As it says above, I'm 24 years old.  I started FORGE when I was 20.  Yes... you can call me a young Executive Director.

Also, I'm relatively tall, thin, and (gasp!) blond.  Some people say I'm pretty.

Those traits may come in handy for getting out of speeding tickets, but they are not always a blessing.  When it comes to what I care about most – doing my job effectively – being a young blond female is often to my disadvantage. 

By this point, I've gotten used to leaders of partner NGOs treating me as nothing more than a sweet little American girl until they see what FORGE can do.  When they first come aboard, young FORGE volunteers often have a habit of challenging me until they realize that this is a complicated job that requires experience, tenacity, and a high level of intelligence.  But invariably, when things go wrong, eyes immediately turn to me and fingers get pointed in my direction.

And that's all fine.  Pile it on.  These shoulders may be slender, but they can carry quite a heavy load.  I've guided this ship through some stormy waters and I've always had enough wind in my proverbial sails to take the next step.  That may sound a bit hardened, but don't look for a peg-leg or an eye-patch.  This is what I signed up for.  FORGE is too good and I'm too young to be salty.

Five years ago, when we started working in refugee camps, I had no idea what FORGE would become.  Of course we were all on cloud nine, but it would've been very unrealistic of me not to anticipate uncertainty and difficulty as we grew.  My wonderful parents encouraged me ceaselessly, but also made sure my feet were firmly planted on the ground.  Dreaming pushed FORGE forward.  Being grounded kept it from being pushed back.

It has all made me welcome the challenges.  FORGE won't expand and improve without some sleepless nights and hardship.  Broken pledges by donors?  We'll get past it.  Problems with inexperienced staff?  FORGE can handle it.  Bureaucracy on the ground in Zambia?  We're ready.

This isn't supposed to feel nice.  This isn't about dreaming.  This is about work.  And I've gotta get back to it.

- Kjerstin Erickson

www.FORGEnow.org