My job more people at work around the world

P RAI S E F O R MY J OB : M OR E P E OP L E AT W OR K A R OUND T HE W OR L D “I was really drawn into the stories from all over the world of people trying to make a living and make a difference in the lives of others This book could be a useful tool for helping college students thinking about vocation and how to approach work with a sense of meaning and purpose There are many lessons, but they are shared via stories rather than through didactic ‘telling.’” —M ARK ELSDON, Executive Director and Pastor, Pres House, University of Wisconsin-Madison “A must-read The book brings to life actual work experiences across the world, showing that we have a lot in common It illustrates that we’re not alone.” —CRAIG NEWM ARK, Founder, Craig’s List “The stories in My Job reveal the universal human spirit through the common, quotidian aspirations to create, thrive and leave something better behind—and the myriad hardships and joys that are inherent in this struggle.” —DAVID B ORNSTEIN, New York Times Columnist; Author, How To Change the World “Skees has done a great job unearthing touching personal stories, meaningful insights and inspirations, and diverse perspectives on the world we all share.” —DARIAN RODRIGUEZ HEYM AN, Author, Nonprofit Management 101 and Nonprofit Fundraising 101 “My Job is very well researched In what seems to be an increasingly ‘us and them’ world, this book helped me feel a connection with each of the diverse set of interviewees.” —VIVEK ULLAL NAYAK, Cofounder, TerraClear Inc “There’s a mythic quality in these stories; they cross national borders and income brackets to explore how people make a living and make a life through their work My Job is not only an enjoyable and meaningful read; it’s a demonstration of the principle that we grow together through stories.” —PAUL VANDECARR, Author, Working Narratives “I loved the global perspective presented by this book It opened my mind to consider how much we have in common across cultures and geographic distance The distinct voice of each narrator drew me in and held me spellbound Pain and trauma mark many of the stories, but resilience predominates.” —PEG CONWAY, Author of Embodying the Sacred: A Spiritual Preparation for Birth “No matter your station in life, you’ll find a piece of yourself in these stories My Job bridges the divide of geo-political barriers and reveals the universal human desire to make the world better It sheds light on the powerful impact a job can have, not only in terms of the product produced or service delivered, but on the person doing the job One need not have riches to make difference One only needs passion, desire and willingness” —HENRY B ERM AN, Ed.D, CEO, Exponent Philanthropy “A celebration and a true gift to people everywhere who work hard to make our world a better place.” —CRISTI HEGRANES, CEO, Global Press Journal “Satisfies the voyeur in me who is always wondering what it would be like to live in someone else’s shoes.” —EDEN ROCK, Operations Director, Placer Land Trust “Despite our diverse cultures and life experiences, we transform our trauma and dreams into the work that gives meaning to our lives We meet on common ground in the pages of this book, as human beings striving daily to make the world a little better place With what brief time we have on this planet That’s the best we can do, and it is a lot.” —SHERI SOB RATO B RISSON, Philanthropist; Author, Digging Deep: A Journal for Young People Facing Health Challenges “A tapestry of rich storytelling, inspiring you to discover your own authentic hustle and providing a brilliant peephole into the makeshift destiny that so often accompanies everyday work and employment My Job explores themes of meaning, craft, grit, hustle, and exposes the often-invisible humanity at the core