Stories of CARE

 

 

CARE, one of the largest and oldest humanitarian aid organizations focused on fighting global poverty, approached my team at Jack with the task of cultivating employee engagement around the launch of their new brand. Part of my team’s response was “Stories of CARE,” a digital collection of stories from across CARE’s global employee network. 

Each of the ten initial stories features a different CARE employee, and uses their own words and images to tell their personal story of how they came to join CARE.  Each story highlights the impact of joining CARE, whether it be on their personal lives, or the lives of the people they’re helping. The ten initial stories were compiled into one book and distributed digitally via Publuu, where viewers can read and turn the pages at their own pace. 

I was responsible for designing the layout of each story, focusing on elevating each of the speakers’ words, while also utilizing design elements that highlighted CARE’s new brand. 

Watch a sample flip-through of the final Publuu book here.

 

Two-page spread containing a white page next to a page with an orange circle on a pink and orange gradient background. White text inside the circle reads, "Johanna Aguirre Sánchez / Stories of CARE"

Two-page spread containing the text "Johanna Aguirre Sánchez" over a photo of Johanna walking while holding a child's hand. Johanna is smiling and looking at the ground. She has light brown skin and brown hair, which is pulled into a ponytail. She is wearing jeans and a dark blue jacket with the CARE logo on it. To the right is the text, "When I was six, my father took me to the Navarro landfill in Cali, Colombia. He was a social worker helping the “recyclers” — families looking for food and materials to sell. I remember there was a child there, shielding a piece of bread from a vulture that was trying to steal it. The image struck me. It still does. And maybe that was why, even after trying other jobs, I always returned to social work. I always found contributing, even in a small way, immensely rewarding. But it didn’t become a life mission until I, myself, was swept up in a crisis."

Two page spread. Text on the left page reads, "I didn’t leave Colombia by choice. Armed conflict forced my young family and I to flee; we left everything behind and arrived in Ecuador alone and with no resources. And CARE was there. I was able to stabilize my family’s living situation. But I also learned what happens when vulnerable people get the tools they need to face challenges. I learned what hope feels like. So, I started working with CARE as a program officer. We try to help in tangible ways — like when, during the Venezuelan crisis, while 5,000 people were crossing into Ecuador every day, my team distributed vouchers and cash and found shelters for families who had nothing." On the right page is a photo of several women smiling at the camera and posing for a group photo while holding signs that contain statistics about Ecuador.

Two page spread. On the left page, text reads, "But we help in behavioral ways, too — to build up confidence and resilience for people used to being vulnerable. Fostering agency and providing tools to help people make positive changes in their lives — and sustain them. People like Neurali, a paid domestic worker who came to CARE recovering from trauma. She was quiet and shy. We worked with her, and over time her confidence grew. Today she negotiates her working conditions and helps other colleagues report violence. Working with vulnerable populations has taught me many lessons. People are the center of everything. Empathy is our best ally. Collaboration and community support can affect real change." On the right page, Johanna poses with a large group of children and a few adults by a playground. They smile and look at the camera. Over the photo is the text, "We are all citizens of the world."

Two page spread. The left page contains an orange circle over a pink and orange gradient. White text inside the circle reads, "And most importantly: giving back doesn’t just change the lives of others." On the right page is an image of someone in a CARE jacket handing a bag of supplies to a smiling person in a sweater and a hat. Overlaid is the text, "It changes your own. Johanna Aguirre Sánchez Political Science and Conflict Resolution Professional CARE Ecuador"

 

 

Two-page spread containing a white page next to a page with an orange circle on a purple and orange gradient background. White text inside the circle reads, "Chantal Nyirahuku / Stories of CARE"

Two-page spread containing the text "Chantal Nyirahuku" over a photo of Chantal. She is looking at the camera, and hasbrown skin and dark, curly hair that is pulled up. She is wearing glasses, white earrings, and a white shirt. To the right, text reads, "My story with CARE starts before it became my career. I was once a refugee. My family experienced a double pain of being stateless. First, our parents were expelled from Rwanda, the land of our ancestors, due to injustice and intolerance. They were welcomed by a neighboring country, where I was born and raised. A while after, my entire community was expelled from the country that had offered us refuge for more than 30 years. Luckily enough, we were taken in by the Red Cross, who later on helped us relocate back to Rwanda. It’s hard to overstate what shelter, food, medical care, and security can mean when you have none. This is especially true for women and girls who, in addition to negotiating refugee life, must also contend with sexual abuse. Without the Red Cross, it’s hard to imagine where my life would have led. They introduced me to the world of humanitarian work."

Two page spread. On the left page is the text, "After settling in Rwanda, I learned that CARE was hiring. I saw it as my chance to give back and help restore dignity to those who had lost it. For me, this work is not just about saving lives; iIt’s about restoring dignity. Working with CARE, I felt proud that the organization was contributing to my dream. In the Rwanda’s Nyaruguru district, CARE supported the creation of Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLA) that help rural women achieve..." On the right page is a photo of several people working in a field. Overlaid is the text, "...what was once thought to be impossible."

