May Centre Meeting- Yin & Yang
RC project leaders sitting at the May 9th Centre meeting.
On May 9th, 2023, the Ruben Centre (RC) project leaders came together for their monthly Centre meeting, led by RC Director, Br. Frank O'Shea. The meeting included twenty-six staff members from all projects including Education, Health, Social Economic Empowerment Through Education, Organizational Capacity, and Advocacy & Networking.
Br. Frank initiated the meeting by introducing the concept of yin-yang from Chinese philosophy. He emphasized how opposing forces can be interconnected and complementary in nature, giving rise to each other as they interrelate. Yin represents feminine forces such as the moon, water, darkness, passivity, and intuition, while yang represents masculine forces like the sun, fire, light, activity, and rational thought.
RC project leaders sitting at the May 9th Centre meeting.
The Human Resources office had several updates to share. Firstly, a Human Resources Audit will be conducted on all RC staff, led by the RC Human Resources office in partnership with German Cooperation representatives Carla Lisa and Faith Chege. This audit aims to engage staff in defining the ideal roles for the new position of Chief Operations Coordinator at the Ruben Centre. The Human Resources Manager also mentioned the addition of two nurses and two teachers to the organization. Furthermore, changes in leadership at Ruben Health Centre were highlighted, with Belinda Gatakaa as the new facility in-charge, supported by Millicent Kamau and Agripina Wiyala. Additionally, Ruben Centre management encouraged all staff members to join a private pension scheme, which would benefit both the staff and the organization in terms of cost savings.
Project leaders then shared updates from their respective departments. The Education department, specifically AEF Ruben Primary, celebrated the selection of two teachers by the Teachers' Service Commission, who replaced them with two volunteers. In the Health department, plans were discussed to extend clinic hours on Saturdays from 8 AM to 1 PM, potentially extending to 4 PM if needed. Ruben FM announced the onboarding of five new interns to support news gathering activities, and they also expressed their intention to bring radio programs directly to the community. The Advocacy department expressed their focus on safeguarding beyond Ruben Centre, addressing community issues, particularly related to child abuse. The skills training department highlighted the achievements of eight hairdressing students who secured internships in executive salons and fulfilled an order of 200 branded kikois and 80 bed pillows for Ashnil Hotel.
[L-R] Belinda Kamundi, Br. Frank & Grace Kyuli
The meeting concluded with speeches from Grace Kyuli, the Rise Program coordinator, and Belinda Gatakaa, the Ruben Health Centre In Charge and Christian Brothers In-Country Safeguarding Officer. They announced their upcoming trip to Ireland, where they will learn and promote Sustainable Development Goal 4, which emphasizes Quality Education on a global scale.
Overall, the meeting was a success, enabling Ruben Centre staff to strengthen their teams and projects. It provided a valuable opportunity for reflection on their collective efforts and how they contribute to building a just and empowered community.
By: Benson Kagwima & GB
Edits: GB
More images from the Centre Meeting
