Nathalie Vigneron-Larosa went with two experts from Veoliaforce and Médecins Sans Frontières to work for three weeks in Sindh, in southern Pakistan.
You went as a Veoliaforce volunteer, a woman in a team of men. What was your impression?
Nathalie Vigneron-Larosa: I believe that Médecins Sans Frontières, the Veolia Foundation's partner in this intervention in Pakistan, was determined to form mixed teams. I had a lot of fears in view of the security context. Fears that turned out to be completely unfounded: I did not experience any situation of unease or embarrassment. On the contrary, it was very natural and it allowed us to create a bond very quickly on the ground, especially as the sense of hospitality of the population is astonishing. We operated in regions where Pakistanis rarely come across foreigners and our presence aroused a lot of curiosity. People asked us if we were Chinese or Japanese, and invited us to have chai, the Pakistani tea. In short, sending a female Veoliaforce volunteer to Pakistan was a statement of intent, and it was a winning bet.
How did the mission go?
NVL: Finding a non-saline water source was a first issue and the time before we could deploy the Aquaforces and produce drinking water seemed very long. It's always a bit frustrating when you're living in the dark. Especially as we were arriving in a post-emergency context, so we weren't expected, we had to demonstrate the interest of the newly produced water by taking into account all the cultural and practical pitfalls. For example, an Aquaforce was located opposite the mosque, which bothered the Hindu minority. We also had to manage the distance between the water distribution ramps and the houses, or avoid stagnant water, which is very bad for health. And find solutions!
This was your first time in the field after a long-distance experience on sanitation issues. How did you experience it?
NVL: The logistics and security are perfectly managed by MSF and the Foundation, and this allows me to concentrate on the essential: access to water, in a context that is very different from my usual professional world. I liked this need to adapt to the field. And spending several weeks in the same village allowed me, despite the language barrier, to create precious links with the inhabitants, especially the women and children.
In France, I am lucky to have family support and an understanding hierarchy at work, which has enabled me to manage everything, even with staggered departures. These are essential prerequisites for leaving with peace of mind.
Interviewed on 15 December 2022