Two page spread. On the left page is the text, "During a field visit, I met a 16- year- old girl named Delphine. She had lost her parents to HIV/AIDS. HIV-positive herself, she was struggling to raise her two younger siblings without financial resources, education or support. She was desperate and had lost the will to live. Through a CARE program supporting children who are heads of households, she got vocational training in basket -weaving and joined a VSLA group where she learned business skills, gained confidence, and found hope. After completing her training, she began making and selling baskets, and she eventually opened a successful shop. One year after the project intervention, her life was transformed: she had hope, confidence, improved health, and was able to send her siblings to school. Delphine’s story inspires me a lot. But it also illustrates how, when one individual takes control of their life and achieves their dreams, it ripples out to the whole community. Empowering individuals is how we empower communities..." On the right page is a photo of a group of people holding plastic and metal pots, and posing for the camera in a field. Overlaid is the text, "...to drive their own progress."

Two page spread. On the left page is a photo of a group of people in business-casual clothes posing for a photo in an office-setting. Behind them is a printed CARE banner. Overlaid is the text, "Working with CARE allows me to see it work for others," On the right page is the text, "just like it worked for me. Chantal Nyirahuku Human Resources Manager CARE Rwanda"

 

 

Two-page spread containing a white page next to a page with an orange circle on a blue and purple gradient background. White text inside the circle reads, "Dalmar Ainashe / Stories of CARE"

Two page spread. On the left page is the text, "Dalmar Ainashe" over a photo of Dalmar standing outside of a tent on sandy ground. Dalmar has brown skin and black hair, and is wearing a white polo, standing with his hand on his hip. The photo is stamped with the identifier, "South Sudan." To the right is the text, "My name is Dalmar. In Somali, it’s a portmanteau of “dal” (land) and “mar” (to travel). It means: a versatile traveler. A traveler who’s seen many places. It’s a good name. It fits. I was born in Dhagax Yo Caado, a village on the Ethiopia-Somalia border. At seven, a famine destroyed our livestock, forcing my nomadic family to separate and escape across East Africa. We reunited in Uganda after two years, only to face civil war, which drove us to Kenya, where we were displaced several more times. The experience shaped who I am, and my commitment to work for people facing adversity. That work has taken me all over the globe, across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), North America, Asia, and Africa — including Sudan, Iraq, Yemen, and Kenya. Versatile travel."

Two page spread. On the left side of the page is the text, "My team works to ensure reliable access to nutritious food, during disasters and beyond. We partner with the Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Phase Classification (IPC) to track acute food insecurity worldwide. While the IPC provides crucial country-specific insights, it doesn’t capture deeper intra-household dynamics. To address this gap, a dedicated team of colleagues across the humanitarian department and country offices piloted a program in Somalia and Honduras to collect data that revealed acute, gender-based food inequalities within families — demonstrating that even nutrition is shaped by gender. Reliable data collection and analysis are essential to humanitarian work, enabling smarter, more targeted, and ultimately more effective interventions. But the biggest factor for transforming lives and empowering vulnerable populations isn’t technology." On the right page is an orange circle on a dark purple background. Inside the circle, white text reads, "It’s human resilience."

Two page spread. On the left page is the text, "When disaster-stricken people have a rock in the storm, light in the dark, and a constant source of strength and assurance, there’s no stopping what they can become. Their challenges can be catalysts for growth. The story I told about living through disaster as a child? Here’s the part I didn’t tell yet: the famine that killed our animals and forced us to flee did something else, too. It allowed me to go to school. Without that, I wouldn’t be where I am today." On the right is a photo of a group of people in business-casual clothes standing in an office setting, around a banner for France Atlanta 2023." Overlaid is the text, "Without that, I couldn’t be always there for others."

Two page spread. On the left page, text reads, "No matter where our travels take us," On the right page is an orange circle on a dark purple background. Inside the orange circle, white text reads, "we can all turn adversity into opportunity. Dalmar Ainashe Senior Technical Advisor for Food Security, Livelihoods, and Nutrition (FSLN) CARE USA"

 

 

Two-page spread containing a white page next to a page with an orange circle on an orange and white gradient background. White text inside the circle reads, "Eduardo Ernesto Cruz Chirinos / Stories of CARE"

Two page spread. On the left page is the text, "Eduardo Ernesto Cruz Chirinos." Behind is is a photo of Eduardo, who has light skin and dark head and facial hair. He is wearing sunglasses and a CARE-branded vest over a gray shirt. To the right of the image, text reads, "Before this, I worked in private banking. In collections. In Honduras, where I live, economic inequality is very pronounced. Access to credit and financial control is limited, especially for the rural poor. I often had to collect money from people who could not pay, people with no money or opportunities. It always left a bad taste in my mouth. So, I decided to stop. I decided I was going to work to bring people opportunities instead of removing them, to help people empower themselves and prosper. I joined CARE."

