Navigating 2024: Challenges, Progress and a Vision for Ruben Centre
2024 has been unlike any other year for me. After all our work last year in re-establishing the vitality of all things at Ruben, including investing in a mid-term review of our current five-year Strategic Plan, the establishment of Ruben Centre as a Trust with five appointed trustees, and the appointment of two new Managers, surely this year would simply be plain sailing. Well, we are now in May, and the plain sailing is yet to begin. January was very much about the school and finding a way to get more than three and a half thousand kids into it. Other highlights included the governor’s feeding program finally happening, hosting donors from the Brighton Jones Foundation, scouts honoring Founder’s Day, parents from the Special Needs Unit holding their quarterly support group sessions, and, sadly, one of the senior teachers, Mr. Murage, retiring.
On January 19th, the five Trustees had their first meeting to look at all the work ahead of them, and it was at this gathering that I announced I would return to Australia for two months. I had a return ticket, and I would use it to first bury my oldest brother Michael and to holiday while networking with our donors and supporters. In addition, I wanted to see how Ruben Centre would continue to flourish without me. The newly appointed leaders and their administration team would ensure everything worked well, and everyone would finally know that ‘Br. Frank’ was not really needed here.
Well, it wasn’t long before things began to falter. Donors withheld money, putting pressure on the new managers, and soon uncertainty crept into all staff as project activities were suspended and a standoff ensued between the old staff and the new managers. It would present many challenges for me on my return in early April.
Ops Man. Albanous explaining to Emily (ERFA) on renovation plans for new HDSTP space as Br. Frank listens on.
In March, some money flowed, and life went on, including the 2023 Financial Audit being conducted. I enjoyed being away from all the drama, and my time there was fruitful enough, highlighted by meeting an old friend who wanted to donate money to a project. Out of this, we are about to relocate our four main Human Development and Skills projects. Our Operations Manager found a good site about a ten-minute walk away, and before the end of May, we will sign a contract to hire five rooms there and relocate the sewing, tailoring, and production activities, the hairdressing and beauty, and the weaving project. This will free up space at Ruben to expand the computer training in partnership with our friends at NairoBITS. Early 2024 will surely be remembered as a time of expansion and development of our Centre.
Demolished houses along riparian land in Mukuru kwa Reuben.
April 2024 in Kenya will be remembered for the devastating floods that tragically resulted in over two hundred and fifty deaths nationwide and much destruction of both public and private infrastructure. On my second day back in Kenya, I walked the slum to see firsthand the misery of the people living in half-submerged shanty houses. Then, in the first week of May, things only got worse for many of our people and students when the President announced the demolition of hundreds of houses constructed on riparian land. Mukuru Kwa Reuben has been at the forefront of these demolitions, and Ruben Centre was challenged to step up and assist the people. Schools were scheduled to be closed for the end of Term One holidays. A two-week break has now gone on to be close to six weeks. The government, citing no food in institutions, closed the schools ahead of the scheduled date, and now, due to floods and the associated destruction, an additional two weeks have been added to this holiday. On Monday, May 13th, schools across the country will open again for Term 2, and our students will be excited to return. No school largely means no daytime food for them and, of course, an end to the boring time doing nothing at home. Ruben Centre and school have largely been spared from flood damage, and after a cleanup, the school was ‘good to go.’ School resumed on Monday, May 13th. We presumed numbers would be down with demolitions forcing people to scatter, and this happened, but what we lost on one hand, we gained with the other when over fifty new students appeared to be enrolled. Their informal schools had been destroyed in the floods.
During all this time, Ruben Centre has been the center of relief work thanks to various donors and aid agencies. We are so grateful for this support as it helps us fulfill our vision and mission of ‘striving for a just and empowered Mukuru Community.’
Having noted many of these dismal things, let me end with something much brighter. For more than 12 months, our Health Centre has been working towards the accreditation of its laboratory. Read more about this milestone here. We still have many tasks to complete before two more deadlines in both June and July before officially succeeding in our task of accreditation, but we move forward in the knowledge that this two-day inspection by a team from Kenya Accreditation Service (KENAS) is recommending the accreditation of the laboratory. In addition to these things, our Health Team has been working on upgrading the status and legal registration of the Level Two health clinic. Finally, last Thursday, May 9th, our Health In Charge returned from her umpteen visit to the Kenya Medical Practitioner’s & Dentists board, but this time not empty-handed, but with the document. Ruben Medical Centre is now officially a Level Three health facility. So, last 9th of May was a massive day for us all here at the Centre, and this is especially true for the health team.
Br. Frank & Ruben Health staff posing for a photo with students from America University & their lecturer Prof Angela
Delays in getting this article done mean I can include a comment about May 16th. We had a visit from the Australian International Development Network (AIDN), co-founded by our long-term supporter Mark Cubit. There were fourteen visitors, all associated with foundations in Australia. They were well received and divided into small groups for information tours. See more images of the visit here. Then, a visit by Dr. Angela Pashayan, a full-time lecturing professor at American University, Washington, DC, in the School of International Service (SIS). She brought along about fourteen of her students to see development issues up close. Angela has been coming to Kenya for more than ten years now and is passionate about her vision for a better world. They were engaged by our staff, and I have heard they want to come back again before they return to the USA.
In Conclusion: Yesterday, we finally had one of our monthly Centre meetings where all the Administration team met with project leaders. It is all about keeping everyone on track, ensuring cohesion with all projects living our vision and mission, as well as sharing issues and good news. I took time to revisit our Operations Framework 2023-2026 and alert everyone to the richness in this framework and how, when lived, it can avoid some of the issues that presented themselves in my absence. The session ended with a discussion around things that will shape our culture going forward.
Good team culture encompasses several essential elements. First and foremost, it involves encouraging individual talent, recognizing and nurturing the unique skills and abilities of each team member. This fosters a sense of belonging and ensures that everyone feels valued and appreciated, contributing to a cohesive and harmonious work environment.
Strong leadership is another crucial aspect of a positive team culture. Effective leaders provide guidance, support, and direction, inspiring confidence and motivation among team members. They set clear objectives, delegate responsibilities, and lead by example, guiding the team towards success.
Clear structures within the team help to establish roles, responsibilities, and expectations, minimizing confusion and promoting efficiency. When everyone knows what is expected of them and how their role contributes to the overall goals, they can work together more effectively towards achieving them.
Setting achievable goals is essential for maintaining morale and momentum within the team. Realistic objectives provide a sense of purpose and direction, motivating team members to strive for success while avoiding feelings of frustration or disillusionment.
Constructive feedback is a valuable tool for personal and professional growth within the team. By providing thoughtful and supportive feedback, team members can learn from their experiences, identify areas for improvement, and continue to develop their skills and abilities.
Maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems is crucial for overcoming challenges and achieving success as a team. By approaching obstacles with optimism and resilience, team members can work together to find creative and effective solutions, driving progress and innovation. Read more of the Centre Meeting here.
By: Frank O’Shea
Edits: Gregory Barake