Ethos of Aid

Kimber Vradenburg
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Hi, my name is Kimber Vradenburg, and I've been a humanitarian practitioner for over 20 years. I love this work, because it continually asks me to reflect, grow, give the best of myself and live in my integrity. Specifically, I love working with practitioners in the field serving their own communities. They are the people upon whom every humanitarian effort depends. They are also systemically undervalued. Over two decades I’ve worked with these incredible practitioners, meeting as people with as much to learn from one another as to give recipients of aid, honouring each context for its unique labyrinth of beliefs, values, social, cultural and religious norms, histories and systems, while being of service together. This is our way. This is our way of being and doing this beautifully complex and deeply personal work. The ethos of aid. This podcast is a space to share narratives, amplify the voices of field practitioners, continue the juicy dialogue, and our collective growth about how best to serve recipients of aid. Whether you’re a practitioner or outside the sector entirely, you’ll benefit from the perspectives. Episodes will release every Friday; either solo or with guests and you’ll find us everywhere you access podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, Google and Amazon. If you have a comment or a question, or you'd like to be a guest or subscribe, please do so at kimbervradenburg.com, or @kimbervradenburg on Instagram or on the Ethos of Aid FB Page. I’m excited! Welcome, and thank you for listening!

Episodes

  1. The Catharsis of Congruence

    08/20/2021

    The Catharsis of Congruence

    In this episode, we travel to North Sudan & South Sudan and to a centre for abandoned children... My work here with staff delved into long-held, unexplored beliefs that were impacting their work until such time as we created safe space to explore them. While it's possible to live incongruently, in the space between our beliefs, values and actions, it does have impacts. In this narrative, I share how we can unpack the assumptions that lead to incongruence, and the collective catharsis that can emerge from working through tension & discomfort. Also in this episode, I announce that I am evolving, and as such, Ethos of Aid is evolving as well. A three-week hiatus will follow this episode. Watch for news of our impending return!  If you're enjoying, have a question or comment or you'd like to know more about my coaching program, send me a message at www.kimbervradenburg.com or on the Ethos of Aid FB Page or @kimbervradenburg on Instagram. Thanks so much for listening! Kimber

    23 min
  2. Helping is Complicated...

    08/13/2021

    Helping is Complicated...

    In this episode, I bring in narratives from Pakistan and Canada - within my family, even - to underline the complexities of helping from a number of perspectives. I take things down to the human level and connect the dots to wider humanitarian interventions and the skills needed to do this complex work well. Let us know if you're enjoying at www.kimbervradenburg.com or @kimbervradenburg on Instagram or on the Ethos of Aid Facebook Page!

    18 min
  3. We Must Forgive But We Will Never Forget

    08/06/2021

    We Must Forgive But We Will Never Forget

    In this episode we head back in time to Sierra Leone to share some of the joys and complexities of working with local practitioners helping themselves and their communities travel the path from 12 years of civil conflict to peace and reconciliation. That path is at times as curved and sometimes seemingly impassable as the roads we travelled to reach villages and communities.  In this narrative I discuss children associated with armed forces and groups. While I do not go into detail about atrocities, I do mention specifically that these children were forced to commit atrocities, and some listeners may find this difficult to hear. The overall theme however, is resilience, as always. The same themes emerge in this narrative as those in previous episodes. There are local practitioners impacted by the same issues affecting their communities, and working through their own traumas while serving vulnerable communities. We have the added complexity here of these national practitioners having been directly impacted by the actions of the very children and youth they would care for.  My practice grew exponentially here, as did the practice of those wi was fortunate enough to work with. And I carry with me to this day the inspired actions of these exceptional practitioners leading their own communities in internally guided social change. Let us know how you're experiencing these narratives!  www.kimbervradenburg.com @kimbervradenburg on Instagram Ethos of Aid Facebook Page

