It has been just over two years since I finished my master’s degree in Humanitarian Emergencies at the London School of Economics. Since then, I have been immersed in a professional rollercoaster that has taken me to work with refugees and migrants at the Icelandic Red Cross and the Ministry of Social Affairs in Iceland.
Working in the field that I am passionate about has given me joy and a sense of reward. But it has also consumed most of my time and energy to do other things that I feel interested in.
Something Was Missing
After studying, working, and volunteering through almost my entire twenties, I was ready to start my professional career in the international development field. However, when putting all my efforts into the professional aspects of my life I almost forgot about those things that I also enjoyed doing. Things like writing, organizing academic conferences, or engaging in global conversations with like-minded individuals. I needed to reconnect with my interests outside the working sphere.
Finding Out About the Philia Project
I came across the Philia Project through social media and it immediately caught my attention for its simplicity and coherence. It appeared to be a well-rounded and thought-through project to foster empowering conversations around community-building, equality, and leadership. Furthermore, it offered a support platform for the creation of a policy article with the goal of starting global conversations regarding social challenges and injustice. Through the Philia project, you are invited to look into your daily practises and habits to identify the way in which these affect your personal growth journey.
What Made it Appealing to Me?
We often live very fast, we are constantly told how to live our lives and the importance of achieving great things. There are so many social pressures that affect our decisions, the way we think and behave, and the way we interact with others that we often forget to stop and reflect on ourselves. It is so easy to stumble or lose direction but not so easy to get back on track if you do not have the right tools to do it. The Philia Project aims to do that precisely, to equip individuals with the tools to be in control of their own progress in life.
What Am I Looking Forward To?
I am very excited about my journey ahead with Philia. I feel very positive about doing it with my peer, so we can both learn from each other’s perspectives. As Barbara Mikulski cleverly describes it: “Each one of us can make a difference but together we make a change.”
