Author Archives: Alessandra Pigni
Aid to Zen: P – PTSD and Post-Traumatic Growth
This post is part of Aid to Zen – A Quick Guide to Surviving Aid Work from A to Z by Alessandra Pigni. *** “An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behavior” wrote psychiatrist Viktor E. Frankl. At a time where … Continue reading
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Tagged aid workers' mental health, aid workers' wellbeing, mindfulness for aid workers, post-traumatic growth, PTSD
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Aid to Zen – O: Organisations
This post is part of Aid to Zen – A Quick Guide to Surviving Aid Work from A to Z by Alessandra Pigni. Most of us work for an organisation: we are at once colleagues and employees, some may be managers, consultants … Continue reading
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Tagged aid workers' burnout, aid workers' wellbeing, organizational culture in aid
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Aid to Zen: N – Not Harming
This post is part of Aid to Zen – A Quick Guide to Surviving Aid Work from A to Z by Alessandra Pigni. *** If you have been reading Aid to Zen this far, you will know it’s a mix of serious … Continue reading
Aid to Zen: M – Mindfulness
This post is part of Aid to Zen – A Quick Guide to Surviving Aid Work from A to Z by Alessandra Pigni Why mindfulness is (still) relevant for aid workers In 2011 I started a project called Mindfulness for NGOs: back … Continue reading
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Aid to Zen: L – Loneliness
This post is part of Aid to Zen – A Quick Guide to Surviving Aid Work from A to Z by Alessandra Pigni *** In the field Among other things, aid work is a place of learning, new friendships, of personal and … Continue reading
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Aid to Zen: J/K – Jaded and Kind
This post is part of Aid to Zen – A Quick Guide to Surviving Aid Work from A to Z by Alessandra Pigni *** In yoga there are poses and counter poses that are designed to work together. We move our … Continue reading
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Aid to Zen: I – Isolation
This post is part of Aid to Zen – A Quick Guide to Surviving Aid Work from A to Z by Alessandra Pigni. *** Isolation is one of the words that comes to mind when I think about being an aid worker. It’s … Continue reading
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Tagged aid workers' mental health, aid workers' wellbeing, humanitarian ethics, humanitarian wellbeing
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Aid to Zen: H – Home
This post is part of Aid to Zen – A Quick Guide to Surviving Aid Work from A to Z by Alessandra Pigni. *** “I never experienced ‘culture shock’ as an expatriate worker, but certainly experienced ‘reverse culture shock’ in attempting to re-integrate … Continue reading
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An aid worker’s life
“I have finally made it in the industry, and I find myself thinking about what it would be like to be home. I drive in UN vehicles, I work with the poorest in the world and my friends and family … Continue reading
Posted in Burnout, Letters to the field
Tagged aid workers' mental health, aid workers' wellbeing
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Aid to Zen: G – Good Intentions
This post is part of Aid to Zen – A Quick Guide to Surviving Aid Work from A to Z by Alessandra Pigni. *** “The power to help is just about as dangerous as hard power” – Binyavanga Wainaina Those who are fairly new … Continue reading
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Tagged aid workers' mental health, aid workers' wellbeing, humanitarian ethics
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