    21 min
  4. Local Issues, Local Solutions, Says Julius Kwami Tsatsu

    07/30/2021

    Local Issues, Local Solutions, Says Julius Kwami Tsatsu

    In this episode, we wrap up our 3 part series with Julius Kwami Tsatsu of Ghana.  Julius shares his ingenuity in response to the lack of rain and his growing skill set; underlining yet another way he responds to local issues with local solutions. We discuss his new awareness about long-held beliefs and their impact on his work with communities as well as the value of social entrepreneurship within humanitarian work to address social problems sustainably. It won’t be the last time we have Julius with us, and we’ve given each other a lot to think about. Please support his work by visiting the Community Alliance Foundation Facebook Page. If you’re enjoying what you’re hearing, please let me know, either at www.kimbervradenburg.com, or on the Ethos of Aid Facebook Page, or @kimbervradenburg on Instagram.

    24 min
  5. The Veneer of Beliefs & The Prevalence of Resilience

    07/23/2021

    The Veneer of Beliefs & The Prevalence of Resilience

    In this episode, we explore the veneer of beliefs and the prevalence of resilience by looking back through the contexts we’ve discussed so far, from Ghana to Ethiopia, and bringing in a narrative from Rwanda to underline some of the key themes.  This is the 5th episode, which I cheekily equate with the tricky 3rd album in music-industry-metaphor... It’s a moment to pause and reflect and to recap, before we bring Julius Kwami Tsatsu back next week for the final chapter of our dialogue. In the first segment you’ll hear me bring in examples from my dialogue with Julius to highlight the importance of trust, relationship and congruence, between beliefs, values and ethics held by practitioners and the communities we’re serving, as well as, the veneer that occurs when we don’t create space for practitioners to integrate external concepts with cultural beliefs, values and social norms.  In the next segment I narrate a professional experience in Rwanda, that highlights the impacts of the veneer of beliefs, the ways to crack through and the resilience that is revealed when we do.  Finally, I tie it up in the last segment and underline resilience. A lot! You can find us anywhere you access podcasts, from Apple to Google to Spotify... And I’d love to hear from you, so please reach out at www.kimbervradenburg.comor @kimbervradenburg on Instagram or on the Ethos of Aid Facebook page or in the group. I’ll be sure to go set up those group rules asap! Enjoy!

    23 min
  6. Beliefs, Values and Ethics, Oh My! Julius Kwami Tsatsu - Chapter 2

    07/16/2021

    Beliefs, Values and Ethics, Oh My! Julius Kwami Tsatsu - Chapter 2

    In this Episode, we are again in Ghana with Julius Kwami Tsatsu as our guest. This is Chapter 2 of our juicy dialogue, where we delve into beliefs, values and ethics and the contradictions therein. I share parts of my own journey to discovering and utilizing beliefs and values in my cross-cultural humanitarian work, and Julius shares examples of how he works with beliefs in his community. We then dive into what happens for practitioners when they don’t have the space, time and opportunity to explore how external concepts fit and conflict with cultural beliefs and values, using examples from our work together.  Don’t miss this Episode! Our dialogue is just getting started! You can find us anywhere you access your podcasts including Apple, Spotify, Google and Captivate.fm/ethosofaid And if you enjoy this or any other episode, or you would like to be a guest, please let me know at www.kimbervradenburg.comor @kimbervradenburg on Instagram or on the Ethos of Aid Facebook Page or in the Group. I’d really love to hear what you’re thinking! Enjoy!