Two page spread. On the left page, text reads, "Because of the nature of my work in logistics and administration, I can’t be in the field all the time. I accept that what I do is building a better future for someone, somewhere — and this makes me proud. Serving people goes beyond the job: it’s an attitude toward life. But the most memorable moments are out with the people I’m serving. Like the time we visited a family in the Dry Corridor of Honduras, an area severely impacted by drought. The family had been given a water harvester, and when we arrived they welcomed us as if to a party, offering us food they had grown with their collected water. The family didn’t touch the food. When we noticed this, they explained that living through extreme drought had been so harsh that they wanted to save what they could for the future, to help raise their children to adulthood. In their community, around half of the kids typically died of malnutrition. These people had very little —" On the right page is a photo of Eduardo walking through a grassy area with two other people who are not wearing CARE-branded clothes. Over the image, white text reads, "and they still went out of their way to share."

Two page spread. On the left page, text reads, "It was a milestone in my life. Because I have a lot to share. So I’m dedicating my time, my work, what I know, and what I still must learn — sharing it all for the people of my country, and beyond. I’ve seen enough to believe in hope.  It touches all of us: those we work with and those we serve. Through hope — and service — our interventions can become self-sustaining. People can empower themselves to overcome poverty with dignity and equality." On the right is a photo of a person in a face mask accepting a bag of supplies from a CARE worker. Overlaid is the text, "And be always there for each other."

Two page spread. On the left is a photo of two community members working with a CARE employee to plat seeds in a garden. To the right, text reads, "Working side by side with communities, we can build a better, fairer, more inclusive world. Eduardo Ernesto Cruz Chirinos Logistics and Administration Officer CARE Honduras"

 

 

Two-page spread containing a white page next to a page with an orange circle on a blue and purple gradient background. White text inside the circle reads, "Saaed Rafiq Al-Madhoun / Stories of CARE"

Two page spread. On the left is the text, "Saaed Rafiq Al-Madhoun." Behind the text is a photo of Saaed. He has light brown skin and black hair, and is looking at the camera. He wears a light khaki vest with the CARE logo on it over a striped button-up shirt. To the right of the image is the text, "I’ve always been moved by how people respond in crises. Their bravery, their willingness to help others, their resilience. Growing up in Palestine (West Bank/Gaza), I’ve seen many examples. As of this writing, 1.9 million Gazans have been displaced by the ongoing conflict with Israel. That’s about 9 out of every 10 people. My wife, five children, and I are among them. We were forcibly evacuated from our house in Gaza City; within the first month of bombing, we received word that the house and surrounding neighborhood were gone. We relocated to Khan Younis in the south, sharing a single flat with 30 other people before that district, too, was ordered to evacuate and largely destroyed."

Two page spread. On the left is a photo of Saaed and another CARE worker looking at a truck of supplies. Saeed is holding a booklet and gesturing to the truck. To the right of the photo is the text, "So: I am one of Gaza’s internally displaced people (IDP). And I’m also a Gaza humanitarian coordinator for CARE. This duality shows me firsthand what the people I’m trying to help are going through. Like having to make a game out of the sound of exploding bombs or passing ambulances so my children won’t be scared. Or waiting five hours every day for bread. Or skipping meals and water to save them for the kids. But it also helps me align my personal values with meaningful, large-scale humanitarian efforts. Early in the conflict, as Gaza’s water supplies dwindled to nothing, my team was able to locate 72,000 bottles of water and distribute them all over Gaza, especially the overcrowded refugee centers in the south. With this water, displaced families were able to mix formula for their babies without fear of contamination. It was a small, temporary step, but it helped, and I’m proud of it."

Two page spread. On the left page is the text, "Actions like this don’t happen without collaborative effort. CARE’s first action in Palestine (West Bank/Gaza) was in 1948; since then, we’ve developed innovative local approaches to humanitarian work, approaches that rely totally on community input and involvement. With communities leading the way, we helped implement support programs for women and young entrepreneurs. And it’s crucial that we keep showing up. Whether through direct assistance or emotional support, we must be always there, and always committed to making a positive impact." On the right page is a photo of a young child reaching up toward a box that an adult is holding. the box is made of cardboard and has the CARE logo on it. On top of the photo, white text reads, "I think there is a window for hope."

Two page spread. On the left page, text reads, "I feel we still have some hope in the future that this critical crisis..." On the right page, an orange circle sits on top of a dark purple background. White text inside the circle reads, "...will be ended soon. Saaed Rafiq Al-Madhoun Emergency Programs Manager CARE Palestine"