Dr. Candida Sends You Greetings of Peace
Doctora Cándida came to Catholic Relief Services from the government sector. Two years ago, while in her position as Public Health Director for the Municipality of Santo Domingo, she had a revelation. She decided she wanted to continue working with the most vulnerable of Dominicans, but in a more direct manner. Now, as CRS Dominican Republic's manager for the health, water and sanitation department, Cándida feels she has found her niche.
Doctora Candida with a fellow doctor during a recent evaluation of the Global Food for Education Program.
"My favorite part of my job by far is the opportunity it gives me to learn from partners and communities who are designing and implementing their projects," says Cándida. "I feel that I am able to provide them with practical technical assistance, and that my skills are being used in a beneficial way.
When I am able to visit the project site and see how involved the community is in their own development, I feel very good inside. The feeling is truly indescribable. These folks have achieved the goals that they set for their community and feel a part of the process of that achievement. Amazing."
Cándida is also proud of the changes she has effected in her department in her short time with CRS. "I feel that the department is very integrated in that we attempt to put aspects of sanitation in every health project we do and include health education in every water system project we implement.
We have even started to incorporate some aspects of good governance in our community meetings in order to allow the communities to make demands of their local government as to what their needs are. For me, this is a very powerful and exciting change."
Cándida is known in the office as a person who has a natural talent for mediation and a person to whom other staff members can turn when they need someone to listen. She is well known by her greeting "Salutations of Peace" (or "Saludos de Paz" in Spanish), which she uses to greet the staff each morning upon her arrival in the office.
"I really enjoy the people I work with, and feel that we make a great team. I feel peaceful in my work, and feel I am truly making a difference in the lives of the people we serve. I believe that love has the power to move mountains and I hope that through our activities we are contributing to better communities, a better country, and a better world."
