What drives Schmitt the most is her passion to change people’s lives in both immediate and lasting ways: “Our mandate is so concrete; we give concrete answers; we save people’s lives; they have a roof; access to health care; they have food; access to education; so we see on a daily basis the difference we make,” she says.


At the same time, Schmitt thrives on being part of something larger. “I remember once crossing the border from Rwanda to Uganda. I took out my blue passport


to show the border control


guard. He looked at me and asked which organization I worked for. I told him UNHCR, and he gave me a big smile. He told me that he was a refugee in a camp and it was thanks to UNHCR that he received a scholarship to study. Now he has this job. It’s very rewarding to hear that.” «


© UNHCR/ B. Sokol 2014


UNHCR / 11 © UNHCR/ B. Sokol 2014


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28