of our economy.” —ALEXA CLAY, Author, The Misfit Economy “This is not as much of a book about jobs as it is a book about lives Each individual’s distinct voice comes through The stories illustrate that there is not just one way to have a ‘good’ job or a ‘good’ life, but also that poverty, hunger, traumatic experiences, and loss of freedom can make any life a struggle The interviews also address the question of women’s changing place in the work world Perhaps through reading this book in groups and initiating discussions, readers can build greater understanding of how they want to create their work in the world.” —AM ANDA C PETERS, Associate Director, Career Coach, Office of Career Advancement, John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University “Each first-person account stands on its own, and they can be read in any order Skees nimbly maintains a consistent narrative flow, resulting in highly personal, often poignant, sometimes gritty, portraits that will inspire readers.” —KIRKUS REVIEWS Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press Austin, Texas www.gbgpress.com Copyright ©2019 Suzanne Skees All rights reserved Thank you for purchasing an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright law No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder Distributed by Greenleaf Book Group For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Greenleaf Book Group at PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709, 512.891.6100 Design and composition by Greenleaf Book Group Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group Cover image of ox and cart, ©iStockphoto.com/brytta Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data is available Print ISBN: 978-1-62634-586-7 eBook ISBN: 978-1-62634-587-4 Part of the Tree Neutral® program, which offsets the number of trees consumed in the production and printing of this book by taking proactive steps, such as planting trees in direct proportion to the number of trees used: www.treeneutral.com Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper 18 19 20 21 22 23 First Edition 10 To my cherished son, Isaac—a multitalented Renaissance man whose work spans from visual art and musical composition to philosophical and media research to graphic design and web development With beautiful grace and tenacious determination, you always have and always will accomplish your dreams CONTENTS Foreword: The Future of Work, by Andrew Yang Preface: Our Job = Our Self: Is That True? Acknowledgments HEALTH AND RECOVERY Mike: Gambling Recovery Counselor, London, England Kevin: Nursing Student, Santa Lucia, Honduras Sandra: Midwife Clinic Director, Ciudad Vieja, Guatemala EDUCATION AND FINANCE Nadine: College Admissions Counselor, Kigali, Rwanda Kelly: English Teacher, Daegu, South Korea Misozi: Mobile-Money Agent, Lusaka, Zambia AGRIBUSINESS AND FOOD PROCESSING Srey Pouv: Rice Microfinancier, Siem Reap, Cambodia Sena: Tomato Canner, Anloga, Ghana Mary: Banana Farmer, Mbale, Uganda ARTS AND CULTURE 10 Alberto: Stay-at-Home Dad and Art Teacher, Chicago, Illinois, United States 11 Tania: Dancer, Toronto, Canada 12 Michele: Arts Cultural-Exchange Officer, State Department, Washington, D.C., United States ACTIVISM AND DIPLOMACY 13 Junior: Environmental Activist, Naoma, West Virginia, United States 14 Greg: Mideast Peace Diplomat, New York, New York, United States 15 Mickey: Fringe Diplomat, Tel Aviv, Israel Note to Reader Reflection Questions: What’s Your Job Story? Chapter Notes Index About the Author contemplation stage, wheel of change, 14 contraceptives, 61 crime in Honduras, 31–32, 48–49 in Uganda, 186–89 cross-cultural exchange programs budget for, 254–55 cooperative agreements and grants, 253 finding participants, 249 guidance for artists, 253–54 management of, 241 meeting artists, 