Austin Rae

Motka Story

It is vital to change the way people think about humanitarianism, humanitarian aid worker
Federico Motka and Assistant Professor Joel Shelton told students during a speech in a packed
LaRose Digital Theater at Elon University on Feb. 9.

Motka has been an international humanitarian worker for non-governmental services for the last
decade.

Never underestimate just how traumatic displacement really is, Motka said.

According to Shelton, 65.3 million people were displaced in 2015, 400,000 people died in Syria
because of this conflict, and 65.3 million people represents one out of every 113 people on the
planet.

Intentions however good they may be, are and probably never have been, enough to affect real
change, Motka said.

We are not external observers of [aid]. Motka said. A global crisis means that its a global
problem.

We operate in aid and in charity on the basis of power that are heavily biased toward the donor.

According to Motka, journalists and aid workers were asking the same questions and nothing
was changing.

We were giving the same excuses, Motka said. It was complex. It was tough.

Shelton gave background on refugee issues.

What we hear about in the news, Shelton said. is just one part of a much bigger story of
human displacement.

Motka said he asked himself three major questions about his time he spent as a captive.

Why was I there in the first place? Was I making a difference? Was it worth it?

He said he ultimately wondered, Was I making a difference? No. Motka said. But was it
worth it? Yes.

Motka told students that there is more importance put on process rather than outcome.
Each and every one of us, Motka said. Can make a difference.

Motka asked the students, what can be done?

Be willing to listen to their stories. he answered.

 Austin Rae

Motka told students to give refugees the ability to tell their own story. Nothing is ever black and
white and if anyone ever tells you that, its false and they are lying to you.

Stay away from the issue of us versus them. Motka said. There is more that binds us than
more than divides us.

Give humanity a chance. Motka concluded.

After the formal remarks, Motka told a student, There is always a time in which you should
never try and not talk to anyone.

Motka told students to always maintain and open channel of communication and to maintain
dialogue.

Motka told students that money and everything is important but not the basis.

Change our expectation from what we want for aid. Motka said. Human life before agendas.