IDHA 58 news release by Domino Foundation

Caption release: The Domino Foundation /IDHA conference/29/07/2024

Humans Responding To Humans in Need
From being a first responder on the frontline in crisis situations in her native KZN to being
part of international teams bringing aid to areas in Mozambique and Turkey devastated by
Mother Nature’s convulsions, reaching out to people in distress is in her veins. In May, Cathy
Whittle, leader of The Domino Foundation’s Disaster Response Unit, found herself in
unfamiliar territory in the hallowed halls of academia as part of the presenting team on a
course on humanitarian assistance at the University of Pretoria.
Pretoria, South Africa, was chosen as one of several venues in 2024 for Fordham University’s
Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs’ in-residence course for the International
Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance. Professionals with in-demand skills wanting to engage
in the field in effective and sustainable ways were led through sessions on refugee issues,
humanitarian negotiation and response planning, among a wide range of other relevant topics.
In three of the sessions, Cathy spoke to the 20 students and staff from countries as far flung
as British Guayana, Zambia, Equador and Australia, about her interactions with donors,
monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the aid and physical help given in emergency
situations and the complexity of the logistics it all entails. “I went from being very
intimidated by the whole prospect of addressing the students and the calibre of the other
speakers to times of wonderfully stimulating interactions in the lecture hall and afterwards
over a cup of coffee.” One of the speakers addressing participants via Zoom, Sir Charles
Petrie, former UN assistant secretary general, has had years of involvement in the
humanitarian landscape Myanmar. Another was Yemen-based Martine van der Does,
working for the Dutch government. She spoke on the current Red Sea crisis, and on local
food and water insecurity.
In her one session, Cathy led a case discussion focusing on her personal involvement with
Domino’s Disaster Response team: “Every journey has a begining, The Domino Disaster
Response story began in 2017 with 3 guys, 2 pick-up trucks and a chainsaw when tropical
cyclone Dineo hit Inhambane, Mozambique with 200 mm (7.9 in) of rain, destroying 20,000
homes and affecting approximately 130,000 people. And, seven years later, here we are still
on the journey!”
With many years of experience in the humanitarian health sector, IDHA Course Director,
Mark Little, led the Pretoria iteration of the course. “Our time in South Africa has been very
stimulating and provided the students great insight into the humanitarian challenges faced
here. Cathy’s presentations gave us a real hands-on understanding of how she and other
South Africans involved in the sector navigate the complexities.” Will he and his colleagues
be running future course here? “IDHA hopes to run a course every year in Sub-Saharan
Africa and South East Asia. The University of Pretoria is a perfect venue and, with the
excellent contacts we have made here, we have a good foundation for working together in the
future.”

Cathy had the final word: “Usually it’s the teacher who aims to challenge and change her
pupils. I came away changed in so many ways, my horizons broadened about humanitarian
response around the world. She added that much of what she experienced was about building
relationships. “As a local actor, I was able to present how we did things and our experience
versus what they study academically. What is in the textbooks is very different to what
happens with local solutions applied in a local context. They were very struck by how
relationally we operate here.”
Caption: Participants in the IDHA conference at the University of Pretoria: (left to
right):Timo Estola (Finland); Cathy Whittle (South Africa); Mark Little (Australia); Matt
Fumarola (USA); Maura McGoldrick (Scotland); Florian Razesberger (Austria); Gaston
Amsterdam (Guyana); Nancy Bernard (USA); Rowan Phillips (Domino Foundation); Joyce
Tshelong (South Africa); KG Ntlatleng (South Africa); Mimiky Phiri (South Africa).
Ends

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About The Domino Foundation | Boilerplate
The Domino Foundation is a registered NPO and PBO with a desire to see individuals and communities within
South Africa living in dignity, justice, hope and purpose. Through their 8 focused community transformation
initiatives, Domino directly impacts the lives of over 13,500 individuals daily, across KZN. The Foundation is
100% compliant in terms of the B-BBEE codes, and is able to offer companies and individuals’ maximum benefit
based on their donations and seeks to collaborate with new partners to continue the #DominoEffect of changed
lives, changing lives.
ISSUED BY DOMINO MKTING & PR. PLEASE DIRECT MEDIA ENQUIRIES TO:
Karen Brokensha | [email protected]
Rowan Philips | [email protected]