Navigating a Fulfilling Career in Humanitarian Spaces
Release Date: 11/29/2023
How Joyful Generosity Is Changing the Way We Give
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What if giving could be joyful instead of guilt-driven? In this episode, Jamie Goodwin, professor at Wheaton College, shares how her background in global churches, journalism, and teaching led her to a deeper view of generosity. We talk about practical ways to give—like giving circles and hybrid nonprofit models—that engage communities and reflect diverse cultures.
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The Future of Foreign Aid
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What’s on the horizon for foreign aid and humanitarian response strategies, especially in light of ongoing funding cuts to foreign aid around the world?
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NGO Strategy and Leadership: 10 Steps of Crisis Management
The Better Samaritan Podcast
Veteran humanitarian leader Roger Sandberg joins us to discuss how NGOs can lead effectively in the midst of funding cuts and uncertainty. As political shifts tighten budgets, the gap between global needs and available resources continues to widen. Roger shares practical strategies for assessing risk, strengthening communication within teams, and re-imagining sources of funding.
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Faith, Resilience, and the Realities of Humanitarian Work
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when humanitarian work collides with political upheaval and shifting policies?
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How Funding Cuts Are Impacting Anti-Trafficking Efforts With Rev. Dr. Sandra Morgan
The Better Samaritan Podcast
How do federal and foreign aid cuts impact anti-trafficking work, both directly and indirectly?
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Compassion and Complexity: Evangelicals on Government and Humanitarian Aid
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when churches, governments, and communities work together across differences in opinion for the common good? In this episode, Dr. Walter Kim, President of the National Association of Evangelicals, joins us to talk about how different parts of the evangelical church are responding to shifts in humanitarian aid and funding, and why these varied responses matter.
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Beyond Charity: Rev. Eugene Cho on Faith, Advocacy, and Fighting Global Hunger
The Better Samaritan Podcast
How do advocacy and policy help combat child hunger and malnutrition, both in the U.S. and around the world? In this episode, Rev. Eugene Cho, president and CEO of Bread for the World, joins us to talk about what’s needed to tackle food insecurity around the world, what’s working, what’s not, and why surface-level solutions won’t cut it.
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What Happens When Foreign Aid Gets Cut? Lessons from the Front Lines
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when humanitarian aid gets pulled, but the needs don’t stop? In this episode, we talk with Dr. Beth Stuebing, a missionary surgeon in Malawi with the Christian Health Service Corps. She shares what it’s like on the front lines of healthcare when funding disappears—and why faith-based organizations working on the ground can’t do it alone.
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Faith in Action: How Students Are Advocating for Global Health and Justice
The Better Samaritan Podcast
What happens when college students decide to take action on global issues?
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Inside PEPFAR: What’s at Stake and How Churches Can Engage
The Better Samaritan Podcast
This episode, we talk with Jenny Dyer, founder of the 2030 Collaborative, about her involvement raising awareness for HIV/AIDS - from working with Bono and the ONE Campaign to championing global health in Washington and beyond.
info_outlineIn this episode, the first in our “Vocation” series, we unlock valuable insights on navigating a fulfilling career in the humanitarian and justice sectors with friends and special guests, Jonathan Dahlager and Joy Lee. Jonathan and Joy share from their personal experiences about the pivotal role of internships, mentorship, and the right team support in shaping vocations that make a difference globally.
Education, skills, and experience have taken center stage in the ever-evolving humanitarian sector. We discuss the significance of exploring diverse roles to identify your strengths and interests. In addition, Joy and Jonathan encourage those interested in humanitarian and justice work to cultivate an attitude of humility, a passion for learning, and the willingness to accept guidance from those who've traveled these rewarding—and challenging—paths before.
Listen now for insights that will equip you to take steps toward a successful, impactful career.
Bios:
Jonathan Dahlager joined the HDI family as an accelerated student with the very first cohort of the MA in Humanitarian Disaster Leadership program and graduated in the third cohort in 2021. In 2023, he took on a Project Manager position focused on World Vision’s WASH work in challenging and fragile contexts. His experience working in challenging environments includes traveling for World Vision, living in Colombia for six months with a grassroots peace and reconciliation organization, and volunteering, interpreting, and leading programs in low-income communities near where he grew up in Costa Rica.
Joy Lee oversees the education programs of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute and supports a growing alumni community. She also maintains partnerships with NGOs for collaborative opportunities. Joy’s previous work involved coordinating and developing projects related to anti-oppressive education, the arts, gender-based violence, and advocacy. She has worked on projects in different mediums, such as Torn Memories of Nanking by Tamaki Matsuoka (ALPHA Education); In Sundry Languages by Toronto Lab Theatre (play); Make Food, Not War by Siobhan Productions Inc. (short documentary); Everything will Live Where the River Goes by Blades Art Project (Mural).
Resources:
HDI’s MA in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership degree
World Vision’s WASH program
The Christian Alliance for Inclusive Development (a community that focuses on gender justice and gathers people to recognize, equip, and advance women in “key decision-making positions globally” in the relief and development sectors)
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This episode was produced by WildfireCreative
Theme Song: “Turning Over Tables” by The Brilliance
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(Note to the listener: In this podcast, sometimes we'll host Evangelicals, and sometimes we won't. Learning how to do better involves listening to many perspectives with different insights and understanding. Sometimes it will make us uncomfortable, sometimes, we'll agree, and sometimes, we won't. We think that's good. We want to listen for correction– especially in our blind spots.)
The Better Samaritan podcast is produced by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, which offers a M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership and a Trauma Certificate. To learn more and apply, visit our website.
Jamie Aten, Ph.D, and Kent Annan, M.Div., co-direct the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College and are also the Co-Founders of Spiritual First Aid.
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