By: Amanda J Van Dort ELF Country Director
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.”
In the ten months I’ve been in Sri Lanka, there is no one that I have spent more time with than Charuni. And for that I’ve been extremely lucky and blessed. No one said this job would be easy. I’ve spent many twelve hour days at my desk, often frantic and borderline insane. I’ve experienced every possible emotion at my job- happiness, frustration, inspiration, anxiety, the list goes on.
They say that behind every successful man is a woman, even more so behind every good leader is the advocate. That is what Charuni has been for me time and time again. The unchanging and optimistic pillar which held our team together. In times of absolute chaos, you could depend on Charuni for comfort. She was also not afraid to call out a mistake- it was this brutal honesty that saved my face in multiple situations.
It is rare to meet a human being as genuine as Charuni. Every member of the Emerge team is fortunate to have learned from her. Just as when our young girls leave the shelters, we don’t say good-bye but we say good luck. We believe in you and wish you every happiness. You are part of our family and are with us always. And from the bottom of our hearts, thank you, for being you.
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