Passion and compassion

When aggressors exit a region, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction, Soraya Narfeldt and her team arrive to rebuild, not just concrete structures but hopes and dreams of its people as well. Suchitra Bajpai Chaudhary meets the lady with a mission

A bohemian at heart and a taskmaster by resolve, she is fired by a deep passion – to bring succour to a world perpetually at war. Soraya Narfeldt straddles nations and cultures.

Born to a British father and African mother of Lebanese-Syrian origin, Narfeldt is married to a Dutch national, Lars Narfeldt and is a mother of three sons (21, 19 and 3). Her childhood was spent in Sierra Leone.

Currently she divides her time between Afghanistan, Chad and Sudan and comes home to Dubai. What takes her to these strife-ridden countries? Her job and her passion – reconstruction of homes and rehabilitation of peoples in war zones.

Her work over the last few decades has allowed millions of people to pick up the pieces of their lives and put them back together.
Her company RA International (an acronym for Reconstruction Assistance) was set up in 2005. It provides working solutions to people ravaged by war so that they can get on with the business of living even as bombs and bullets rip through the fabric of their lives and destruction becomes institutionalised.

Narfeldt, who is the chaiperson of the company, says, "We as a company are hired by organisations such as the United Nations and other entities who deal with governments and their various departments on political and policy levels where decisions such as what is built where, when and by whom are taken. In Afghanistan, the Ministries of Urban Development and Rural Development have laid out plans that we, as subcontractors, bid for. Other funding agencies such as USAID also put out tenders of pre-approved projects we bid for.

"We provide turnkey solutions
for catering, waste management, procurement, construction, logistics. What is really worth noting is that a huge number of local people are vocationally trained and given the chance to make a living."

The cost of rebuilding a war-torn zone is massive. Like it cost over $6.5 billion to rebuild Mozambique and experts estimate it will cost even more, if not the same, in rebuilding Afghanistan. What is your estimate? Says Narfeldt, "It is very difficult to determine the exact cost of rebuilding
a war-ravaged region as a lot of funds go towards building capabilities of the people – the victims – and healing their angry hearts so that in future they are able to educate their children, take charge of their country and its future.

"As far as rebuilding Afghanistan is concerned, it is not just about putting together bricks and mortar but also one that requires the support and assistance in re-establishing the rule of law and security for all. You cannot put a price for a service like this. There is still a lot that needs to be done in all areas, and reconstruction is a long and arduous process that may take generations to complete."

What motivates you to get up in the morning and go to work in such places?
"I was born in a war zone, grew up in another and the honeymoon period of my marriage was spent in Afghanistan. So conflict is a part of my life. Combating the effects of strife and trouble requires patience, the need for education and giving people something to look forward to. RA allows me to be part of a challenge, to prove that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"In Afghanistan, I remember, I was once asked to deliver winter supplies to a camp in a particularly dangerous area on the other side of a 3,000-metre mountain pass. With temperatures well below zero and due to heavy snow, the pass was closed. Determined not to fail I went to the village close by and recruited the village elder to rally his people to work with us in opening the pass. He thought it could be done only if we could get his cousin's village involved as well but that was on the other side and was snowed in too.

We managed to get there and soon, people of his village cleared the pass from their end whilst we worked from ours. As people got together and songs rent the air, it was only a matter of time before we got our supplies through. The people in the village earned an unexpected winter income and some tools for a job well done and our clients were very grateful. Thus we earned the tagline "We deliver, Regardless".

"In developing countries, social welfare is basically provided by the immediate and extended family. That is the reason I try my best to hire local help.

I train young men to be plumbers, electricians, masons and cleaners so that while they are learning a new skill, they are also able to support their families.

"I remember hiring a man in Kabul for laying bricks. He had to walk a long distance and in 20 years as a bricklayer, he could not afford to buy a bicycle for himself. When he joined us, he promptly bought one but it disappeared in two months. When I asked him where his cycle was, he told me that he had given it to his 14-year-old son who had to walk a long way to reach his school.

I realised that he was willing to undergo any amount of hardship so his son could study and not end up as a bricklayer like him." Experiences like these have helped strengthen Narfeldt's belief that "working with the people, for the people, benefits all in the long run".

