Even the UN Needs a Big Sister

They take dippy little Grade 8s (thanks, Mrs. Troughton) and show them the ropes. They pass on the wisdom earned through five years of growing in every aspect. They become friends, guides, and mentors. With their help, those Grade 8s build confidence. My big sister, Clare Smart, did just that for me. She was a great friend, one who inspired me to come out of my shell. She gave me confidence and set an example for me to be proud of who I was.

As it turns out, she’s still doing that now, but not just for me. Taking the wisdom and knowledge she has learned in fifteen years with the Calgary Police, she’s just ending a year-long peacekeeping mission with the United Nations. Yup, my big sister is helping policemen and women in Darfur in her role as Police Advisor with the United Nations African Mission in Darfur. She’s showing the ropes to new police officers in the war-ravaged country, she’s instilling confidence in the members of the UNAMID Policewomen’s Network, and she’s inspiring everyone she meets. Yup, my big sister is THAT cool.

Darfur is a region in western Sudan, and Clare lives in ZamZam, a former Canadian Forces base that houses an international team of UN workers. She wanted to do this so badly that she was looking into civilian roles when the Calgary Police partnered with the RCMP’s International Peacekeeping Operations Branch.

Her role with the Serious Habitual Offender Program inspired her to work in Sudan, as several of the youth in it are from there. She knew that learning more about them, where they had come from, and what they had faced might help bridge the gap between the Sudanese community in Calgary and the police. After a rigorous application process, and beating out 100 other interested police officers, she is now fighting the heat, dust and some rather aggressive monkeys in Darfur. She works sevendays a week inspecting, guiding and mentoring police units. She visits Community Policing Centres in the big city of El Fashir and small villages and refugee camps alike.

It’s not an easy adjustment for anyone to make. They live under a curfew, which has them inside after 7pm every night. Some days they are lucky if the taps and showers have water. There’s no mess hall with staff to cook for them. They live in, work in and breathe in the desert. The haboobs, or dust storms, are frequent and painful. She’s doesn’t complain though. She’s so happy to the have the opportunity to experience the country, the culture and the people. She even fasted for Ramadan out of respect for her Islamic friends and coworkers. After nearly twelve months of being in Darfur, she says she has realized her role, and it’s much more than just policing work.

After work and before curfew, she volunteers with the Boy and Girl Scouts in El Fashir. Knowing she cannot make everything better for them, she is doing her best to show them that people can work together for a stronger future. No matter what country, colour of skin, religion or language people have, inspiration and motivation comes from cooperation. Clare was thrilled when the Calgary Boy Scouts sent over a massive package of resources to her crew in El Fashir. They are now the prized owners of a Scout flag, among many other special treats – so many things we take for granted.

She blogs about her time in Darfur, a fascinating read with oodles of pictures and insights into a country it never occurred to me to visit. On it, there are two quotes that clearly resonate with her and in everything she does. In her training for the mission, she was told to try to leave a little of herself there. She most certainly has left an impression with her supportive mentoring approach to police advising and her limitless dedication to the Scouts there. The other quote, in her words, “reminds us to do the best we can with the time we have”.

Most alumnae are unaware that many years ago Little Flower faced imminent closure due to crippling expenses. We are so fortunate that Sister Eileen Kelly and the Sisters of St. Ann decided not to close LFA, realizing the need and importance of Catholic education for girls in Vancouver. Over the years LFA has evolved to meet the changing needs of its students while keeping its values and mission strong; growing alongside the bright young minds it serves. The values of spirituality, integrity, respect, compassionate service, personal excellence and simplicity are all the foundations which underpin Clare’s mission in Darfur. She’s the type of student that the school, and certainly her little sister, are incredibly proud of. Her mission is an inspiration to push our boundaries and be more than we were yesterday.

Oh, and did I mention that my big sister rocks? Check out My Journey to Darfur, Clare’s blog/journal of her experiences and adventures working with the United Nations in an overseas mission.