Nyree and Fahimeh with Jackie whose life story is very inspirational to other orphans around the world.
 

My name is Nyree and I am a full time MBA student at the University of Westminster, based in London, UK. As part of my MBA programme, I was provided with a fantastic opportunity to travel to Kampala, Uganda for two weeks to work as a volunteer management consultant with a non profit organisation - an opportunity provided by the university in partnership with The Great Generation charity. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance.

I am pleased to say that I had the pleasure of working with the wonderful, dedicated and hard working team that is the Kamwokya Christian Caring Community (KCCC). If you don’t already know KCCC offers treatment, care and support to 2,122 children and adults living with HIV. In a country where only 4 of 10 children have a chance to attend school, the charity helps 430 orphans to access basic education. With limited resources, the charity also helps pregnant mothers and their children sleep under treated bed nets to prevent them from catching life threatening Malaria.

My colleague and myself were tasked with various objectives centred around communication and fundraising strategies as well as enhancing KCCC’s reporting. There were various challenges to overcome such as time constraints as well as adapting to a new environment but working with the Monitoring and Evaluation team we were all united in our ultimate aim to combine skills/experience to add value and enable KCCC to achieve sustainable benefits.

Aside from working on strategic plans and delivering training our time there proved to be a humbling experience. Our visit to the slums brought tears to our eyes as even though conditions were terrible one little girl still smiled and talked to us about her aspirations to be a nurse to help others. We later found out that many children had unrealised dreams due to poverty and life struggles and this reinforced to us the necessity of KCCC in providing care and hope to local communities.

I will never forget this unique experience. It has opened my eyes as well as enabling me to develop key strengths that I shall utilise in the future. I am still touched at the goodbye speech the KCCC director gave on our last day - that we were part of the team and would go forward to represent the organisation as ambassadors in the UK. What an honour.
 

I already miss my Ugandan friends but although we are far apart we are still in contact and I continue to support their plight from here. I urge many more volunteers to help the Kamwokya Christian Caring Community – you can do this from near or far, details are available on this website. All of us can make a difference, what may seem insignificant to you could mean life or death to someone else in need so please help if you can.
 

Nyree Basdeo, MBA Student (University of Westminster)