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SuperHeroine Eva Calvo By Dani Collins
Eva Calvo began her career with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent by volunteering for the Spanish Red Cross as part of her internship toward her master’s degree.
“I didn’t know much about the Red Cross, but remembered as a child going to visit my grandparents in the Red Cross hospital. The first thing that attracted me to the Red Cross, and one that continues to inspire me, is the work of the millions of volunteers around the world who give so much, and without any discrimination, to people in need. We always say they are the first on the scene, and the last to leave, because they are part of the community. But it’s true!”
Although she began in the Communications Department, she has gone back and forth between office and field work for years. Her first mission came about when Hurricane Mitch hit the countries of Central America in 1998.
The disaster was such that the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent, which brings together all the different Red Cross and Red Crescent societies from around the world, needed to mobilize people and resources from other countries.
“My manager asked if I was interested in going to Honduras to support the relief and recovery operations there. At the time, I didn’t know anything about Honduras, but after seeing how much destruction it (the hurricane) caused I really wanted to try to help out. I remember my family was so worried about me going to a disaster area, and it took a lot to convince them that I was going to be all right.”
Eva’s assignment was as “information delegate” to the IFRC. “By the time I arrived, the major emergency was over and the long-term work of rebuilding had started. It was really great seeing how the Red Cross was helping people with rebuilding houses, getting training in health, and preparing them to prevent future disasters. It gave such a sense of hope to people who had lost everything.”
After her assignment in Honduras and the excitement of being part of a team trying to help rebuild a country, returning to Spain was an adjustment. But in 2001, when the earthquake hit El Salvador, Eva had the chance to go into the field again.
“Things happened so quickly. I was supposed to fly out on a Hercules plane with relief supplies from the Red Cross, Spanish government and other organizations, and I had only a day to get organized. Once again, I had to work hard to convince my family that I would be okay. Once I got there, it was a lot worse then I thought. The capital city and a lot of the country were in ruins. It was especially hard to see people in the countryside, who had lost their family members in landslides, their houses, everything. Some places were completely cut off, and it was so hard for the Red Cross to get relief supplies in. The earthquake happened while the people of El Salvador were still trying to rebuild from Hurricane Mitch, so it was especially difficult for them.”
The mission was also very hard on Eva. “There were so many strong aftershocks in the following weeks and months, everyone was always in a constant state of stress, expecting the buildings would collapse around us at any time. Nobody could go through the process of dealing with their losses from the first earthquake. For me, it was hard. I couldn’t sleep, and there were times that I felt I couldn’t go on. I was helped by the fact that a colleague who had been with the Red Cross for more than 20 years in operations like Rwanda told me that it was affecting him too, and this kind of stress was normal for humanitarian workers. We get affected too, and sometimes forget to take care of our own needs.”
And people worrying about their own needs, in such times of heightened stress, can forget that everyone is in the same situation. “I remember one time when we managed to get a convoy out to a remote community, and we brought along the press to see the distribution of food and blankets. People were so desperate for help that when we arrived, they became really anxious and some were angry. We had problems making sure that the supplies were distributed fairly to those who needed it most. In the end, we had to postpone until the next day, until we could set up a good system to control the supplies. I think the journalist understood, but it was so frustrating for us not to be able to respond immediately. It was worse for the community, but in the end we got the supplies through, and later, the Red Cross had projects to help poor rural communities deal with problems like lack of access to health care and education.”
The simple fact that many people have no idea how to handle an emergency situation is another problem the Red Cross, and Eva, try to address. When she’s not in the field responding directly to a crisis, Eva works with people to prepare for those crises.
“One project I am really proud of was to help design a campaign in Honduras to educate vulnerable and at-risk communities on what to do in the case of an emergency. Most people don’t know what to do in an emergency, and sometimes lives are lost just because people aren’t aware of the risks and hazards or don’t have a plan of what to do. For poor and vulnerable families, it’s especially important to work with them and give the right information in a way that meets their needs and context. For example, they often don’t have the means to cope, a place to go, or any cash for emergencies, etc. For this campaign, we used local media and then did outreach with Red Cross volunteers to reinforce the messages and train vulnerable communities in disaster preparedness and how to reduce risks. The campaign is now in its fifth year, and I think it has helped to save lives by giving people the tools and information they need to prevent and respond correctly to a disaster.”
After El Salvador, Eva went to work at the International Federation’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland as a communications officer dealing with Spanish media and supporting Red Cross organizations in Latin America.
“But I still went on missions, sometimes for emergencies, other times to represent the Red Cross Red Crescent in international meetings. Some of the highlights were going to the Nobel Peace ceremonies in Oslo and meeting Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. These are truly great leaders. I also went to the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg and the World AIDS Conference in Barcelona.”
One of her biggest career challenges came when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. The American Red Cross was overwhelmed by the disaster itself and needed support dealing with international media.
“It was a huge story for the media and the public…the media sometimes wanted me to comment on who in the government was to blame for all the destruction, or if I thought the American Red Cross was doing enough.”
One of the Red Cross and Red Crescent’s fundamental principles, however, is impartiality and neutrality. This means no finger pointing at the cause of human suffering. The focus remains on alleviating and preventing suffering. But controversy surrounded the rescue and relief efforts.
“It was a real challenge to keep them focused on the needs of the people affected. I think for me the biggest lesson from Katrina is that disasters and emergencies can affect every country, no matter how big, and even the best preparations might not be enough. But from around the world, the Red Cross and Red Crescent is always ready to help. It makes me proud to be part of the Red Cross family.”
When asked about the difference between working in the field versus working in an office, Eva says, “When you are in the field, you can see the faces of the people you are trying to help, and hear their stories. Also, you get to meet the volunteers on the front line, and this really helps you feel that you are contributing something concrete. It is so motivating. But when you are in the office, it sometimes feels like you are a bit removed from things. On the other hand, you get to see the global perspective, and it is also motivating to see all the different work being carried out around the world by the Red Cross and Red Crescent at any given time. That’s something you don’t get to see when you are immersed in work at the field level, and it really makes you proud when you can see the real strength of working as a global network with the same values. I like to think my work in Geneva is to support the work of volunteers at the community level, and I am always reminding myself and my colleagues that whatever we do at the headquarters has to be directed to helping them make a difference for vulnerable people because it is sometimes easy to forget that.”
Eva is expecting her first child, so her own focus will likely shift in the very near future, but she anticipates continuing with the Red Cross and Red Crescent in some capacity down the road. “I am so committed to the values and work of the Red Cross, and after all the opportunities I have had, it is hard to imagine working for any other organization.”
To read last month's SuperHeroines article, click here.
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