-Bishnu Nepal/RSS
Kathmandu: ‘Apply ointment to the bruised wounds of injured…’, Jagan Chapagain uttering Nepal’s great poet Devkiota’s creation said, “I find my life and cosmic happiness within this expression”.
His appearance is also smiling. There is no hair turned to be grey. He has possessed impressive personality and seems very young and energetic.
His intellectual manifestation has not only given birth to a history but also imparted a message to the globe that Nepalis are ‘intellectual’ beside ‘brave’.
His three-decade-long cutting-edge experience in philanthropic service has not only established his identity but also spread the name and fame of Nepal to the global community.
Nepali humanitarian and Red Cross Red Crescent veteran, Chapagain, is taking charge of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as the secretary-general from coming February 1 for four-year tenure. Globally the humanitarian organization has affiliation of 192 countries.
He has obtained the opportunity to become a first-ever Nepali to lead the international humanitarian organization.
Henry Dunant established the red Cross in 1863 to voluntarily provide humanitarian service to the war-injured people.
The International Federation provides philanthropic service to the people suffering from the scourge of ward, natural and human-induced disaster, poverty, famine and different forms of crisis for their relief and recovery.
The organization is also said to have been annually rendering humanitarian service to around one billion population through over 700,000 employees and around 20 million volunteers.
Prior to this responsibility, he had served a series of senior IFRC roles, including as Regional Director for Asia Pacific, as Chief of Staff and as Under Secretary General for Programs and Operations.
“I was in dilemma whether or not to apply for the top-most executive position. My well-wishers encouraged me to do so”, he recounted, adding, “I prepared a dream paper and application”.
“I went through a first round that inspired me to further consolidate my study and experience. I did not even sleep several nights”, he added.
A globally-recognized UK-based company was entrusted the responsibility for recruiting the top position this time.
The company sent a list of potential candidates to the Federation based on written examination, interview, practical and past working experience. Finally, a meeting of the governing board attended by representatives from 29 influential countries finalized the selection of candidate for secretary-general.
He had secured twp-third majority in voting to get selected to the position. There is no practice to disclose the vote count. So far he is the first person to secure the highest vote to become the secretary-general of the federation.
“I was thoughtful to engage in social service since my childhood”, he said, adding this quest has brought me to this position. “People in humanitarian service should not seek to earn money. Several times I have donated my salary”.
“I have developed a plan to render relief to the people suffering from nature and human-induced disaster”, he shared.
He was born to a middle class family in Divyanagar, Chitwan before five decades. “I never thought about myself. I was always thinking as how can I offer help to others”. He shared that he had established Junior Red Cross Circle at Bharatpur-based Balkumari School in 1980.
An engineer by training, Chapagain holds more than 25 years’ experience within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
“I will engage my untiring efforts to take people out from abyss of crisis, vicious circle of poverty and scourge of climate change. This is my dream of life”.
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