We at hera would like to take a quick moment to publicly thank Gaia Calligaris for all her work with us and to wish her much success in her new position with The Citizen’s Platform for Refugee Support. The Platform organizes several activities and services for new migrants arriving in Belgium.
Forced displacement due to persecution, conflict, violence or human rights violations has created an influx of migrants to Europe, many have risked everything to get here and many have been denied entry at the border. It is a growing concern and we fully support and applaud Gaia’s decision to leave hera and to commit to helping create a sustainable and inclusive solution based on the respect of human rights. So, while we are sad to lose her, it comes as no surprise that she would follow her heart and passion for social justice. Her new work will involve coordinating a refugee center in the North Train Station of Brussels. She will also continue to serve as the Platforms volunteer coordinator, a position she herself has been volunteering to do for several months.
Gaia came to hera in 2014 with an academic background in International relations, Human rights and Development Sciences. She had a number of years experience working for several NGO’s and International Organizations (EU and UN) both at the headquarters and in the field (Morocco, Ecuador, Ghana and Kenya) and she quickly fit into our community and our rights-based approach to health and development. Gaia’s main role at hera has been as a project manager for our Health Advisory Services (HAS) to the EU, providing technical support to DG DEVCO/HQ and EU Delegations in the implementation of their health aid policies and programmes. She has also served as a project officer with hera, responsible for the organisation of consultancy assignments, providing programmatic, administrative and logistical support.
Thank You, Gaia for everything! We wish you much success in all your future endeavors. Don't forget to visit.
