Leadership and influence: for chevening essay
A leader is one who can encourage his team to move forward, solve the existing challenge with a positive attitude and be open to any idea.
Recently, I was hired as a Horticulture and plant science specialist for USAID project of WIA (Women in Agriculture) for Parwan province in 2016. I was leading a group of 10 agriculture intern students which were hired by USAID. At the first I was difficult for the students to work in rural community specially with women farmers who were illiterate and don't have enough resources but by giving necessary trainings and giving them good advice the intern students learned how to convince and deliver their thoughts and knowledge to the women farms effectively. In addition, I prepared a schedule and plan for the intern students to manage their extension work and field work better. Moreover, I was going to visit the farmers and address their problem and convincing them to cooperate with our intern students. Field works and regular discussions and group meetings helps women farmers further improve their crop management and produce more food for their families and generate income. I am proud of training and guiding the intern student which is now each of them run a Farmer Field school in Parwan province. Since I moved to another organization I still have contact with intern student and I have close collaboration with them and every time they are seeking my advice and information.
I was appointed as an assistant agronomist to DACAAR (Danish committee for aid to afghan refugee). This position put me in a tough situation I have ever been in. We were handling a Natural Resource Management project in saripol province of Afghanistan. I was the only assistant agronomist to handle the project while the agronomist was resigned from his position. It was very difficult for me to handle the project but I gathered my other colleagues and I took several meetings with my seniors to involved everyone in the project. It was strange that some of my colleagues has different backgrounds but their contribution was crucial and I encouraged them to do so. At the end we successfully implemented the project however the project is for three years but the Danish committee extended this project for two years more. It was a very tough job for me, not many people are willing to do it, but I realized experiencing such challenges will allow me to sharpen certain skills and exposed me to the information I would not have known otherwise.
In conclusion, I am confident that I have leadership qualities. I demonstrated it by my commitment in organizations, by mediating co-workers, and by communicating with people during difficult situations for the sake of achieving a goal. By joining Chevening program, I can make a good influence to my society in my country.
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