257–58 networks in art world, 249–50 people-to-people diplomacy, 247–48 reliability of organizations, 250 safety of artists, 258–59 unity through art, 248–49 Cuba, 371n12 D Damascus, Syria, 297–98 Dance ConneXion, Toronto, Canada dealing with drama and harassment, 232–34 healing potential of tango, 234 overview, 225 teaching dance, 228–30 traveling for dance, 226–27 typical workday, 231 dancer choosing dance as career, 230 dancing from the heart, 227–28 dealing with drama and harassment, 232–34 healing potential of tango, 234 personal dreams, 234–35 psychology of dance, 235–36 teaching dance, 228–30 traveling for dance, 226–27 typical workday, 231 Deatherage, Todd, 290, 303 Depo-Provera, 61 depression, 34 diplomacy See also arts cultural-exchange officer, State Department; fringe diplomat; Mideast peace diplomat fringe, 319–20, 345 people-to-people, 240, 247 divorce, 185 domestic violence in Guatemala, 56, 59–60 in Honduras, 31–32 in Rwanda, 88–89 drama among dance students, dealing with, 232–34 DuBois, Phil, 228, 229, 230 competition in dance industry, 225 friendship with Tania Wong, 224 harassment, dealing with, 232–33 helping others through dance, 235–36 work schedule, 231 Dulwich College Prep School, England, E education of Kelly Kang, 105, 107 of Kevin Zazo, 35, 36–38, 39 of Michael Bergman, 326–27 of Michele Peregrin, 245–46 of Mike Kenward, 8–9 of Misozi Mkandawire, 121 of Nadine Niyitegeka, 87–91, 94–95 of Sandra López, 57–58 of Sena Ahiabor, 162 educational model, at Akilah Institute for Women, Rwanda, 91–92 Ehrman, Sara, 328 The Elders, 330, 376n8 Elvel School, Honduras, 36–37 empowerment of women, 97–98, 137 engagement, 340–41 English teacher class schedules, 108–9 general discussion, 103–4 in Honduras, 38–39, 41 interactive learning environment, 106 personal interest in students, 111–12 student behavior, 109–11 wages for, 116 environmental activism arrest for protesting, 280–81 coal camps, 273–74 Coal River Mountain Watch, 275–77, 278–81 coal slurry dams, 270–72 coal slurry in water, 274 deaths from black lung, 283–84 fighting oppression, 285 harassment, dealing with, 277 land ownership in West Virginia, 267 lobbying work, 279 mountaintop removal, 268 typical workday, 279 underground coal mining, 268 wages, 279–80 exercise, stress management through, 23–24 F family of Alberto Alaniz, 214–15, 218 of Junior Walker, 281–83 of Kelly Kang, 104–5, 113–14 of Kevin Zazo, 31–32 of Mary Gibutaye, 186 of Michael Bergman, 326–27, 342–43 of Michele Peregrin, 259–60 of Mike Kenward, 5–8, 26–27 of Misozi Mkandawire, 123–24 of Sandra López, 58, 59, 67–68 of Sena Ahiabor, 166–67 of Srey Pouv Kai, 150–53 family planning, 61–62 Fappis Solutions, 135–37 fears, personal, 45 femicide, 31–32 fertilizer use, in Ghana, 165 focal dystonia, 300, 374n8 Freedom Dividend, xv Freeman, John Craig, 251–52 free time activities of Junior Walker, 284 of Kelly Kang, 113 of Michael Bergman, 343–44 of Michele Peregrin, 260 of Misozi Mkandawire, 124 of Sena Ahiabor, 173 Freiwald, Hannah, 60 Fringe Diplomacy consulting agency, 317, 319, 338 fringe diplomat consultancy projects, 329–32, 336–37 engagement, 340–41 fringe diplomacy defined, 319–20 general discussion, 317–18 hiring local consultants, 337–38 income, 338 love of work, 345 rescue missions, 333–34 soft engagement in North Korea, 334–35 view on use of force, 340 work for Partners for a New Beginning, 331–32 work for The Elders, 330 work for U.S.