World Humanitarian Day 2019: Honouring Samia Alansi, one of our unsung heroes

Humanitarian needs around the world are now at unprecedented levels due to disasters and conflicts. This year alone, the number of people needing humanitarian assistance is more than 132 million and 70.8 million around the world have been forced from their homes. The need for highly skilled humanitarian leaders has never been more pressing. These often unsung heroes risk their lives helping the most vulnerable when bombs are falling, flood waters rage, buildings are collapsing and disease is spreading.

This World Humanitarian Day we pay tribute to the many women humanitarian workers who dedicate their lives to helping those affected by crises.

One of these unsung heroes is Samia Alansi, an alumna of Deakin University and Save the Children’s ground-breaking Centre for Humanitarian Leadership.

Samia works in Jordan, assisting in the Syrian refugee response, as a Logistics Manager with the Norwegian Refugee Council (an independent humanitarian organisation). Since the Syrian war broke out in 2012, Jordan has welcomed hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees.

It's Samia’s third international assignment after roles in Yemen and then Iraq, helping newly displaced people with urgent life-saving assistance as the Emergency Logistics Manager for the Mosul crisis response. Samia’s leap to her current role was made possible, in part, thanks to the highly effective leadership skills she gained through Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership (also known as the Humanitarian Leadership Program) as well as the ongoing mentorship by the team at the Centre for Humanitarian Leadership.

'I can’t see how I could have been able to demonstrate a high level of leadership if I were not equipped with the right tools during the Humanitarian Leadership Programme,' Samia said.

'Understanding that helping others in this sector can be formed in the shape of helping your team and peers to find a purpose…to stay grounded with the humanitarian principles and to be a good example of a real humanitarian leader day in and day out.'

'Becoming a humanitarian worker was a small idea that crossed my mind back in 2012, initially to explore what I could do to make this [Yemen] a better place to live in. When the war started in Yemen in 2015, the feeling of responsibility toward my own country and people around me increased even more. However, it was not easy to know how to help. Then the Humanitarian Leadership Programme came as a golden opportunity.'

'You have all of these people who believe in this course: they really gave me the power and enriched and fed my belief that we can create change.'

'I try every day to remind myself why I am here. Each of us has a passion and mine is people. Helping people, building people up and encouraging them to believe in themselves and their ability to make the world a better place. I am here to build a high-calibre team of humanitarian workers who understand and believe in the humanitarian principles. I also strive every day to prepare my team to be ready for an emergency response.'

Deakin University and Save the Children’s Centre for Humanitarian Leadership is transforming the way the world responds to humanitarian crises. Over 500 humanitarian workers from more than 70 countries have so far enrolled in the Centre’s innovative Graduate Certificate of Humanitarian Leadership, which is recognised globally as the best of its kind. The cost of undertaking this essential course is unfortunately a considerable barrier for many humanitarian workers, particularly those from developing countries with the greatest need.

By supporting Deakin’s Humanitarian Leaders Scholarship Fund today, you can help ensure that well-prepared humanitarian leaders will be on the ground to provide timely and life-saving responses when and where a crisis strikes. Your gift will have an impact far beyond the student in need who receives it and will ultimately benefit millions of lives around the world for years to come.

Transform a life today

For more information, please contact Steve McDonald or Tara Cartland.

Steve McDonald
Director, Centre for Humanitarian Leadership
Email Steve McDonald 
Phone +61 458 700 006

Tara Cartland
Communications Advisor, Centre for Humanitarian Leadership 
Email Tara Cartland
Mobile +61 404 777 452