Capacity Building Project with Barclays 2009
Uganda10 days, 13 Mar - 21 Mar 2009Barclays capacity Building Project 2009
“We needed help knowing how to take our next step and we are already moving forwards” - Expert Partner Operations Director
The Great Generation has partnered with Barclays Bank UK. In March 2009 a group of their top graduates delivered a capacity building project with one of our Expert Partners in Uganda.
Our Expert Partner (a HIV/AIDS Outreach and Home-care initiative based in Kampala) was started in July 2007 by a group of devoted health professionals. The organisation is making a huge impact on the community in which it works by providing;
• care and support for affected families and promote self reliance through socioeconomic assistance
• effective information and education to the community and foster positive behavioural change to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS
• training for health professionals and community volunteers in the basics of home care for clients
• quality Palliative Care Services
This project helped build our Expert Partner’s strategic marketing and fundraising initiatives and enabled them to further strengthen their “Beads for Education” initiative – an enterprise and sustainable livelihoods project.
Here is an account of the week’s achievements:
Each day began with a mini briefing over breakfast, to ensure everyone was clear on their day’s objectives and had access to necessary resources. The team of 4 was divided into 2 groups of 2. Team 1 were delivering communications workshops and team 2 were developing a marketing strategy. Every night teams took part in a full debrief session.
On the first day the team partook in a yoga exercise and team staff meeting. The meeting uncovered a number of communications concerns across the organisation: people not speaking up, a lack of structure, senior members of staff not being present, a lack of rigour in addressing actions from previous week. This team made notes throughout and sought to address these at further meeting during the week.
The first 2 days were spent in an absorption mode, understanding the work of KHC and asking the necessary questions in alignment with their project and activity plan. Community visits were made, which at times, was very emotionally draining. Both KHC volunteers and community members were HIV positive or suffering from Aids related illnesses – their stories were, at times, harrowing but at the same time full of hope and positive attitude. The team supported each other well and behaved responsibly, sensitively and empathetically at all times.
The communications workshops were delivered on days 2 and 3 and went very smoothly. Attendees took a while to actively input, but once they had lost their reserve the communications training was in full swing (see testimonials below).
The second round of workshops related to “training the trainer”, building the capacity of KHC to continue to deliver communications training internally.
Day 3 was also spent visiting best practise NGOs and learning more about the full potential of bead making enterprises in Uganda.
Day 4 was a download and structuring day and 3 out of the 4 team members opted to work from the hostel. The marketing plan was the main focus, outputs were abundant (see deliverables list above) and the team shared tasks effectively.
Day 5 was the final presentation of work. The marketing plan meeting went well though the aims and objectives of the project could have been referred to at the beginning more clearly. The meeting lasted for over 2 hours in a very small and hot room – in hindsight we should ensure a break every hour and try our best to conduct meetings in open areas as the heat can be very physically draining. Team members asked numerous questions throughout which indicated they were engaging and understanding the plan. Most importantly the team left behind an action and task list to implement the plan – this will be an important marker in measuring implementation post project.
The final presentation included an outline of donations and finance investments – the room whooped with joy and sang a traditional song in celebration.
“The biggest value is showing people their worth. A lot of people here have not been given the opportunity to be empowered like this before. You can see it makes them so happy and they feel confident to go on and apply their knowledge”
- Expert Partner Operations Director
“What I do in my day to day job was so needed here – what comes easily to me doesn’t come so easily to others. It makes me realise the full value of my skills” Barclays Volunteer
