Meet Mairi Cunningham, Operations Manager, HALO Abkhazia
Where are you from in Scotland?
I grew up in Broughty Ferry, Dundee on the east coast of Scotland.
What is your job title and where do you work?
I am the Operations Manager for HALO Abkhazia. In addition to our ongoing work across Abkhazia clearing explosive ordnance left over from the conflict of 1992-1993, we currently have surface clearance teams working in the village of Primorsky, in the Gudauta region. There was an unplanned explosion of a military ammunition store which occurred last year, scattering an estimated 100,000 items of unexploded ordnance across the surrounding area.
Why did you decide to join The HALO Trust?
I wanted to make a practical contribution in the humanitarian sector where I could see the direct impact and meaning of my work. For me, there was no better place to do that than with The HALO Trust. I also love to travel and work with people of different nationalities and cultures and so HALO seemed the perfect fit.
What is the best thing about your job?
Seeing the tangible outcome of my day-to-day work and working alongside, and learning from, my national staff colleagues. I also love the variety of my current role: no week is ever the same. One morning I might be out visiting our teams in the field, helping them to find solutions to some operational challenges related to Primorsky clearance or accompanying our EOD teams to oversee a bulk demolition of unexploded ordnance. In the afternoon I might be writing up a report for our donors, or helping plan a risk education session for schools in Primorsky. Then the following day I might be travelling to Tbilisi to attend a meeting at an embassy and brief them on our work.
What do you miss most about Scotland?
I’m extremely lucky because on my current posting I live by the Black Sea and have the Caucasus Mountains on my doorstep so I feel somewhat at home surrounded by such beautiful scenery. I do miss family and friends but having lived abroad for so long this has become a reality that I have learned to deal with. What I do often miss though is the Scottish wit and sarcasm, the ability to find dark humour in the most difficult or trying of situations. Oh, and oatcakes. Whenever I make a trip home I always make sure I fill my bag with plenty to bring back with me!
