Tessa works in the photo department of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). In addition to her work there, she also manages the French-speaking online community for the organization. Today, she graciously agreed to answer our questions about what it's like to work in the social and solidarity web.
Instead of choosing the social + solidarity web, it was the web that chose me.
My journey started as an intern at UNHCR, where developing their presence on platforms like Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter in French became a core part of my role. To my surprise, I discovered a passion for social media.
The past few years have been a continuous learning experience. What I truly enjoy about social media is the immediacy it offers. The ability to interact directly with users and the less formal tone, compared to traditional media, are aspects I particularly appreciate.
The superpower you need in your job?
It's not really a superpower, but I think you have to be able to juggle several platforms and several subjects at the same time.
What training, skills, and qualities are most important to you in your work or have come in handy for you in ways you never imagined?
For me, my university education remains a daily asset. My degree in international relations with a specialization in refugees allows me to deeply understand and explain the UNHCR's actions. When I started here five years ago, I wouldn't have believed that social media could serve the organization's vital mission.
What is your best memory?
My best memory is tied to a photo series published in 2012. Photographer Brian Sokol traveled to South Sudan, Iraq, and Burkina Faso to document refugees and our operations. He met refugees and asked them what they cherished most while fleeing. In Iraq, he took a photo of a little girl named Shikri who said her most prized possession was bracelets, but it was actually her Nancy doll left behind in Syria.
These photos resonated globally. A little girl in Thailand, upon seeing them, was so moved that she emptied her piggy bank and sent Shikri a new doll.
What does a typical day look like for you in your role?
My days don't follow a strict routine. Every morning, the media team convenes to assess global events. With UNHCR operating in about a hundred countries, sending updates to headquarters is crucial. Beyond that, my tasks vary considerably depending on our current focus. It could be preparing a campaign, responding to an emergency like the Syrian crisis, or something else entirely. This constant diversity is what keeps my job endlessly fascinating.
For anyone drawn to this kind of work, my biggest encouragement is to...
A piece of advice, I would say that you have to be interested in everything and do not hesitate to interact with the associations and NGOs present on social media.
Want to learn more? Share this content and check out these links
On Twitter: @PetiteTessa and @Le_HCR
A superb reporting site to discover: http://tracks.unhcr.org
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