She cannot say the same however for many other companies doing work in the same field. They see potential only in terms of the bottomline, she says. "From the time I have been in this business, I have seen a lot of people following suit but most of them think of it as a way of making a quick buck.

I wouldn't call such businesses as competition. They do not invest in the people of the country and they have no long-term plans. RAI does not belong to that category. We are a part of the International Peace Operations Association (IPOA) and have signed in favour of UN anti-corruption ideals and the Global Compact. We believe in doing a good job at a fair price whilst being socially responsible. We try to collaborate with companies that have goals similar to ours so that we are able to achieve more."

When did it all begin?
Narfeldt arrived in Afghanistan after marrying Lars, a UN employee who was based in Afghanistan. She spent the first few years acclimatising herself to the country and its problems.
"What I saw in Afghanistan was complete and utter annihilation. But what moved me was the pride the Afghans had for their country. Even though they lived in dilapidated homes, they nevertheless got up each day with unbridled enthusiasm for work.

"People in war zones are real; they deal with tragedy and survival issues on a daily basis. Yet they have the perseverance, determination and willpower to tide over the times. I was inspired by their strength and resolve and joined the UN as a volunteer, working under Wurien Kardaghy, a fine gentleman who spoke seven languages.

"I began working on small rehabilitation projects, helping in managing the funding, rebuilding, etc. The job of rehabilitation is really complex and the UN is a multi-organ agency with multi-funding sources. What I gained in those crucial years
was a grassroot understanding of the place.

I picked up enough Dari to be able to get by. I got to meet a lot of Afghans, made a lot of friends and realised – what many of my Western counterparts couldn't – that solutions to problems cannot be universal but have to be unique to the place. You have to adapt and improvise. For instance, one of the most ingenuous things I invented, which is still quite popular, is the ‘Soraya Pizza'. It uses the local Afghani Nan as a pizza base and is topped with grilled lamb, vegetables and cheese. It was an instant hit.

"With time I was the connecting point for the Afghans and Westerners because I understood both sensibilities. That was the time when the country was still settling down. A lot of work needed to be carried out. For instance, one of my Afghan friends opened a supermarket that catered to Western clientele. But he had gone completely wrong with his choice of items. I advised him on what would sell. Today, he is the owner of the largest and most successful supermarket in Kabul.

"Similarly, some of our European friends renovated a 150-year-old mud house and hired a local plumber to fix a modern toilet. They did not take me seriously when I advised them that a local plumber would require detailed explanations about how to fix it right. The plumber simply dug a huge hole
in the toilet and buried the commode all the way up to the seat!
"Gradually people realised that I could be very useful as an intermediary.

"So in 2005, I set up RA International as I saw the tremendous scope to be
of help. For instance, when the Nato forces arrived, they got busy with the job of peacekeeping. But they needed someone to deal with basic issues such as construction of 3,000 toilets for their soldiers, maintenance systems, etc.

I put together a staff of 700 people, most of them Afghans, and we went around fixing things, setting up services, constructing, managing waste, catering, etc."
As things began to settle down in Afghanistan, Narfeldt was called to other places like Chad and Sudan where reconstruction was required.

Sudan was, and still is, an altogether different ballgame, she says. "As one of the first international companies operating there, apart from building the first proper accommodation camp, we also got involved in the peace negotiations between the Government of Uganda and the Lords Resistance Army by virtue of the fact that we had the best facilities at the time in the South of Sudan and a track record of working ‘with the people for the people'. Therefore, we were trusted.

"RAI is proud to be renovating and building the first Game Lodge in South Sudan on behalf of the Government of South Sudan. This lodge is situated in the Game Reserve of Nimule and will give a headstart to the potentially large tourism industry for the country (which boasts natural beauty and its diverse wildlife). RAI has employed over 700 Sudanese on its various projects and many have gone on to set up their own enterprises with skills learnt from us.

So I am very proud to say we have trained mechanics, cooks, masons and others who now provide services elsewhere.

"One of our biggest achievements though was serving the first fresh ice-cream in South Sudan in 25 years. It's nice to know that in the midst of all the trouble, we can provide life's simple pleasures."

