Speaking in front of a large crowd has never been my strong suit. The thought of having all eyes on me sends chills down my spine and makes me anxious.
I am Angeli Llantos. I work at ACCORD (Assistance and Cooperation for Community Resilience and Development, Inc), which is currently collaborating with ASB (Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund) to implement the ECT WASH programme in the Philippines. As a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Officer, I have always felt more comfortable working behind the scenes—whether it’s writing proposals, conducting one-on-one interviews, preparing reports, or processing and analyzing data. Public speaking has always terrified me. However, throughout my time in our organization, with the guidance and trust of my mentors, I have gradually gained the confidence to believe in myself.
Having someone trust and believe in me is one of the main sources of my confidence. I only need one person to believe in me for that extra push to step up and speak—and that’s often enough. Fortunately, my mentors and colleagues just did more than that. They gave me the opportunity to engage with the ECT WASH programme, which opened new doors for me to learn and share more about WASH and green humanitarian approaches. Since participating in the programme, I have experienced a noticeable shift in my personal and professional growth. The opportunity to collaborate with experts and other partners boosted my confidence, not just in my technical skills but also in my ability to communicate and lead. I started to see myself stepping out of the comfort of “behind-the-scenes” work and into roles where I could directly share my insights and contribute to discussions. This was a significant change for me—I felt more assured in voicing my opinions and taking on new responsibilities.
My participation in the Regional Workshop in Indonesia, my first international trip, was a turning point. I was nervous and excited, but it also inspired me to give my best. Initially, when I presented the NEAT+ process, I was not confident about what I could bring to the table. However, that experience pushed me to do better, speak up more, and be courageous enough to share my insights—simply because I could. From that moment on, I realized that my contributions were valuable. After the workshop, I took on new challenges. I was tasked to organize the training on environmental mainstreaming within the organization for the first time with the support of my colleagues. I also became actively involved in various initiatives, including the NEAT+ training of trainers, MEAL workshops, and other engagements within and outside ECT WASH. These experiences have not only strengthened my technical expertise but have also solidified my confidence as a leader and facilitator.
Looking forward, I expect to continue building on these experiences. I am eager to take on more leadership roles, especially in promoting WASH and environmental mainstreaming in humanitarian contexts. I aim to keep improving my communication skills and deepening my knowledge, so I can contribute meaningfully to both my organization and the broader sector. My hope is to eventually mentor others, just as my mentors did for me, and inspire them to believe in their potential. The journey from being hesitant to speak up to becoming someone who can lead workshops and trainings has been transformative. I now feel empowered to not only excel in my current role but also to explore new opportunities and make a larger impact in the field.
