The horrors of people experiencing torture, kidnapping or rape in countries undergoing political reform, typically stay framed within the picture-laden pages of newspapers and magazines.

For others, however, recognizing and helping the less fortunate are more than just the writing on a page. For University of Arizona graduate Jason Miko, recent hiree of Mercy Corps International who is in Macedonia on a one year job commitment, helping the less fortunate is a way of life.

Since he has been involved with Mercy Corp, Miko has had many learning experiences. "When I go into the field, I see the human misery one often sees in the news pictures of Africa," he says.

In an interview via electronic mail, Miko says he has witnessed barefooted children drinking water that is conveniently located next to the latrine, and says more than 50 percent of the school children have been infected with lice.

Mercy Corp International is a relief and development agency that provides assistance to the poverty and political stricken areas of Kosovo and Macedonia, located in the former country of Yugoslavia.

He says that some of the youngest believe that Mercy Corp members, who ride in white Range Rover trucks clearly marked with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Relief), are the police.

"One sad thing is seeing some of the young children cringe when we drive by. I remember one instance when a young boy and his sister were walking by the road when we drove by. With nowhere to hide, he simply crouched and basically tried to make himself disappear."

Miko says that garbage is a big problem both in Kosovo and in Macedonia. "It's something you find anywhere in the world where there is poverty. People just don't use garbage cans like they should."

To help this problem, under the direction of the U.S. Agency for International Development, Miko and his colleagues pick up garbage once a month. "... hopefully, it will encourage the Macedonians to do the same, or at the very least, use the garbage can," he says.

"The suffering in Kosovo is great" Miko says. The natives are suffering not only from torture and murder, but from lack of food, basic hygiene, medicine, proper shelter, etc., he says.

Miko says, "No one on the face of the earth (I'm convinced) clearly understands the history of this region, but an elemental grasp is necessary."

In 1991, the citizens of Kosovo, who are 90 percent Albanian, voted for independence, electing a president, prime minister and parliament.

Kosovo, which is a region within the present boundaries of Serbia, is now experiencing an 'ethnic cleansing,' stemming from actions taken by the authorities in Belgrade over five years ago. The suffering is being led by Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic, who claims the area to be the birth place of the Serbian nation.

"The world community has warned Milosevic to respect the human rights of the Albanians" Miko says.

This is where Mercy Corp steps in. It has been working with victims in Kosovo for the past three years, and have just recently began to work in Macedonia, Kosovo's neighbor to the south.

Miko explains, "We are looking at drug education, conflict resolution, and other 'developmental' types of programs."

A press release stated that since May 1993, Mercy Corp has provided more than $15 million in humanitarian assistance to over 57,000 needy families in Kosovo. They have been training community health workers, distributing food and medicine, and have established a OB/GYN clinic.

Miko's job with Mercy Corp, however, is not directly related with assisting the needy. Miko makes sure families receive supplies that Mercy Corp sends, puts together reports for government agencies, and is in charge of a newsletter for individuals interested in the program.

He says that he cannot get emotionally involved when he sees the surrounding suffering. "If I do, I don't feel I'd be able to effectively do my job. My heart goes out to these people but the best thing I can do for them is to make sure they get the food and medicine we send."

His typical day is full of twists and turns - especially at the Skopje office, which is in the capitol city of Macedonia. "Much of our time has been spent in setting up the office. In Macedonia it takes about six months to get one phone line installed, and we need four phone lines in our office," says Miko. He says that each Macedonian phone line costs $670 to install.

"When I do sit at a desk, I do a lot of writing, keeping in touch with people, with our offices in Budapest, Prishtina, Portland, etc.," he says.

After graduating from the UA with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Miko started work with Arthur Andersen & Co. as a tax associate in their Tucson office. From there he went to Washington, D.C. and became the Executive Director of the College Republicans for the Republican National Committee, and for the past four years has been working with the public relations firm Ruder Finn.

As a part of a public relations campaign, they began to bring members of Congress to Kosovo so they could see the situation for themselves.

"In 1995 I went on a trip to Prishtina (the capital of Kosovo) with Congressman Mark Neuman, R-Wis., and Congressman Scotty Baesler, D-Ky. Here I met with Terry Heselius, country director for Mercy Corps."

Miko says he expressed an interest in Mercy Corp, kept in touch with Heselius, and was given the opportunity when the job position opened up.

Miko encourages students to consider living and working abroad, "It's and education you can't pay for."

"If there are students interested in (non-profit, international work) there are hundreds of job openings every two weeks in a publication called Opportunities in International Affairs published out of Baltimore" he says.

Miko says that he has gained a lot from his job experience. "Enhanced knowledge about the region, increased communication skills, a chance to travel, and simply the experience of living and working abroad."

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