Humanitarian Work, Social Change, and Human Behavior / Psychology and Our Planet (PDF)

"An uppermost achievement ... Its great contribution is to untangle the many dimensions of social change in a systematic and practical way, at the hand of a concrete case study."

-Jan Vandermoortele, Co-Architect of the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG)

-Alexandre Giraud, General Director of Solidarités (NGO), France

"Deeply rooted in the author's field experience, strong culture in social sciences, and - above all - personal thinking, this is a unique and much needed book, which renews the approach to development and empowerment."

-Marie Jose Domestici-Met, Founder and former Director of the Institute of Humanitarian Studies, University of Law, Aix-Marseille, France

This book is based on the view that human existence results from the interplay of four dimensions: mind, heart, body and soul, which find their expression in thoughts, emotions, sensations and aspirations. By combining theory and praxis, including personal lessons learned during the author's two decades of humanitarian work in emergency areas, the book's goal is to make the reader understand (thought), feel (emotion), experience (sensation) and want to be part of a paradigm shift that is geared toward local and global change (aspiration). It introduces a methodology to optimize the interplay between individuals and the institutions and societies in which they work, raise families and pursue their dreams. Further, it seeks to reposition purpose at the center of both everyday life as well as humanitarian institutions. The book's central message is that a better world is not, and should not be, abstract and abstruse, but something that lies in everyone's hands.

Cornelia C. Walther worked for 18 years with the United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in West Africa, Afghanistan and Haiti, focusing on innovative communication and advocacy. As a coach and researcher, she collaborates with Deakin University (Australia) and serves as a mentor within the Harvard Women in Defense and Diplomacy Network. Two of her books are being published by Palgrave Macmillan in 2020.