However, her work has not been only about small satisfactions. Narfeldt quite often found herself in the midst of life-threatening situations which she was able to emerge from unscathed thanks to tact and a highly developed cultural sensitivity of the place and its people.

"I believe in using common sense and showing respect for the other party. I spend a lot of time listening to people. In the years I spent in Kabul and other hinterlands, I have managed to learn a lot about the political system and security issues of the place.

"In difficult situations, I have managed to talk my way out. I have made some ground rules such as: always carry small gifts and photographs of my family, ask the opponent about his mother and family, etc. These little oddities turn out to be great conversation starters. A potential mugger is less likely to shoot if he has an emotional insight on you.
"I recall an incident with a warlord in Afghanistan.

I was involved in some construction work in his area and he was deeply offended that he was not consulted. He arrived with a gang of men one night and said in a threatening tone, "What are you doing in my town?" It was was very tense moment. I said to him, ‘Please, before you do anything, can we have a cup of tea?' I know that hospitality in situations like this can always buy you time. He was a bit flummoxed but he put his gun down to have a cup of tea.

Eventually, he turned so affable that he started addressing me as Sorayajaan and invited me to his home for a meal.

"I think in situations like this you've really got to believe in yourself and your work," says Narfeldt. She doesn't mind going to the most strife-ridden places in the world beacuse, "Nowhere is too far."

Having seen much violence and destruction, she is determined to deal with it and be able of help people. "Trouble and strife are universal and all countries big and small, have issues within their societies. In areas I work
in, the issues have boiled over, erupted and resulted in bloodshed. What I do is look at what could be if there was peace, what jobs could be created if there was an economic revival.

I look at revitalising old businesses and how I can, in my small way, be there at the forefront of a new beginning.
"We as human beings find it easier to destroy rather than preserve and we need to have more patience, fortitude and strength combined with respect for each other.

Buildings and roads can be rebuilt but people cannot be brought back after they are destroyed. We must remember that faith and perseverance are the keys to survival. Faith in oneself, one's country and one's people will sustain a dying man. RA International provides solutions in areas of adversity because, life does go on regardless.

When she is not in a war-zone and returns to the calm domesticity of her own nest in Dubai, she tries to lead a very structured life. "I try to wake up early to get my youngest son off to school on time. Driving to the office allows me time to catch up with friends and family and my two eldest sons on the phone. At the office, time flies with more calls, emails, tenders, bids, signatures and a lot of reading offline and online.

Lunch time is munching on a sandwich while attempting a crossword at my desk; sometimes I also include a conversation with my mum on the speaker-phone (multi-tasking at its best!). I spend an hour catching up on news pertaining to our countries of current and potential operations. Driving home is unwind time as I plan dinner, pick up stuff at the supermarket on the way and go home and head straight for the kitchen to cook.

"Whilst cooking, Lars and I talk shop, of the kids' trials and tribulations, the madness of the world, our respective families ... Dinner time is family time. We bond as a family, unwind and talk. Reading is my way of relaxing; I read every day trying to cover my interests in history, archaeology, religion and business. When all is quiet in the house, I generally go back to my computer and work. I research new opportunities, reexamine lost ones and generally brainstorm with myself on what else
I can do, where and when.

I sleep late and I know that my managers freak when they see 4-am emails from me... My day ends with a prayer and a funny thought so that I can wake up the next day feeling confident and with a smile on my face. It does not always go according to plan but life is about perseverance and optimism."
She believs that being a woman has helped her bring more emotional strength to her job.

"That was the lucky part as women are built to handle all types of adversities in life. I keep many lists and the balancing act between life and work is hard but achievable, especially as
I have help at home. I can withstand the pressures of work thanks to the wonderful team of RA International.

We are a company of people. They are right beside me through thick and thin. Having that kind of support really pushes me to do as much as I can and as best as I can.

"Also, I could not have done so much without the support of my husband. He is the backbone of my endeavours, the voice of reason, my greatest support. He is my best friend who encourages me to stand proud when I am ready to give up. Saying thanks is not enough. Life is a daily battle between needs and wants – but we must all do what we have to do in order to do what we want to. So I try hard and when I fail, I try harder the next time. I am certainly not superwoman. Just an Iron Lady."

– Suchitra Bajpai Chaudhary is Senior Features Writer, Friday