January 2024 Centre Meeting- What is your leadership style?

On January 16, 2024, the project leaders met for their monthly meeting, the first of the year. Ruben Centre Director, Br. Frank O'Shea, began the meeting with prayer and reflection, encouraging leaders present to be an illumination of God’s light to the people of Mukuru. The meeting then smoothly transitioned into a review of the end-of-2023 celebration. There was a collaborative effort as each person contributed compliments and constructive feedback on what went well and areas that could be improved for future events.

Following that, we delved into the 2023 Impact Report crafted by RC Communications Officer, Gregory Barake. It was an impressive document that showcased the remarkable work happening at Ruben Centre. Gregory emphasized how the report captured the excellence of Ruben Centre across all departments. The report is published on our website under Organizational Capacity > Further Documents.

Br. Frank O'Shea took the lead on the next agenda, which was the Ruben Trust update. He explained how the trustees would actively participate and outlined their roles, duties, and responsibilities. This transition in leadership is a crucial step in ensuring effective governance and a shared commitment to the mission of Ruben Centre, especially considering that Br. Frank will be leaving soon.

Festus Mwaniki, the financial manager, went on to inform the team about the upcoming organizational audit scheduled for January 25th. He urged all departments to review the asset registry and emphasized cooperation with the auditors. Margaret Kariuki, the advocacy coordinator, shared exciting news about the ongoing baseline study focusing on vulnerable youths and adolescent sexual reproductive health. The study has already commenced with the assistance of a consultant.

Agrippina Wiyala from the health department provided an update on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, which began on December 19th. She encouraged everyone to get vaccinated and expressed gratitude for the support received during challenging times. From the IT department, Thomas Lemba conveyed positive news about the successful implementation of the new face recognition biometric system. He also briefed attendees on upcoming training sessions for each department on corporate email usage and the creation of cyberspace for convenient access.

Changes in Ruben FM will now see a program overhaul that will reshuffle presenters and programs. This initiative aims to bring a fresh sound, and community feedback will shape a new program schedule set to launch on February 1st. Additionally, there is a promotional campaign to create awareness for the conference space, potentially generating income for the organization.

Elizabeth Kagwima, representing HDSTP, highlighted the ongoing enrollment in tailoring and dressmaking classes. Additionally, Elizabeth requested Ruben FM’s assistance in advertising for recruitment. In education, Madam Grace Kyuli provided updates on ongoing admissions, the 180 students integrated from the formerly Maendeleo Primary School who were transferred to our primary school after converting the school to a high school. Caroline Lugendo, who has dedicated 20 years to the organization, will now take up the additional role of school liaison officer. In addition to her extensive experience as RC Centre Secretary, she is expected to enhance communication, particularly concerning project delivery and funding requests.

The meeting then transitioned to Operations & Programs Managers Albanous and Veronica, who delved into their leadership philosophy. Albanous began by likening leadership to art rather than science, emphasizing stewardship as a philosophy that should guide their actions. He highlighted that meaningful change happens when those they serve feel involved and stressed the importance of embracing a collective "We" in leadership.

Veronica picked up the discussion, focusing on collectivism and compassion, emphasizing that stewardship and responsibility given freely should be reciprocated freely. Veronica also stressed the significance of open and transparent leadership. This means leaders being honest and straightforward in their communication and decision-making processes. Openness and transparency build trust among team members and the community, fostering a positive and collaborative environment.

"If we move forward, it's with the voices of every staff member," Bev expressed while discussing theories of change with the gathered audience. She highlighted the vision of a vibrant future for the organization. Bev took a moment to appreciate the appointed trustees in absentia, recognizing their role in providing effective governance. She emphasized that their responsibility goes beyond just guidance; it extends to directly impacting the projects.

The meeting ended in high spirits, with Br. Frank temporarily handing over the leadership of the organization to Albanous, Veronica, Festus, and Chrescent.

By: Lavina Anyango
Edits: Gregory Barake