19-10 2021 07:18
wrote:
It was indeed a terrible shock to learn this morning that Laleh has left us. Although we have known for some time that she has been battling this awful disease, she generated such incredible energy and spirit throughout her much too short life that we all hoped it would be enough to overcome this invader. I believe she struggled valiantly, staying optimistic and making the most of every moment of life despite the strains of her multiple treatments. Among others she sent me videos on WhatsApp of some wonderful groups of Iranian musicians and other joyful moments.
And so we are obliged to come to terms with the departure of an exceptional human being, while celebrating her life that was dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of other people and the species with which we share this planet. I would take the opportunity to share the memory of how SGP was fortunate enough to benefit from her leadership in Iran, because it happened at the time I was global manager. Iran was not one of the early participants in SGP, but at the turn of this century we finally decided they should be included. The country office sent an initial slate of candidates for National Coordinator to HQ, but none had the essential community relationship qualifications. In discussions with the ResRep, he told us that there had been a fourth candidate, Laleh, who would be a perfect fit, but that the government had insisted on its priority candidates. He creatively found a solution by hiring the government's preferred candidate to another post in the country office, thus moving Laleh into the top three for SGP and making it possible for us to select her as NC. I was immensely gratified when, at a subsequent international meeting, Iranian representatives from both the government and the NGO community sought me out to tell me that Laleh had been a great choice and how pleased they were with the way she was managing the programme. And I was personally so happy when I finally met Laleh at an SGP meeting in Tunisia, at a time when it was still possible to hold a global meeting of NCs.
We stayed in touch off and on and I was so pleased when the Equator Prize TAC selected one of the SGP grantees in Iran, the Umbrella Group of Naghadeh NGOs that work around Lake Urmia, as a prizewinner in 2015. Although when Laleh retired in 2019 we were all sad to lose her, the coincidence with her receiving Asia's Sustainability Superwoman couldn't have been better timed. I was therefore deeply concerned when on her last trip to New York she shared the bad news about her cancer. We have been in virtual touch ever since, and I have felt so terribly useless at being unable to find a way around the heartless sanctions that denied her access to the latest medicines and the UN bureaucracy that limited her medical insurance coverage to what could be provided in sanctioned Iran.
And so, dear friends, we mourn this tremendous loss just at a time when people who share her outlook are so sorely needed. My most sincere condolences to all. At the same time we can rejoice that we had the great fortune to have had her in our lives and that we are all better for it.
In sadness, Sally
19-10 2021 07:18
wrote:
It was indeed a terrible shock to learn this morning that Laleh has left us. Although we have known for some time that she has been battling this awful disease, she generated such incredible energy and spirit throughout her much too short life that we all hoped it would be enough to overcome this invader. I believe she struggled valiantly, staying optimistic and making the most of every moment of life despite the strains of her multiple treatments. Among others she sent me videos on WhatsApp of some wonderful groups of Iranian musicians and other joyful moments.
And so we are obliged to come to terms with the departure of an exceptional human being, while celebrating her life that was dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of other people and the species with which we share this planet. I would take the opportunity to share the memory of how SGP was fortunate enough to benefit from her leadership in Iran, because it happened at the time I was global manager. Iran was not one of the early participants in SGP, but at the turn of this century we finally decided they should be included. The country office sent an initial slate of candidates for National Coordinator to HQ, but none had the essential community relationship qualifications. In discussions with the ResRep, he told us that there had been a fourth candidate, Laleh, who would be a perfect fit, but that the government had insisted on its priority candidates. He creatively found a solution by hiring the government's preferred candidate to another post in the country office, thus moving Laleh into the top three for SGP and making it possible for us to select her as NC. I was immensely gratified when, at a subsequent international meeting, Iranian representatives from both the government and the NGO community sought me out to tell me that Laleh had been a great choice and how pleased they were with the way she was managing the programme. And I was personally so happy when I finally met Laleh at an SGP meeting in Tunisia, at a time when it was still possible to hold a global meeting of NCs.
We stayed in touch off and on and I was so pleased when the Equator Prize TAC selected one of the SGP grantees in Iran, the Umbrella Group of Naghadeh NGOs that work around Lake Urmia, as a prizewinner in 2015. Although when Laleh retired in 2019 we were all sad to lose her, the coincidence with her receiving Asia's Sustainability Superwoman couldn't have been better timed. I was therefore deeply concerned when on her last trip to New York she shared the bad news about her cancer. We have been in virtual touch ever since, and I have felt so terribly useless at being unable to find a way around the heartless sanctions that denied her access to the latest medicines and the UN bureaucracy that limited her medical insurance coverage to what could be provided in sanctioned Iran.
And so, dear friends, we mourn this tremendous loss just at a time when people who share her outlook are so sorely needed. My most sincere condolences to all. At the same time we can rejoice that we had the great fortune to have had her in our lives and that we are all better for it.
In sadness, Sally