with light

Welcome bloomers! Here's a summary of the newsletter this week:
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​🌱Social impact career interview with Junior Project Manager at the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy​
🌱Call for feminist graphic novelist illustrators ​
​🌱17 (bad) things to know before a humanitarian career ​
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with love & light,
​Jasmine
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fresh soil

What is your “official” professional role and field?
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Junior Project Manager at the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy (CFFP), leading our Afghanistan project.

What if your unofficial role and field?

I am the co-founder of Hamam Talk, a German educational social media platform and podcast dedicated to promoting anti-racism and social issues. Our focus is on shedding light on the lives of BIPoCs in Germany by discussing structural and institutional racism, culture, and social issues. For example, we also delve into topics such as our Muslim backgrounds, sexuality, relationships and toxic masculinity.

How did you get to where you are today in your career?

My journey through university and work has been anything but smooth. Being the first in my family to go to university, I felt a bit unprepared, struggled to find my footing during my first two semesters, experienced structural racism and navigated with imposter syndrome. In addition to my studies, I worked in both an Afghan-German NGO and as a waitress and also took on a couple of unpaid internships (so problematic). When I started working, my field (development cooperation and politics) was much whiter, and diversity was not yet a buzzword. So it wasn't necessarily easy to navigate or get noticed in a very white space. But I think our sector is changing, even though there is still a lot of work to be done for an intersectional field.

I'd like to say I've always worked hard and have made it through that at some point. But that would be so short. The whole way up to now has been up and down, with successes and setbacks. I don't think it should have been so difficult sometimes. For some of my fellow students, things went much more smoothly in university and later in their careers, while most of my BIPoC friends experienced similar hurdles. But I knew what I wanted, and I wasn't going to be dissuaded. And fortunately, I have a supportive family and friends who have always believed in me and kept me from completely exhausting myself. So when a door closed for me or was closed in front of me, I was frustrated for a moment, but then I opened another door for myself. And when my friend Linda and I both lost our jobs during the Covid-19 lockdown, we were again super frustrated but then decided to start our project Hamam Talk.

And now at CFFP I'm in a place that sees me, recognizes my knowledge and expertise, and gives me the space to develop and contribute ideas and grow into the role I was supposed to be a long time ago.

Lessons you’re taking away from the first few years of your work experience, and applying to the next chapters of your career.
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Never let anyone convince you that a particular industry or job is not meant for you. Ultimately, only you have the insight into what aligns with your passions and aspirations. Simply because someone within a company, organisation, or university deems a field unsuitable for you, does not necessarily make it true. If you feel a strong interest in a subject or sector and wish to pursue it, but find that the people you aim to work alongside are not a good fit, then it's not the subject or sector that is at fault, but rather the organisation or company might not fit. Thus, my advice is to always trust your instincts.

My most significant takeaway, and the advice I wish to impart, is to prioritise your physical and mental well-being. It's all too easy to work yourself to exhaustion without even realising it, making it crucial to understand and respect your boundaries.

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​Your relationship to “social impact”: has it evolved since you began your career?

I would say I didn't realise at the beginning that I could be a social impact creator myself. I thought it only worked through established traditional institutions and organisations. Through the founding of Hamam talk, but also my work at CFFP, I know that your influence is not to be underestimated and that you can create social impact. If you start your own social impact journey, you can question much more, you are much more radical in your thinking than through traditional organisations and institutions.

Let’s say you were reading a job application from someone hoping to join your team: what would stand out, and attract you to working with them?

What I would find intriguing is their level of engagement and experience. This means that while having prior experience or internships at the UN is not necessary, your journey, interests, knowledge, and dedication are important factors. And of course, being a kind-hearted individual is always a plus!
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​Impact resource rapid fire questions! What tools/sources you regularly digest in order to improve your empowerment and inspiration around your social justice intersections of passion.

