Cynthia Powell received the following message on Facebook on Jan. 27 from a former APCO Worldwide colleague: “an urgent request for a field communications officer in Haiti, working on behalf of an international NGO. He/she must be experienced in writing, media liaison and speak fluent French. It is a one-two month assignment, beginning asap.”
In less than a week, Powell, a local PR practitioner and owner of CP Knowhow, was hired by a UK-based nonprofit called HelpAge International which advocates for and serves older people in developing countries. Since then, she reports, it’s been a breathless race to wrap things up for current clients, purchase supplies like mosquito netting and water purification devices, and get up to speed fast on HelpAge International.
Her charge? Tell stories. Feed facts, information, photos and case studies back to the home office for their donor communications and additional fundraising efforts.
For more on Powell's work in Haiti, click here:http://cpknowhow.wordpress.com/