Former finance expert in Beijing finds fear and motivation with doctors’ group in war zones
Brave but pragmatic – that’s how Cathy Chai describes her vision and her employer, Medecins Sans Frontieres
CATHY CHAI, 31, had reminded herself to face “predicaments in the future” before embarking on her maiden frontline assignment with Medecins Sans Frontieres in 2013. Little did she know her self-motivational exercise would turn prophetic as she found herself at the Doro refugee camp in South Sudan, a young African nation that gained independence just two years before, but soon plunged into chaos and war. Her six-month stint at Dora would leave an indelible mark on Chai as would her other challenging assignments, including terror-hit Somalia and earthquake-battered Nepal. Chai gives a ringside view of her work and unfolding historical events from international datelines to NECTAR GAN
How did you come up with the idea to work for Medecins Sans Frontieres? What was your life like before joining it?
I was living and working in Beijing. Back then, work was the centre of my life. I had spent nearly seven years working on financial statements for a United Nations agency in China, during which I also studied part time and acquired a postgraduate degree in finance. All that I ever wanted then was to excel at my work. However, after a few years, I was feeling stagnated. Time had come for me to look for a change. I had long known about Medecins Sans Frontieres. I was fascinated by their work because they are in tune with my sensibilities – brave but pragmatic idealist. Hence, it was natural for me to apply for a frontline project.
What were you doing when the civil war broke out in South Sudan? What was the first thing that came to your mind when you learned about the news?
After the civil war broke out in December 2013, the capital’s airport [in Juba] was shut down and our teammates, who were away on a vacation, could not return to the camp. Immediately, I needed to take charge of two departments – finance and personnel management – amid an onset of panic among my colleagues.
I simply don’t have the time to feel scared
I kept my cool and did the work to the best of my ability. Routinely, I’m confronted with the question of whether I am afraid at a frontline project. My stock response: I simply don’t have the time to feel scared. Besides, I need to keep my colleagues’ emotions under control to keep the project running.