I suggest everyone read it. I also like a Korean drama called ‘Vincenzo,’ which is so much fun and I highly recommend.