The Bloom!! While I was aware of CFFP, it was actually through The Bloom newsletter that I stumbled upon my current job <3. I have been a reader of The Bloom for quite some time now, and the newsletter never fails to delight me with its intriguing content, both in terms of personal interest and professional growth.

Books?
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For the German readers: Dschinns by Fatma Aydemir

English book: The Right to Sex: Feminism in the Twenty-first Century by Amia Srinivasan.

For mental health: StressLess: Proven Methods to Reduce Stress, Manage Anxiety and Lift Your Mood by Matthew Johnstone.

Social media projects?

On Afghanistan: Zan Times - A women-led newsroom reporting on the human rights situation, women, the LGBTQ community, and environmental issues in Afghanistan.

Follow us @CFFP​

And follow Linda and me: @Hamam_talk and our German Podcast.
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branch out

🧠EXPLORE​
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Negotiating equitable pay.
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17 (bad) things to know before choosing a humanitarian career.
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💰FUNDS

The Global Feminist Pitch supports feminists from Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, Middle East and (South) Eastern Europe. This year they are looking for six feminists who will tell stories of feminists, feminist moments, and movements from their region in the form of short graphic novels.
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Proposals to contribute to an edited book, “Intersectional Rewrites: European Court of Human Rights Judgments Reimagined”– authors will offer their own versions of impactful decisions from the European Court of Human Rights from an intersectional perspective.

grow new roots

Email team@readtobloom.com to feature your job openings to 30,000 diverse and talented bloomers around the world. 🌱 ND 'not disclosed' = roles don't indicate salary. ​
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ASIA + OCEANIA
​Regional Asia director – INR 56,00,000 - 70,00,000 – Centre for Public Impact​
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🇲🇲
Data scientist – ND – Proximity Designs​
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🇳🇵
Sustainability trainee – ND – BlinkNow​
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🇭🇰
Part-time visitor officer – ND – WWF-Hong Kong​

AFRICA + MIDDLE EAST
🇱🇧
​Gender & inclusion intern – ND – WFP​
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🇰🇪
Fellowship program lead – KES 325,000-350,000 – The Mawazo Institute
Senior manager – USD 87,997 - 131,996 – Global Communities
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🇿🇦
Deputy directory of advocacy & comms – ND – Gates Foundation​
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​LATIN AMERICA + CARIBBEAN
​Contractor to support adolescent girl's SGBV – ND – UNICEF​
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🇲🇽
Program officer – ND – GVI
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🇧🇸
Aquaculture intern – ND – The Island School​
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​NORTH AMERICA
🇨🇦
​Graphic designer – ND – Svante​
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🇺🇸
Intern – $16.10/hour – Malala Fund​
​Consultant – USD 60,000 - 75,000 – FUND Consulting ​
UN advocacy legal intern – ND – AccessNow
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​EUROPE
Consultant – ND – Alliance for Gender Equality in Europe​
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🇬🇧
Assistant ecologist – GBP 12p/h – Ecosulis
(+ Berlin-based) Sustainable finance researcher – GBP 27,000 - 31,998 – E3G​
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🇨🇭
Legal intern – ND – MENA Rights Group​
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​REMOTE​
🌍
Research coordinator – EUR 53,000-58,000 – Systemic Justice​
Multiple positions (+10 internships!) – Vital Voices
Finance & admin officer – USD 1250 – Nala Feminist Collective ​
​Climate change comms consultant – USD 25-40 – International Biochar Initiative​
Digital fundraising associate – ND – One Acre Fund​
CTO – USD 200,000 – International Refugee Assistance Project
Economic justice MEL officer – GBP 27,200 – ActionAid​
Co-executive director – USD 158,000 – Third Wave Fund​
Fundraising support consultant – USD 10,000 – Racial Equity Index
Multiple roles – We Are Feminist Leaders​

Share the newsletter via email (click on the flower!) or WhatsApp with friends & allies in social impact. See you next Sunday 🌱
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