–Palestinian Partnership, 330–31 work with Telos Group, 341–42 funding for GamCare, 18–19 of Mideast conflict, 293–95 for Telos Group, 308 G gambling recovery counselor addiction gene, 17 culture at GamCare, 21–22, 25 emotional impacts of counseling, 20–21, 23 funding for GamCare, 18–19 helpline counseling, 11–12, 15–17 mental health, effect of gambling on, 16 Motivational Interviewing, 12–14 overview, profile of problem gamblers, 15–16 reasons for gambling, 19–20 worst and best days at GamCare, 24–25 GamCare culture at, 21–22, 25 face-to-face counseling, 15 funding, 18–19 helpline counseling, 11–12, 15–17, 20–21, 23 Motivational Interviewing, 12–14 overview, worst and best days at, 24–25 Garifuna tribe, 31 genocide in Rwanda, 82–86, 360n5, 360n6, 361n7 Georgetown University, 338–39 Ghana See also Ahiabor, Sena certification process, 169–70 fertilizer use in, 165 market for canned tomatoes, 170 overview, 160 tomato crop in, 165 Gibutaye, Mary, 177–95 animals on farm of, 189–90 banana farming, 179–83, 186 childhood of, 185 divorce, 185 employing other farmers, 183 family, 186 favorite foods, 190 general discussion, 177–79 health problems, 191 opening of bank account, 184 personal dreams, 194–95 praise for work of, 192–94 religion, 186 robbery and alcoholism in village, 186–89 work as Community Knowledge Worker, 180–81, 183–84, 189, 191, 192–94 ginseng, in West Virginia, 283, 373n10 Global Alliances program, 332, 337 Grameen Foundation mobile phones provided by, 183–84, 189 praise for work by CKW, 192–94 promoting new farming practices, 191 training by, 180–81 Grobl, Karl, 141–42, 150–53, 365n1 Guatemala See also López, Sandra Association for Leadership in Guatemala, 66 overview, 54 religion, government, and alcoholism in, 68–69 violence in, 68 H H4HC (Hope for Honduran Children), 33, 35–36, 38, 358n1 harassment from students, dealing with, 232–34 healing potential of tango, 234 healthcare See also midwives; nursing in Cambodia, 148–50 in Honduras, 46–47 health problems of Greg Khalil, 300, 314–15 of Mary Gibutaye, 191 of Srey Pouv Kai, 148–50 helpline counseling, 11–12, 15–17 Hest, Christopher, 365n1 hip-hop exchange program, 251, 258 Honduras See also Zazo, Kevin advancement of medical care in, 46–48 description of Hondurans, 45–46 poverty and crime in, 48–49 revolution of the mind, 49–50 Hope for Honduran Children (H4HC), 33, 35–36, 38, 358n1 I IAAS (International Association of Agricultural Students), 162 incarceration, 201–3, 206–11, 212 income See wages Indonesia, 370n7 initiative, 154–55 Institute of International Education, 246 International Association of Agricultural Students (IAAS), 162 international education, 246, 369n4 intrauterine devices (IUDs), 61 Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 370n6 Israel Defense Force, 323–26 Israel-Palestine conflict, 374n3 American funding of, 293–95 educating leaders about, 292 end of, 310–12 seeing all sides of, 291–92 settlements, 294–95 strategic counseling for impactful action, 293 tolerant history in Middle East, 296 U.S.–Palestinian Partnership, 330–31 IUDs (intrauterine devices), 61 J Jackson, Michael, 126 job creation, xiii job crisis, xiii–xiv J Street, 342 K Kang, Kelly, 101–17 childhood of, 104–5 education, 105, 107 employment challenges in Korea, 114–15 family, 113–14 free time activities, 113 general discussion, 101–3 personal dreams, 115–17 personal life, 108–12 political situation in Korea, 115 religion, 113 work at Chungdahm Learning Institute, 103–4, 106, 108–12 work in advertising, 107–8 work in travel agency, 108 Kenward, Mike, 3–27 attraction of gambling, 19–20 childhood, 5–8 education, 8–9 family, 26–27 personal dreams, 22 personal life, 26–27 problem gambling, 15–17 stress management, 20–21, 23–24 work at casino, 9–11 work at GamCare, 11–14, 18–19, 21–25 Khalil, Greg, 289–314 See also Telos Group American funding of Mideast conflict, 293–95 childhood of, 297–300 end of Israel-Palestine conflict, 310–12 first trip to Palestine and Israel, 301–2 general discussion, 289–90 health problems, 300, 314–15 love for music, 299–300 morning routine, 307 racism, facing, 305–6 relationship development skills, 312–13 role models, 313 tolerant history in Middle East, 296 typical workweek, 