Kevin Melton’s day starts with a babywipe shower – a world away from life last year when he was completing a Master of International Studies at UQ.
But, working for USAid in Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, the poor shower facilities are the least of his worries.
Mr Melton is a Field Program Manager for a small bureau within USAid called the Office of Transition Initiatives.
Currently embedded with coalition forces, he works with community leaders to coordinate and develop rebuilding strategies.
“Stabilising a country needs civilian input,” Mr Melton said.
“No matter how well trained the military are, they are always perceived as being there for a different reason.
“It takes time to build trust but I believe that process is as important as the result.
“If an initiative is driven by the community it creates its own momentum and the result is that what is generated is what is most needed.”
Originally from Washington DC, Mr Melton came to UQ on a Rotary Peace Fellow Scholarship, studying at the prestigious Rotary Centre for peace and conflict resolution based in the School of Political Science and International Studies.
“I use the skills I learnt at UQ everyday,” he said.
“And my colleagues frequently use my thesis to understand the work that is being done.”
Mr Melton has been in Afghanistan since September and has seen first hand the violence that still prevails.
“Early on I found myself caught up in an incident and saw exactly what war is like,” he said.
“I went through a short training period before I was deployed but nothing prepares you.
“I realised very quickly how dangerous this place is.
“Security is my number one priority and it is the biggest concern for my local staff.”
Mr Melton understands well the emotional demands of the job, having worked on and off in Afghanistan for five years before he applied for the MIS program.
“It was part of my impetus to apply to UQ,” he said.
“The program is well regarded for its teaching of international security which is my area of interest.
“I was last in Afghanistan toward the end of 2007 and I’m sad to say I didn’t see a great many changes when I went back.
“But there is now a move to a more coordinated and strategic approach to peacemaking.”
Mr Melton’s posting will finish in September and he admits to having started to look at other opportunities.
"For the sake of my sanity," he said.
Media: Gillian Ievers at the School of Political Science and International Studies (07 3365 3043, g.ievers@uq.edu.au)