    24 min
  7. So Many Hats, Julius Kwami Tsatsu! - Chapter 1

    07/09/2021

    So Many Hats, Julius Kwami Tsatsu! - Chapter 1

    Well hello hello and welcome to Episode 3 of the EoA podcast. Or as they say in Ghana, mema wo akwaaba, which means, I welcome you! My name is Kimber and I am your host. You guessed it, today we are in beautiful Ghana, West Africa, and I have the great pleasure of introducing you to Julius Kwami Tsatsu. In this chapter, we’ll be laying the groundwork for what has become a 3 part miniseries about the successes and complexities of Julius’s deep community-based work as a man wearing many hats! He is a proud citizen of Ghana, a husband and father, a social entrepreneur, a farmer and a FT project officer for Right to Play international. I don’t know when he rests!  Our first glimpse into his world is through the lens of his social entrepreneurship. Having encountered an issue repeatedly in his NGO work, Julius researched the problem and created a solution, he calls Tecky Tap – a foot operated hand washing device. His experiences bringing it to communities echo those NGOs often have, when bringing ideas to communities, so it’s deeply helpful to hear his story.  You can find us anywhere you access podcasts, including captivate.fm/ethosofaid and at www.kimbervradenburg.com Ethos of Aid Facebook Page and Group @kimbervradenburg on Instagram and please visit Julius at the Community Alliance Foundation's Facebook page, to find out more about his products and services! Thanks for listening! Cheers, Kimber

    26 min
  8. 28 Pastoralists...

    07/02/2021

    28 Pastoralists...

    In this episode... Why sharing human process-work is important, the role of social location in humanitarian practice and how 28 pastoralists-turned-health-workers made a difference to mothers and their babies in Southern Ethiopia... I would love to hear from you! If you have a comment, or a question, or a story to share, or you'd like to be a guest, please find me at www.kimbervradenburg.com by clicking 'Contact', or on the Ethos of Aid Facebook page, or @kimbervradenburg.com Next week, join me for some engaging dialogue with Mr. Julius Kwami Tsatsu; a child protection professional and social entrepreneur from Ghana.

    21 min
  9. LET'S MEET IN THE REAL

    06/25/2021

    LET'S MEET IN THE REAL

    Well, it couldn't get more perfectly imperfect than this! In this inaugural episode I reveal myself as the newbie podcaster I am, and, share the first sliver of perspective on my experiences doing humanitarian aid work in the field. We start in Malawi, finish in Ghana and along the way I honour the beautiful messiness created by the labyrinth of humans, beliefs, values, social, cultural and religious norms involved in this work. And since it all relies on practitioners working in their own communities, I shine a big old spotlight on them! This is a space for dialogue, and I intend for us to grow one another, so do let me know how you experience the episode, by heading to kimbervradenburg.com and clicking on Contact, or the Ethos of Aid Facebook page, or by following me @kimbervradenburg on Instagram. Trust me when I say I can only get better at this, and I will! Show notes to follow! Thanks for listening!

    21 min
  10. The Beautiful Messy Humanitarian Field

    06/15/2021

    The Beautiful Messy Humanitarian Field

    Ethos of Aid is the podcast where we explore the beautiful, messy, human and social nature of humanitarian work in the field. A space for dialogue and learning about how best to do this work together. Find me at www.kimbervradenburg.com or on the Ethos of Aid Facebook page, or @kimbervradenburg on Instagram.

    2 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Hi, my name is Kimber Vradenburg, and I've been a humanitarian practitioner for over 20 years. I love this work, because it continually asks me to reflect, grow, give the best of myself and live in my integrity. Specifically, I love working with practitioners in the field serving their own communities. They are the people upon whom every humanitarian effort depends. They are also systemically undervalued. Over two decades I’ve worked with these incredible practitioners, meeting as people with as much to learn from one another as to give recipients of aid, honouring each context for its unique labyrinth of beliefs, values, social, cultural and religious norms, histories and systems, while being of service together. This is our way. This is our way of being and doing this beautifully complex and deeply personal work. The ethos of aid. This podcast is a space to share narratives, amplify the voices of field practitioners, continue the juicy dialogue, and our collective growth about how best to serve recipients of aid. Whether you’re a practitioner or outside the sector entirely, you’ll benefit from the perspectives. Episodes will release every Friday; either solo or with guests and you’ll find us everywhere you access podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, Google and Amazon. If you have a comment or a question, or you'd like to be a guest or subscribe, please do so at kimbervradenburg.com, or @kimbervradenburg on Instagram or on the Ethos of Aid FB Page. I’m excited! Welcome, and thank you for listening!

Information

  • Creator
    Kimber Vradenburg
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Kimber Vradenburg
  • Show Website
    Ethos of Aid