307–8 Khartoum, Sudan, 333–34 Khmer Rouge regime, Cambodia, 145–46 Koo, See-Wong, 363n3 Kosovo, 370n5 L land ownership in West Virginia, 267 Latin King gang, 202, 203–4, 208 loans See microfinancing lobbying by environmental activists, 279 López, Sandra, 53–72 childhood of, 54–57 education, 57–58 family, 67–68 learning leadership with ALG, 66 midwife training, 60 personal life, 59–60, 67, 71–72 religion, government, and alcoholism in Guatemala, 68–69 resilience, 70–71 victim of domestic violence, 59–60 violence in Guatemala, 68 work at Open Hands, 60–65 M machismo, 55, 57, 67, 94–95, 359n6 maintenance stage, wheel of change, 14 Malley, Rob, 328, 344 Mandela, Nelson, 330 Manhattan Prep, xiii medical brigades, in Honduras, 39–40 medicinal herbs in West Virginia, 283 mental discipline, 210 mental health gambling and, 16 psychology of dance, 235–36 resentment, letting go of, 210 microfinancing in Cambodia, 143–45 defined, 365n2 in Zambia, 134–36 Mideast peace diplomat American funding of Mideast conflict, 293–95 educating leaders, 291–92 end of Israel-Palestine conflict, 310–12 funding for Telos Group, 308 inspiration for, 302–3 overview, 291–92 racism, facing, 305–6 relationship development skills, 312–13 start of Telos Group, 303–4 strategic counseling, 293 tolerant history in Middle East, 296 typical workweek, 307–8 midwives attending births, 62–63, 65–67 challenges facing, 63 community education, 61–62 family planning, 60–62 rewards of work, 64 screenings, 62 training, 60, 63–64 wages for, 63 work in villages, 62 MI (Motivational Interviewing), 12–14 mind, revolution of the, 49–50 Mkandawire, Misozi, 119–37 childhood, 121 education, 121 family, 123–24 Fappis Solutions project, 135–37 free time activities, 124 general discussion, 119–21 meaning of name, 121–22 microfinancing, 134–36 personal dreams, 134 personal life, 124–25 religion, 124 role models, 134 self-discovery, 126–27 work in mobile-phone banking, 122–23, 127–33 Young African Leaders Initiative fellowship, 363n6 Zambian culture, 125–26 mobile-money agent benefits of working as, 132–33 competition, 122–23, 131–32 dealing with customers, 130–31 overview, 120 pressure to learn new skills, 127–28 reward for top agents, 133 role models, 134 services provided by, 122–23 skills needed, 128 starting work as, 127 technical glitches, 130–31 training others, 130 typical workday, 129–30 wages of, 127 money management, 128 morels, 269, 372n6 Motivational Interviewing (MI), 12–14 mountaintop removal, 268, 280 M-PESA (Kenya), 123 Mujasi, Eli, 192–94 N National Geographic, 242 Niyitegeka, Nadine, 75–98 Akilah Institute, 91–92 childhood of, 81–87 community service, 90–91 education, 87–91, 94–95 genocide in Rwanda, 82–86 personal dreams, 97–98 personal inspiration, 90–91, 92–93 recruitment process, 78–79 sliding-scale tuition, 79–80 work at Akilah Institute, 77, 80–81, 95–96 North Korea, soft engagement in, 334–35 nursing choice of profession, 39 healthcare challenges in Honduras, 46–47 in Honduras, 39–40 wages for, 44–45 O Open Hands, 57 attending births, 62–63, 65–67 challenges facing midwives, 63 community education, 61–62 family planning, 61–62 overview, 60–61 rewards of work at, 64 screenings, 62 training midwives, 63–64 wages for midwives, 63 work in villages, 62 oppression, fighting, 285 P parents, neglect of children by, 219 Partners for a New Beginning, 331–32 Pennsylvania State University, 171 people-to-people diplomacy, 240, 247 Peregrin, Michele, 239–61 budget for programs, 254–55 childhood of, 241–44 cooperative agreements and grants, 253 education, 245–46 family, 259–60 first job, 245 free time activities, 260 general discussion, 239–41 guidance for artists, 253–54 management of cross-cultural exchange programs, 241, 247–52 meeting artists, 257–58 personal dreams, 260–61 safety of artists, 258–59 unity through