Charities - Case Studies

Years of Service: 18 Years

Qualifications Gained: -

 

Raymond Hazan, 63, was commissioned into the Royal Anglian Regiment in June 1965, and went on to serve in locations including Cyprus, Malaya and Kenya. He learned of St Dunstan’s (the organisation that provides an independent future for blind ex-Service men and women) after being blinded in 1973 by an IRA parcel bomb in Northern Ireland. His colleague was killed by the blast, in which Ray also suffered severe hearing loss and lost his right hand.

 

Soon after losing his sight, Ray was put in touch with St Dunstan’s, which marked the beginning of an inspirational journey. He says: ‘When I lost my sight, I felt helpless, I was unable to do many of the everyday things I’d taken for granted with sight. I was visited by a member of the St Dunstan’s team, who gave me a tactile watch and taught me to tell the time through touch. It was this practical support that made me realise I could regain independence – it was something to live for. I still remember my first day at St Dunstan’s, I heard the chatter and laughter of other St Dunstaners [beneficiaries], and the positive attitude of those I met made me realise that blindness was not so bad and that I could go on to lead a fulfilling life. I went through an intensive rehabilitation programme: specialist staff worked with me to set goals based on what I wanted to achieve. The environment of emotional support and encouragement helped me to progress quickly, and each day I learned a new skill or technique, helping me to become more independent. With the help of St Dunstan’s, I learned to touch-type and was able to fulfil my goal to return to work and support my family.’

 

After undergoing bespoke training and rehabilitation with St Dunstan’s, Ray spent two years at the International School of Interpreting in Mons, Belgium. He was the subject of a 1974 BBC TV documentary, which charted the progress of his rehabilitation, and in 1977 joined St Dunstan’s (he is now one of its longest-serving members of staff). He first worked in PR and then the welfare team, before going on to be elected as a member of St Dunstan’s Council in October 1998 and President of St Dunstan’s in October 2004. He is also Services Manager and Editor of the Review, a monthly publication for St Dunstaners. In October 2006, he was elected Vice President of the International Congress of War Blind Organisations, a position he still holds.

Years of Service: 18 Years

Qualifications Gained: Masters in International Developement

 

Flight Lieutenant Ceris Bailes left the Armed Forces in 2003, having served in places such as Bosnia, Kosovo, Cyprus and Ascension Island, in order ‘to pursue other career goals in the humanitarian/development world’. Her first civilian job was as regional logistics coordinator with an Irish humanitarian NGO in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). ‘It was the first job for which I applied in my final months in the Service,’ she says. ‘I found the position on the organisation’s website, but had been researching these kinds of jobs for at least two years. I believe my knowledge of French and logistics assisted greatly in my being offered the position, as did my master’s in International Development (part-financed by the RAF).’

 

While serving, she gained a BSc in Logistics Management and Chartered Membership of the Institute of Logistics and Transport. She has found the following skills, acquired while in uniform, helpful in her new role: ‘management skills, multi-tasking, working to tight deadlines and coping with the unknown!’ Her Career Transition Workshop was particularly useful in providing guidance on CV writing: ‘the model I was shown has never failed me’.

 

Having also worked in Darfur, Sudan, following her first job, her current job is as deputy country director with a French development organisation, also based in eastern DRC, where she has ‘responsibility for all programmes in all regions of the country. My organisation’, she says, ‘implements programmes that bridge the gap between emergency relief and development assistance. We work in rehabilitation and construction (schools and medical centres), road building, water and sanitation engineering, food security and projects to assist income generation. I am responsible for all departments and staff in-country (approx. 350) and ensure that our programmes are implemented effectively. I also undertake all external representation in-country, as well as security decisions.’

 

Although she says that ‘living in eastern DRC comes nowhere near to having a “normal” life’ and that ‘the constant insecurity gets you down’, she believes that ‘our programmes make a difference to the lives of the population in the areas where we work. I like being in a position to decide where and how we can best intervene to address the most pressing needs. I also like working in a truly international environment, and entirely in the French language. The work is interesting and extremely challenging.’