“Initially, I was a little doubtful if I could make it. But it has been very exciting to work hand in hand with the African Union on continental policies by bringing them closer to our member states and the people of the region.
Among the joys of her work, Carol gets to globetrot on regional and international assignments as well as in her efforts to reach out to the Diaspora because they too have an active role to play in their native countries. All these, Carol not only find exciting, but deeply fulfilling as well.
Empowering self
Says she: “It’s been an exciting phase of my life. I mean, being able to work and actually see policies in their implementation stage is fulfilling,”
Being this young, Carol has to work twice as hard and remain focused to prove her worth. In her world, the only option is success.
“Everyday, I work hard to be accepted in the sense that there are many other older people who are more experienced than I am, hence the need to be focused and know my facts in public policy well. I’m constantly under personal pressure to be a notch higher and a step forward,” she says.
It is probably for this reason that Carol is constantly reading, to keep herself up to speed with her work. She is currently a PhD candidate pursuing a doctorate in political science (DPhil) at the Free University in Germany. Under the aegis of a renowned ex-German government justice minister, she is working on her Dissertation on The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the Humanitarian response in Somalia, which she looks forward to defend in 2013.
So what keeps her going?
“The fact that nobody can stop me, except myself. I realised that the moment you focus on your goal, the world starts warming up to you. When you keep pushing through challenges, you make other people realise that you have the capacity to deliver,” she says.
While Carol is not yet married for now, she believes there is still plenty of time and so much left to do, but hopes to start a family one day.