art, 248–49 work at Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 247 working for State Department, 255–57 plagiarism, 175 planning stage, wheel of change, 14 poverty in Honduras, 48–49 in Rwanda, 87–88 pre-contemplation stage, wheel of change, 14 preventive healthcare, 46–47 productivity, 218 Project Repay, 213–14 psychology of dance, 235–36 R racism, facing, 305–6 ramps, 269, 372n4, 372n5 recognition at work, 24–25 recruitment process, at Akilah Institute for Women, Rwanda, 78–79 relationship development skills, 302–3, 312–13 rescue missions, 333–34 resentment, letting go of, 210 resilience, 43, 70–71, 269 Responsible Gambling Trust, 18 revolution of the mind, 49–50 Rice, Condoleezza, 330 rice microfinancer, 143–45, 153–55 Richardson, Bill, 319, 333–34, 336 Richardson Center for Global Engagement, 333–34, 338 robbery in Uganda, 186–89 role models of Greg Khalil, 313 of Kelly Kang, 113–14 of Michael Bergman, 344–45 of Misozi Mkandawire, 134 Ross, Dennis, 344 Rowland Land Company, 267 Rwanda See also Akilah Institute for Women, Rwanda; Niyitegeka, Nadine community score cards, 361n11 genocide in, 82–86, 360n5, 360n6, 361n7 S Sadara Ventures, 331 screenings, health, 62 security clearance, for State Department, 255–56 self-discovery, 126–27 Shandong University, China, 107 Shoprite, 132 sliding-scale tuition, at Akilah Institute for Women, Rwanda, 79–80 social entrepreneurship, 171–72 soft engagement in North Korea, 334–35 Solel Boneh, 321 South Korea See also Kang, Kelly economic challenges in, 114–15 education in, 105–6, 363n3 political situation in, 115 sponsors, of Kevin Zazo, 35–38 Srey Pouv Kai, 141–56 building of home, 155 childhood of, 145–48 family, 150–53 general discussion, 141–43 health problems, 148–50 personal dreams, 155–56 view of work, 153–55 work as rice microfinancer, 143–45, 365n4 State Department See arts cultural-exchange officer, State Department stay-at-home dad, 218 stress management, 20–21, 23–24 Sudan, 333–34 sweet potato project, 171 Syria, 297–98 T tango, healing potential of, 234 TB (tuberculosis), 148–50 technology, effect on jobs, xiii–xvii Telos Group American funding of Mideast conflict, 293–95 educating leaders, 291–92 end of Israel-Palestine conflict, 310–12 funding for, 308 goal of, 375n4 inspiration for, 302–3 Michael Bergman’s work with, 341–42 overview, 290, 291–92 racism, facing, 305–6 relationship development skills, 312–13 scaling of model, 309 start of, 303–4 strategic counseling, 293 tolerant history in Middle East, 296 typical workweek, 307–8 The Third Side (Ury), 291 Tip Top Foods CEO of, 163 certification process, 169–70 fertilizer use in Ghana, 165 market for canned tomatoes, 170 refining canning process, 174 rookie mistake, 168–69 start of business, 162–63, 164–65 tomato crop in Ghana, 165 workers at, 167–68 work with farmers, 171–72 tomato canning CEO of Tip Top Foods, 163 certification process, 169–70 fertilizer use in Ghana, 165 market for canned tomatoes, 170 refining canning process, 174 rookie mistake, 168–69 start of business, 162–63, 164–65 tomato crop in Ghana, 165 workers at Tip Top Foods, 167–68 training midwives, 63–64 tuberculosis (TB), 148–50 Tuskegee University, 171 U UBI (Universal Basic Income), xv Uganda See also Gibutaye, Mary alcoholism in, 186–89, 193 lack of work ethic in, 187 overview, 177 robberies in, 186–89 underground coal mining, 268 Universal Basic Income (UBI), xiii–xvii University of California–Davis, 171 University of Edinburgh, Scotland, Ury, William, 291 U.S.