In our mission, the “how” is just as central the “why.”

Our day started with an early morning breakfast with the Assistant Governor of Dohuk Province in Iraqi Kurdistan. Joining him was the head of security services and a representative from the Board of Relief and Humanitarian Affairs. The situation in Syria was causing serious strain on governmental officials, international and local NGOs, and already limited resources. Our questions were many. Our hosts were gracious and accommodating. Next, we traveled to Sahela refugee transit point along the border with Syria. We met with the commander responsible for security and for screening the Syrians crossing into Iraq. We asked more questions, and we talked to families who had just finished the arduous journey.

Late in the afternoon, with the sun setting, we made it to Bardarash Refugee Camp, where this photo was snapped. The man pictured had recently arrived yet was eager to return to his homeland. He had little to offer but offered everything he had: a place to sit, tea, his story, and even his hooka.

A day that started with high-level government officials analyzing displacement ended with a casual conversation with one displaced man.

Our projects at Spirit of America often involve seemingly abstract undertakings like capacity development, bolstering cooperation, and addressing urgent local needs in collaboration with US troops and diplomats. In this line of work, it’s almost natural to drift into a universe of inputs, outputs, outcomes, M&E, and the like, all of which serve as vital benchmarks that keep a particular intervention on track towards the intended finish line.

But we also try mightily not to lose sight of the human dimension of our work; that on the other end of the information pipeline is one individual sharing his story. Without these accounts—and the personal interactions that yield them—our labor would likely be void of meaning, far removed from those it is meant to serve and to assist.

In our mission, the “how” is just as central the “why.”