A story of resilience, growth, and dedication to communication and storytelling - how alumni, Eric Machado Raupp from Brazil, became a Communications Officer Working at the United Nations’ Refugee Agency in Copenhagen, Denmark

A story of resilience, growth, and dedication to communication and storytelling

For our second feature in the EMJ Alumni Spotlight blog, we’re thrilled to introduce Eric Machado Raupp, a 2023 graduate of the Erasmus Mundus Journalism program. With a specialisation in Totalitarianism and Transition at Charles University, Eric’s journey spans continents, taking him from Brazil to Europe and now to Copenhagen. His story is one of resilience, growth, and dedication to communication and storytelling. My name is Pari Abbasli, a proud recent graduate of Charles University in Prague, and I’m here to share another inspiring narrative from our vibrant alumni network.

Pari: Could you introduce yourself?

Eric: Since my youth, I harboured a fiery ambition to pursue a career as a storyteller and communicator to somehow impact people around me. 

I come from Porto Alegre, a dynamic city in the South of Brazil, and one of my childhood dreams was to see my name, Eric Machado Raupp, written on the lower third of the screen while I would be reporting on relevant topics. 

Until today I can’t understand why, but there was clear location where I’d be working from as a foreign correspondent – London. However, as years went by, I realised that I don’t like being in front of the cameras, and life has taken me to different places. I completed the Erasmus Master specialising in Totalitarianism and Transition, at Univerzita Karlova in the Czech Republic, in 2023. I currently live in Copenhagen, where I work as a Communications Officer for the Expert Group on Refugee, Internally Displaced Persons, and Statelessness Statistics (EGRISS), a multi-stakeholder group mandated by the United Nations Statistical Commission, and hosted by the UN Refugee Agency, to develop and support the implementation of international recommendations, standards, and guidance for improved data on forced displacement populations and their inclusion in public policies.

Pari: How did your time in the EMJ programme shape your career path?

Eric: Human mobility has always been a constant topic of interest in my academic and professional trajectories, so going into this field was somehow a natural path in which the EMJ programme played an important role to place me where I am now. First, I had never imagined living in Denmark, but the opportunity to study at Aarhus University and experience the Danish culture/lifestyle changed it. 

The exposure to diverse academic perspectives and cultures this degree provided significantly broadened my worldview and intellectual horizon, leading to valuable networking opportunities and, I hope, lifelong connections. It was like a microcosm of the UN, where individuals from diverse backgrounds, with varying working methods and core beliefs, collaborate to address complex global challenges. 

Just as the UN fosters dialogue and cooperation among nations, the EMJ encourages students to engage in respectful discourse, build consensus, and develop solutions to pressing issues in communications. This has been fundamental for my journey. Seeing successful alumni and inspiring stories motivated me to take big steps. When the Master’s graduation period approached, I applied for a traineeship at the European Commission's Directorate-General (DG) for Migration and Home Affairs (HOME).

Pari: What was your transition like from the EMJ programme to the professional world?

Eric: After a thorough selection, I got admitted, moved to Brussels right after my thesis defence, and worked for five months at DG-HOME's Press and Media Team. 

There, I could benefit from the theoretical framework from my Prague specialisation: studying the contemporary history of post-totalitarian countries and the democratic backdrop in Central and East Europe, I could comprehend how it affects the political and social responses to migration. In addition, the practical courses in audio, video, and multimedia journalism production have enhanced my skills in producing quality material. 

The same is true for my current work, where the overall critical thinking about globalisation and media in the 21st century that the programme offered, combined with more specific skills from areas like statistics and migration, is omnipresently required. 

The end of my traineeship came with a period of uncertainty about my future: as a non-EU citizen, finding a job willing to deal with the paperwork to provide you with a working permit is a real struggle. It was painful to read responses about how companies could not sponsor my visa, especially when I have a strong interest and background in the migration field, and advocate that people shall not be defined by their nationalities. For nearly four months, I was unemployed, living with my savings, in the flat of a dear I made at the programme. The period made me question my abilities and my perspectives, but looking at my past I knew I had value and could add to organisations willing to open the doors for me.

Pari: What advice would you give to students entering the job market?

Eric: The key was persistence and viewing rejection as an opportunity for growth and learning. I had to define my unique value proposition and effectively communicate it. For students entering the job market, these are essential attitudes to pursue. 

The search can be time-consuming, so remain open-minded and flexible in your approach. While it's natural to have target areas and companies, don't limit yourself to a single path. Explore other communication fields that might align with your interests and skills. Network with professors, mentors, alumni, and industry professionals for advice, referrals, and job leads. Acknowledge your progress and celebrate small victories. It's not only about being "good enough" for a position. 

Yes, some exceptional people with outstanding CVs land jobs immediately due to their own merits, but the ideal candidate is a complex equation of filling the requirements + timing + being able to demonstrate your value and convince others about it. Competition is fierce in this globalised world, so you have to be prepared to show your best in your resume and interviews, highlighting relevant skills and experiences.