Acting as Community Liaison officer in NGOs consist of making linkages:

• between the beneficiaries of the NGOs and the NGOs themselves, or
• between the beneficiaries and the support community surrounding the NGO.

The Community Liaison Officer essentially allows the NGO to stay on track on the field, which is crucial for the NGO and the mission it carries.

It is about creating a whole "Support Community" that brings together all the stakeholders around the NGO to support and further the NGO's vision and, by extension, the beneficiaries.

This community connection is important because the NGO needs to be surrounded by partners so as to bring the beneficiary closer to their goal.

In addition to technical skills - studies in sociology, social work, or psychology and experience working with vulnerable individuals, this position ideally requires:

• a lot of open-mindedness because it involves working with people experiencing vulnerable situations,
• respecting the decisions and positions one takes,
• empathy,
• non-judgmental,
• proactivity because it involves making many decisions by oneself
• negotiation skills because it also involves establishing partnerships with stakeholders who are often reluctant to engage in projects with the beneficiaries.
• the respect of confidentiality as we are dealing with sensitive data
• capacity to work very quickly because sometimes one must seize opportunities as they arise,
• punctuality and regularity – as several different actors are involved and sometimes depend on each other to move forward,
• concepts of quick decision-making and problem-solving

Profession: Specialized Education

Source of information: Kristel Mariapa-Bhugon from Fondation Georges Charles

Contact Georges Charles Foundation | 234-1603 / 1926

When we talk about Special Needs Education, we refer to the educational support for a child who requires special attention. This is particularly aimed at children with disabilities, including autism, as well as children with intellectual disabilities.

In the field of special education, students are monitored according to a special curriculum, that consists of going over the basic school program—alphabet, learn to read, learn to write, as well as working on behavior, hygiene, and autonomy...

Depending on the students, it may be necessary to go back to the basics. This means that ideally, an individual intervention is recommended.

For Kristel Mariapa-Bhugon, a specialized educator at Fondation Georges Charles, "specialized education is about providing a child in a difficult situation with self-confidence above all, and giving them the chance to integrate into society one day and become independent, always advancing at their own pace."

Social integration is very important in special education. "The world of disability is difficult to understand for outsiders, although this is starting to change now."

What is needed to work as educators?

Patience, empathy, a notion of psychology, love for children, the ability to connect with them, to rekindle their interest in reading, writing, and learning, a general love for teaching, the ability to adapt to all situations, being mentally well, being comfortable in one's own skin…