These days, especially in my country, Madagascar, most people just focus on the money they can earn from a job and not the job itself. I have seen so many cases of people that hate their work, their co workers, their Boss but who stay on for so many years just because of the money.
I used to think like them and say to myself “I’m just like everyone else, I’ve got bills to pay and mouths to feed, so no matter how hard the job is – or no matter how much I like a job or not, I’ll stay anyway as long as the pay is good”. Now I think differently, if we choose to stay in a place where we’re not appreciated, doing something we don’t even like, just for the money, we’ll slowly lose a part of ourselves every day.
Everything changed for me when I started working at AiNA soa. Let me tell you a little story and highlight the life lessons I’ve learned working for this organization so far.
My story
Shortly after graduating, I worked as a medical representative for a pharmaceutical company. I was responsible for promoting and selling some of the company’s products to doctors, health establishments and pharmacies.
The job itself was fairly easy, without too much pressure and with good social security cover. But I constantly felt a void inside. I felt like something was missing, but what exactly? I couldn’t figure it out. However, I decided to stay because of the good salary, and also because I didn’t want to disappoint my colleagues and my boss who had given me the job, when so many people were struggling to find one.
I thought that with time I’d come to love my job more, but no, that never happened, even after nine months on the job. I did my best, but it wasn’t for me, I guess.
When I first heard about AiNA soa, I was still working with the pharmaceutical company. That day, I was with a colleague promoting our products at a pharmacy when a man entered. Immediately, my friend recognized him as a friend from university. I learned from their talk that he worked for an NGO (Non-Governmental-Organisation) called AiNA soa and that they taught first aid all over Madagascar.
From that moment on, I heard an inner voice encouraging me to search for this NGO. The more I discovered, the more I felt the need to find out more about the work and content. Finally, when I saw an advertisement saying that AiNA soa was recruiting, I decided to apply or risk regretting it. Following my inner voice was the right decision, because today I am part of AiNA soa as a first aid trainer.
Do everything with love
On my first day at AiNA soa and during the first few months of my work, I had a hard time finding my place. Everything was new for me : the office, coworkers, responsibilities and habits. What’s more, I was afraid to ask for help. There was even a time when I doubted myself, whether I was up to the job or not. But when I looked at my coworkers, when I saw the effort and love everyone put into their daily tasks, it inspired and encouraged me to do my best too. I’ve seen Ny Ony teach and share his knowledge with such passion. I’ve witnessed Tsito always coming up with new ideas to improve not only his own work but that of everyone within his reach. I’ve also seen Rado always ready to help others with a big smile, even though he himself still has a lot to do. Not only them, but all the members of this organization have taught me by their example that doing everything with love makes the difference between working hard and hardly working.
Every Job is an opportunity to learn and grow
Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been a shy person, not very good at anything that involved talking to other people, I generally stayed in my corner. If someone had told me back then that one day I’d be teaching other people, I wouldn’t have believed them and would have taken it as a bad joke.
« The first time I led a first-aid training session in Aina soa, I realized that something had changed in me. »
I can tell now that I can thank my previous job, even I did not like it so much. It brought me much more than I thought. It helped me to become more confident, to open up more with other people and to always bear a good smile when talking to people. As I previously said I was a medical salesman for nine months before AiNA soa, and wherever I liked it or not, talking to people was actually the cornerstone of the Job. This experience helps me a lot, even today, to reach more people and to create a bond with my participants when I lead a training session.
At AiNA soa I’ve learned so much and I feel like I’m still growing. If I had to say just one thing, it would be: “Whatever you do be authentic, stay true to yourself – this is contagious”.
Help others find their way
The pinnacle of professional development, the moment when you feel the most fulfillment and joy, is when you’re able to help others find their own way. So help others to grow with you, so that they too can help others when the time comes. It’s great to do something you love for a living, but it’s even better if you can also inspire and help people along the way.
I’ve always wanted to help my fellow countrymen, but there’s a big difference between wanting something and actually doing it. At AiNA soa, I can really take action and help people by providing first aid training. Our country is poor and we lack many things, starting with good health insurance for everyone. Some regions are so poor that they can’t even afford a health centre. What’s more, the nearest doctor is often miles away. This is the main reason why AiNA soa offers free first aid training to local people, in order to empower them for a greater change.
Prayer as a resource
As AiNA soa team in Madagascar, we often pray together: in the morning before we start the day, when we are stuck with something or someone has a specific personal or professional concern.
I didn’t know this from any previous job – I find it relieving, relieving and enriching at the same time.
I am grateful for my time at AiNA soa and everything I have been able to experience and learn in and through my work here so far!
I wish you all the best and similar motivating experiences!
Avotra, doctor & first aid instructor