A decade of dedication at WBFN

Rosa Lia at the Office

An active and influential member of WBFN for the past eight years, Rosa Lia Troch is now preparing to retire to Southern France with her husband, Henri.  She welcomed many of our members, fought for their rights, and never tired of giving the best of her insights to old seasoned members, newcomers, and Bank staff as well.  We will miss her clarity of purpose, her energy and her dedication.

When she first joined WBFN, Rosa Lia started by helping out at the Book Project and by writing articles for Mosaic.  Soon after, she joined the welcoming team and eventually became the Welcoming Chair.  In 2004, she assumed the presidency of WBFN and oversaw the establishment of the Spouse Orientation Program (SOP) and the updating of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between WBFN and the World Bank.  As Past President, she is and will remain a Senior Advisor to WBFN.

Recently, Maaike le Grand and Vidya Rangan sat with her to find out how she managed to fulfill so many roles with so much pleasure and apparent ease.  “It’s no big deal,” was her answer.  You have to “tackle problems and not be afraid.  Putting your head in the sand is not going to end your problems. I take life as it comes. Optimism is my strength.”

Rosa Lia is a true “global nomad.”  Born in Brazil, she lived there until she turned seventeen.  Ever since, she has been moving, first with her parents who are British, then with her husband who is Belgian.  She has lived in Latin America, Europe and the United States and is at ease in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese. 

Rosa Lia with spouses in Madagascar

At first, she worked for American and Brazilian companies but later began focusing on her children’s schools and activities.  She has five children, two of her own and three whom she adopted in Venezuela.

When arriving in a new country, Rosa Lia is able to overcome the unfamiliarity of a new place because, as she puts it, she is “always willing to learn what it has to offer.” She adds:  “I am open-minded. I always join international groups that are wide-ranging and diverse. 

I look out for such groups as soon as I get off the plane in every country I move to. In Orleans, France, I revived an international women’s club; in Mexico I was actively involved in the Lycée Français because my children went there, helped in charities and attended Mexican literature courses; in DC I am part of WBFN, and when I move to France I will find a new group there and start a new phase.  Tennis is my favorite sport so maybe I will find something through that.” In her opinion, it is easy to find groups: “if you have common interests, share a hobby or have same age children, you can always find activities and organizations to join wherever you move.”

Elaborating on her association with WBFN, Rosa Lia recalls, “WBFN called me when I was still in a hotel!” “Being in the world of multiculturalism is a blessing,” she adds. “You are constantly learning new things and meeting new people. I have enjoyed my years at WBFN tremendously. My friends are international. Volunteering at WBFN gives you the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. The great thing is that in the U.S., volunteering is seen as worthy as holding a job!”

Rosa Lia signing the updated MOU between the World Bank and WBFN on December 3rd 2004. From left to right: Rosa Lia, Mrs. Elaine Wolfensohn and Xavier Coll

For Rosa Lia, an important facet of WBFN is its emphasis on empowering its members. Referring to the classes and seminars offered by WBFN, she recalls:  “I was one of the first people to take the Financial Literacy classes and I made my children take them on-line.”

Asked about her most important achievement, Rosa Lia mentions the Spouse/Partner Orientation Program (SOP): “In the early days of the Bank, spouses on a G-4 visa were not allowed to work.  That situation changed when the Bank started hiring more women in staff positions and more males became dependent spouses. The State Department changed its work permit policy after receiving an increasing number of complaints. Together with Chantale Holzmann, Past President of WBFN, WBFN was able to advocate for the needs of spouses. With Elena Kuznetsova (still a WBFN member at the time, now a career coach specialist at Global Mobility) WBFN conducted forums, career orientations, networking possibilities.  Spouses who are professionally respected and in demand in their own country would arrive here and be totally in the dark as to their rights and their opportunities.  It is important that spouses get informed at the time the staff is on boarding about the characteristics of their G-4 status and the rights they are entitled to, so as to enhance their chance at a fulfilling experience in DC.  The SOP provides a basic overview of a spouse’s rights and position as a G-4 dependent.”

Rosa Lia with Mari Parker and a newcomer at the Welcoming Coffee

Still in this same vein of assisting spouses in the challenges they face and empowering them, Rosa Lia dedicated herself, with Chantale Holzmann, to resolving Family and Spouse Issues:  “I am not necessarily a nice person,” she declares.  “I touch subjects that other people do not necessarily like to get involved with.  When I see abuse, I bring it to the table.  Questions of dignity and respect for another person are not to be taken lightly.  I always relate to people and take time to listen, whereas the common attitude is ‘it is not my problem,’ ‘it is a private matter.’  The World Bank is like a village, a microcosm of the world, with all kinds of people.  When abused spouses come to us, they have usually exhausted all other venues and we are their last resort.  Even if I can help only one, it’s worth the effort.  My big battle has been that for transparency. In the private sector, they do a better job in providing spouses with information about their pension rights.  It still happens at the Bank that a spouse will learn from Benefits that her husband has divorced her by obtaining a divorce decree from a foreign country.  It is my opinion that the Bank should only accept divorces that are initiated in US courts when families live in the US.  The most vulnerable are the spouses who don’t speak English and can be alienated. They do not know about their rights.”

Nonetheless, Rosa Lia is keen to acknowledge the remarkable work done by Elizabeth Legrain, the DA Prevention Coordinator, the HUB and the Domestic Abuse Task Force.  “They are doing their utmost to change attitudes, create awareness and modify rules to really help spouses in dire situations.”  She also thanks the World Bank staff that have made possible the creation and implementation of the Spouse/Partner Orientation Program.

Rosa Lia with other WBFN past presidents and Mrs. Elaine Wolfensohn

Family values have always been at the center of Rosa Lia’s life. It is remarkable how generous she has been with her time and efforts within the WBFN community. It is even more remarkable how she managed throughout the years to champion her family whether by her unflinching support of her husband through the challenges he met at work, her constant concern for her children’s first forays into adulthood, or her cheerful availability to babysit her grandson Adam. She has been a perfect model for all of us in how to balance family responsibilities and outside activities.

Moving on she tells us “WBFN must continue strengthening the families, talking to them. We are independent; we have been through highs and lows.  Staff has difficulties adapting to their new jobs, but families have the challenge of dealing with the day-to-day daily necessities.  We see a lot of young people with small kids.  They can join our Parents and Tots groups or any other activity.  We see a lot of young volunteers which is good because we do need new blood, new ideas and different views.”

“The life lesson I learnt at WBFN is to meet people with an open mind and take advantage of what is there,” Rosa Lia concludes recalling a newly arrived woman at one of the welcoming coffees who was anti-American and had come with expectations.  After two years with WBFN she had eventually learned that Americans are actually nice, and would go to Starbucks just to observe the diversity and warmth of people here. “It is an important lesson for all of us not to have set ideas.  If we do, then we will be in constant battle with ourselves, making it difficult to adapt and change.  It is better to go with the flow and take things as they come, and face the difficulties.”

Rula Ghani, Maaike le Grand and Vidya Rangan