When I walked through the doors of the World Bank in 2000, I was a new hire in the HR Staff Services unit—eager, hopeful, and ready to begin a new chapter. But just six months later, I was told I’d be moving to the World Bank Family Network which back then was the World Bank Volunteer Services (WBVS) on the 3rd floor of the H building. The news hit me with a mix of excitement and anxiety. I had just started to find my place, and now I was being asked to start over.
Would I belong? Would I be able to connect?
What I didn’t know then was that this shift would become the most defining and heartwarming chapter of my life—because of the people I would meet and the relationships I would build.
At first, everything was unfamiliar. But from the very beginning, WBFN members welcomed me with open arms. Their kindness, openness, and spirit of community turned every challenge into a shared experience and every success into a collective celebration. Slowly, I wasn’t just part of a new team, I was part of something much bigger.
Professionally, WBFN helped me grow in ways I never imagined. I learned from our members and my colleagues daily from their resilience, their creativity, and their ability to build bridges across cultures and experiences. Personally, I became someone more open, empathetic, and people-focused—because working with WBFN members teaches you the value of listening, supporting, and simply being present.
Over the past 24 years, I’ve had the honor of working alongside three incredible office coordinators, two dedicated program assistants, more than 20 dynamic WBFN Presidents, and inspiring WBFN consultants and selfless volunteers. But at the core of everything were you—the members. You are the heartbeat of this community. You trusted me to support you, and in return, you supported me—through life’s biggest milestones.
While WBFN shaped my professional path, it also walked beside me through the most personal milestones of my life. During this time, I got married. I became a mother to two beautiful children. I still remember the surprise baby shower thrown by WBFN in the office when I was expecting my first child 14 years ago, over 50 members came together to celebrate that moment with me. It wasn’t just a party, it was family coming together in the most joyful, loving way. That memory will forever be etched in my heart. I felt loved and supported.
As a people person, I truly thrive in the moments I get to spend with my colleagues and our members. Whether we’re sharing stories during events, laughing over coffee, or navigating challenges side by side, these connections have become the soul of my work. Every conversation, every smile, every kind word, those are the moments that have shaped my WBFN journey.
One of the most powerful reminders of our strength as a community came during the COVID-19 pandemic. Though the world shut down and physical distance kept us apart, we found new ways to come together online. Virtual gatherings, Zoom coffee chats, online support sessions, they became lifelines of connection. Even through screens, our sense of belonging never wavered. In fact, in many ways, we grew even closer. We listened, we supported, we laughed, and we cried—reminding one another that no matter what the distance, we were still one family.
We come from different cultures, speak different languages, and hold different traditions, but what unites us is our shared humanity and our desire to belong. At WBFN, we don’t just learn from each other, we lift each other. Our diversity doesn’t separate us; it strengthens us.
Looking back, I don’t just see over two decades of career development, I see a tapestry of human connection. I see hugs, heartfelt advice, shared meals, cultural celebrations, and lifelong friendships.
WBFN is my second family, a true home away from home, a place where colleagues become friends, and friends become family.
And now, with 24 meaningful years behind me, I’m proudly looking ahead to celebrating my 25th Silver Year, a milestone made possible because of you, the incredible members who turned this job into a journey and this workplace into a home.
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