Enterprise Development Project with Barclays 2010
Kampala, Uganda 2010 The project was a tailored project for Barclay's staff to volunteer in Kampala, Uganda working with our Expert Partner, Kawempe Home Care, on a HIV/AIDS Outreach and Home-care Initiative. The volunteers supported the Expert Partner through planning and structuring their various enterprise programmes, developing the skills of the KHC staff in leadership, project management, marketing and communication. The project aims to ensure that people who are living with or effected by HIV/AIDS, TB and cancer, can develop their skills and start their own businesses, enablign them to earn a living for themselves and their families and live a full and active life.
In one week the volunteers delivered (all material was prepared and delivered by the volunteers themselves):
1. Leadership training
Feedback:
“I learnt that different people have different leadership skills, and that using different learning methods makes people learn more and enjoy the sessions.”
“I learnt how to handle my subordinates. I will now change the system in my department by updating the tools being used by my subordinates to do their work efficiently.”
2.Project management workshop
Feedback:
“You have to think widely to make the project a success – project planning and management was all new to me.”
“I learnt that projects have time frames therefore they are never permanent.”
3.Marketing workshops with the beaders
When The Great Generation first sent volunteers to this project in 2008, the beaders only made up 7% of the Expert Partner’s total income; however, in 2010 it has increased to 31%.
4.Small business management session
Each client was given a certificate which they were delighted with! Watch it here.
5.Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution workshop
Feedback:
“I learnt that communication is very relevant to conflict resolution.”
“I learnt how to approach conflicts.”
The project was hugely successful based on feedback from both the volunteers and the Expert Partner. The workshops used the volunteers' skill sets to meet the participants' needs, with both groups challenged, engaged and motivated throughout the project. Workshops can only sow the seeds of an idea or a new way of doing things, but achieving buy-in to new ideas is a fundamental step to delivering change, and this project scored highly on that basis, as well as on the good level of understanding achieved by the local staff and community. The Great Generation will be monitoring and reporting on the long term impact in evaluation sessions with the Expert Partner over the next 6 - 12 months and incorporating into follow on projects in the future. Thus the work of the volunteers will be built on and fully utilized.
