How do you move a shipping container without a crane? 

I call my supervisor: “I’ve got the containers – where’s the crane?” The answer: “Sorry, we can’t send one.” I’m in the southeast of Madagascar, in a very remote region.  

My job here is to build a logistics warehouse out of shipping containers. The containers have arrived – but the roads are so bad that most vehicles can’t get through. We came by motorbike. A crane doesn’t stand a chance.

So we improvise: first, we have to get the containers down off the truck. To do this, we tie one container after another to a fence post; the truck drives forward and the containers slide down. First step done. Then, using wooden beams and 25 people, we lift them onto the foundation piece by piece.  

That shows how important teamwork is – and how much you have to adapt under these conditions. 

My first assignment took me to the Central African Republic. I still remember how nervous and excited I was. You get information about the country beforehand – but you only really understand the reality once you’re on the ground. Today I’m much more relaxed. And I know what I need to pack and what I don’t. 

The team loves it when a newcomer brings chocolate, cheese or even salami. There’s no need to pack towels: they only take up space, and you can always find some on site, wherever you are in the world. 

In this job, every day is different, every context is different, every task is different. As a Construction Manager, I’m responsible for construction and logistics activities: from cyclone-proof hangars to renovating hospitals. Everything our medical teams need to be able to do their job. 

There’s no such thing as a typical day. I spend a lot of time out in the projects and little time in the office. It’s constantly about solving problems. Every culture is different, every place is different. Being flexible, improvising, staying calm – that’s my everyday working life. 

I’ve recently started working as a “Flying Energy Efficiency Specialist”. That means: I support our projects worldwide in putting energy-efficiency measures into practice.  

The activities are wide-ranging: we install solar panels on hospitals, accommodation and offices. We plant trees together with the local population. Or we put measures in place to use less fuel – for example, through hybrid and electric cars. 

Sometimes I arrive at a project and the conditions in the hospital are terrible: mould on the walls, no windows, holes in the roof. Then we renovate the building.  

And when I come back into that hospital afterwards, I see what we’ve achieved: new beds for patients. A waiting room, so no one must wait outside in the rain anymore.  

That is incredibly rewarding – and it happens fast. Unlike here in Europe, where building a hospital often takes years. At the end of an assignment, I see the result of my work.

The recognition from people on the ground also means a lot to me. MSF is well known in many regions and is urgently needed. When I walk down the street, people come up to me and say thank you. That is exactly what motivates me when conditions are tough.  

In conflict or war zones, there are restrictions: no restaurants, no walks, no sport outdoors. The longer an assignment lasts, the harder it can get. Of course there are moments when I’m afraid. When you hear a bomb alarm or know that armed groups are getting closer – we’re all human. But with MSF I feel safe.  

Everyone has their own strategies for processing fears and worries. Yoga helps me. Or a beer with friends and talking about it. And staying in touch with family back home – luckily, we always have internet. At the same time, MSF also offers psychosocial support. 

If you’re thinking about applying, I say: go for it! It’s an experience you’ll never forget. And our teams do everything they can to support you. It’s one big family that sticks together.

One honest tip: work experience helps a lot. And you have to be willing to live without your everyday comforts. No restaurants, no cinema, no favourite snack – if you can handle that, you’ll be rewarded. My next destinations, by the way, are already set: Chad, Myanmar and Bangladesh.