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Caltoumi (IIEP) writes:

  • I remember…..
  • the fifth floor of the IIEP,
  • the phone conferences with a never functionning connection to the Windhoek office,
  • the Christmas parties,
  • the CCO meetings,
  • the hectic of the Livingstone conference,
  • the Global Initative on HIV/AIDS and Education,
  • the briefs for decision-makers,
  • and above all,
  • the meetings beginning with Gudmund’s two words: „donc, alors“

One Response to “Imorou, Caltoumi (eng.)”

  1. Gudmund says:

    Donc alors – that was about the extent of my French…
    Caltoumi was one of the rare birds that seemed to flock to IIEP: fearless, talented and extremely well organized. And with both “espirit de large envergure chez un chef d’enterprise de grande envergure” (as I claim the French would say). If she was sent on a mission impossible, violà, you would arrive and it had been accomplished. Caltoumi’s attitude seemed to be: “Problem – what problem?”
    And she had the liberating capacity of good humor – including using her fearlessness to poke fun at you.
    The metaphor is a bit trite, but true: Humor is what oils the wheelwork of an organization. It reduces friction and it smooths the interactions.
    Perhaps she could tell some more about the Livingstone conference – e.g about how it is to organize a meeting for all the topodogs of the UN system? With scared seconds in command creating a mess by being helpful?

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