FAB member in the picture
Ruben Fierens has been fundraiser at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, for two years now. It is an international organisation that protects people worldwide who are forced to flee. Before his job as a fundraiser, Ruben already worked at UNHCR, first at the legal/political department and later at the communications department. He strongly believes in cooperation and exchange between fundraisers to help society move forward.
"I worked for UNHCR in Kenya and Somalia. Especially in the latter country, the work was quite intense because of the daily attacks. Those experiences with refugees and internally displaced persons proved to be extremely valuable for my current task as fundraiser. I have seen with my own eyes how the work of UNHCR and the contribution of donors can make a real difference in the lives of people fleeing war and persecution. I have seen harrowing situations, but also hope. And creativity and talent. That we, as the UN Refugee Agency, can ensure that people on the run are protected, their rights are safeguarded and we can give them a better future, is what I want to dedicate myself to 100%. So that we can make a real difference.
1% world population on the run
"As part of the United Nations, we have a mandate from all countries in the world to protect refugees. So we are responsible for a sadly unimaginable number of people, as many as 79.5 million or 1% of the world's population, which is obviously a very big responsibility. We save lives, protect the rights of people on the run and build a better future with them."
Bringing a real story from person to person is irreplaceable
Ruben now has two and a half years of experience as a fundraiser. "In that time, I have already gained experience with different fundraising channels and with determining a tailored fundraising strategy. So I think I am becoming an all-rounder. Currently, I am working on some tests to see if the Belgian population is willing to financially support international protection for refugees. And that seems to be the case for the time being.
"For UNHCR, we can achieve a lot with street fundraising. The human contact, the possibility to tell a real story about the lives of refugees... that is irreplaceable. There is so much fake news about refugees that a conversation in the street can clear up misunderstandings and convince people to do the right thing. Even if people decide not to donate, at least you have been able to dispel some misunderstandings. And those misunderstandings do not only stand in the way of fundraising, but also of the happiness of many people on the run in Belgium and abroad," says Ruben. For now, the COVID-19 pandemic is putting a stop to street fundraising and other forms of fundraising. "That is a financial brake on our ambitions."
Increasing compassion and mutual understanding through communication
"Despite our global responsibility to protect the rights of refugees, the UN Refugee Agency is not (yet) very well known to the general public. Even my own environment did not know the organisation well when I first started working there. In the meantime, they not only know the organisation, but through our communication they also know a lot more about the lives of refugees in Belgium and beyond. This leads to more compassion and mutual understanding. Moreover, they actually take action by donating or volunteering. Seeing this concrete impact so close to me gives me quite some satisfaction. And it gives me hope that this effect is the same for all other people who follow UNHCR through social media or other communication channels."
Ruben believes that the quality of fundraising campaigns in Belgium is quite high. "I often see some that I am impressed by. An example is the happy-pack campaign of my colleagues at that other UN organisation UNICEF. That campaign really succeeds in making concrete what your donation will be used for, and it is also visually appealing!"
As fundraisers work together to move society forward
His advice to fellow fundraisers? "Never hesitate to ask! While we were doing some testing at UNHCR, I also contacted some other fundraisers in Belgium at similar organisations to find out about the Belgian market. And with one exception, everyone was willing to help by giving advice, sharing contacts, sharing information about the Belgian market, etc. Fundraising is not a zero-sum game. By working together as fundraisers, all our organisations can grow together and we can move society forward as fundraisers."
"The FAB ensures that we as fundraisers can always keep learning! Learning from colleagues in other organisations, learning during the workshops and presentations, learning from research... In this way we remain creative and continue to make progress as a sector. And if our sector grows, the natural consequence is that society improves!
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For more than 65 years, UNHCR has led and coordinated relief efforts around the world to protect refugees and find solutions to refugee problems. |
UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency
