PerCorsi - Stories of people in training

“PerCorsi: stories of people in training” is a column of INTERSOS LAB that aims to tell stories and testimonies of people met during our training courses, people who on the one hand are committed to continuous professional growth and on the other give shape to their life projects.

My name is Veronica and my journey began with a linguistic education in Arabic and intercultural cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean area at the University of Naples L'Orientale. While studying the region from a historical, linguistic and sociological point of view, I developed an interest in the humanitarian sector with the desire to implement the knowledge in real practice, not only within the academic context. From a sociological perspective, studying Arabic was a fundamental step in understanding the threads that connect the two shores of the Mediterranean , especially in the current times, characterized by massive movements and conflicts. But my interest went beyond the understanding of the mere current historical-political dynamics that we hear on TV, but rather allowed me to rediscover and enhance the deep cultural bond that has always connected the people of the two shores. After all, the desire to delve into collective narratives and identities hidden behind stereotypes and prejudices, making language a tool, is not simply an intellectual activity in academic research, but a serious commitment to building real bonds and embracing global connections that define the contemporary Mediterranean.

My experience studying Arabic was therefore a crucial and important step that later led me to become interested in the humanitarian field. During a language exchange in Tunisia, contact with people already active in NGOs made me discover international cooperation as a possible career. Despite my academic path, however, I realized that I had gaps in the practical skills needed to work in a sector that requires technical preparation : the complexity of the contexts in which one intervenes requires prepared figures, who know how to face risks and manage delicate situations, combining will and skills. It is for this reason that I chose to carry out my curricular internship with INTERSOS Lab, which allowed me to combine theoretical preparation with technical and quality training.

Thanks to INTERSOS Lab I was able to follow courses such as MEAL Manager and Humanitarian Medicine , which taught me to apply project management and evaluation tools and to understand the importance of a cultural approach in the care of migrant patients. It is here, during the Humanitarian Medicine course, that I really understood how much understanding the cultural background of vulnerable people, such as migrants, is to be considered in the attempt to build trusting relationships and provide an effective service. While the title would suggest that this course is only aimed at healthcare professionals, the range of recipients was actually quite broad, including a number of specialists working with minorities and vulnerable populations. As someone who does not study medicine, but who has an interest in the topic of migration, I perceived the importance of a course like this not only for doctors, but for all professionals working in intercultural contexts. The training is not only technical, but also sheds light on methodologies for the treatment of vulnerable individuals and explains, for example, the difficult situations that many migrants face not only during the journey but also once they arrive in Italy, in order to share best practices for all operators in the sector. Knowing these realities not only arouses more empathy, but has highlighted how care cannot help but be imbued with a cultural dimension.

The MEAL manager course, on the other hand, introduced me to measuring and evaluating the impact of humanitarian interventions , giving me a small hint of one of the many specializations required within NGOs. MEAL is not just a set of procedures; it is the real pillar that guarantees transparency and reliability. Monitoring and evaluation in terms of the impact of actions are continuous and this is essential not only for the trust of beneficiaries, but also for the overall effectiveness of projects. For anyone, like me, who is interested in pursuing a career in cooperation, understanding and applying the MEAL principles means participating in the construction of a transparent and reliable sector in which people can believe in what is being done.

I conclude by thanking INTERSOS Lab for the opportunity , which has certainly helped me to better understand how this sector works and to strengthen my determination to continue in this direction. Plans for the future? In the short term, I will start a Master in Cooperation and Development, with the hope that it will allow me to realize the career I have imagined. I want to start working in this field and direct my path towards my greatest passion: Arabic and the possibility of living in Arab countries. In the long term, my goal is to shape my career so that I can give my direct contribution in a territory that I feel deeply close to.

Article written by Veronica Polizza, INTERSOS Lab intern, Oriental University of Naples