–Palestinian Partnership, 330–31 V value, measuring, x vasectomy, 61–62 Venezuela, 371n11 Venture for America, xiii Verstandig, Toni, 330 villages, midwife work in, 62 violence, in Guatemala, 68 virtual-attorney software program, 242 Vision Fund, 143–44 W wages of art teacher, 200 of college admissions counselor, 94–95 of English teachers, 116 of environmental activist, 279–80 of fringe diplomat, 338 of midwives, 63 of mobile-money agent, 127 of nurses, 44–45 Walk, Junior, 265–86 arrest for protesting, 280–81 childhood of, 270–71, 273 coal camps, 273–74 coal slurry dams, 270–72 coal slurry in water, 274 death of relatives from black lung, 283–84 description of West Virginian culture, 269–70 family, 281–83 fighting oppression, 285 free time activities, 284 general discussion, 265–66 harassment, dealing with, 277 job opportunities, 275–76 land ownership in West Virginia, 267 lobbying work, 279 medicinal herbs in West Virginia, 283 mountaintop removal, 268 on parenthood, 285 preservation of true mountain culture, 266–67 romantic relationship, 281–82 typical workday, 279 underground coal mining, 268 wages of, 279–80 work with Coal River Mountain Watch, 275–77, 278–81 wealthy people, attitude towards, 9–10 West Virginia, United States culture, 269–70 land ownership in, 267 medicinal herbs in, 283 mountaintop removal, 268 preservation of true mountain culture, 266–67 underground coal mining, 268 wheel of change, 14 WINGS, 360n8 women, empowerment of, 97–98, 137 Wong, Tania, 223–36 choosing dance as career, 230 Dance ConneXion, 225, 231 dancing from the heart, 227–28 dealing with drama and harassment, 232–34 general discussion, 223–25 healing potential of tango, 234 personal dreams, 234–35 psychology of dance, 235–36 teaching dance, 228–30 traveling for dance, 226–27 workaholics, World Vision, 143–44 Y Yang, Andrew, xiii–xvii Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) fellowship, 363n6 Z Zambia See also Mkandawire, Misozi banking in, 122 culture, 125–26 overview, 120 Zazo, Kevin, 29–50 childhood of, 30–35 description of Hondurans, 45–46 desire to help others, 46–47 education, 35, 36–38, 39 favorite book, 46–48 nursing school, 39–40, 41 personal dreams, 46–48 personal fears, 45 personal life, 40–41, 42–44 poverty and crime in Honduras, 48–49 relationship with sponsor, 35–38 religion, 42 revolution of the mind, 49–50 teaching English, 38–39 wages for nursing, 44–45 Zoona, 120 benefits of working at, 132–33 competition, 122–23, 131–32 dealing with customers, 130–31 pressure to learn new skills, 127–28 reward for top agents, 133 role models, 134 services provided by, 122–23 skills needed, 128 starting work at, 127 technical glitches, 130 training others, 130 typical workday, 129–30 AB O UT T H E AUT H O R Suzanne Skees edits the My Job book series—collections of first-person narratives by artists, bankers, farmers, healthcare workers, teachers, and more, across the United States and around the world All author proceeds from the series fund job-creation programs to end poverty She also serves as founder and board chair of the Skees Family Foundation, which supports innovative selfhelp programs in the U.S and developing countries in education and job creation Skees studied English literature (Boston College) and world religions (Harvard Divinity School) and worked previously as a journalist and book editor She hopes to continue interviewing fascinating people to create as many volumes of My Job as there are job stories to be shared She lives at the Pacific Ocean’s edge, south of San Francisco, California ... a frank conversation with a terrorist The courageous narrators of My Job: More People at Work Around the World delve deep into what it really takes to conduct their work, pay their bills, and... want to use them, then legalize them, tax them, take the money in, provide services for people who develop problems with them, and educate people in how to use them better That’s what this charity... What My Uncle Spent on the Lottery I used to work at my Uncle Chris’s flower stall at Elephant & Castle (It’s one of the more strangely named underground stations in London.) That’s where my