Trip to Uganda Brings a Better Understanding of Business Issues
People’s reasons for wanting to complete a work assignment in the Emerging World are all different. Sarah Devenish is a Senior Executive for Ernst & Young’s| M&A Transactions Advisory Services. In Sarah’s case, she wanted to experience first-hand what it was like to live and work somewhere else – and be able to give something back to organizations that haven’t got resources readily at their fingertips.
“I had seen my share of news programmes and documentaries but really wanted to actually feel and smell the slums, to speak to people directly and hear personal stories. I wanted not only to visit such a place, but to do something to help them.”
Child of Hope is a small organisation with based in the slum area of Mbale, Uganda. They provide free education to children in need, as well as offering free meals, clothing and healthcare for the children who attend their school. They also operate an innovative business development service for local families, offering start up grants so that people can start their own small business and support their families.
Sarah and a small group of her colleagues from Ernst & Young spent a week in Uganda on an action learning programme, designed to help Child of Hope identify sustainable funding streams to assist in their future development.
“The length of time I spent with Child of Hope, Uganda was far too short for my liking but I will be continuing to help on my return. Without spending time actually in the Country though, I wouldn’t have ever got to the bottom of the issues facing Child of Hope, Uganda – and it is only through understanding their situation, that I’ve really been able to make a tangible difference.
“Like many assignees before me, my main concern was that once out there, the skills I have wouldn’t be of use and that I wouldn’t be able to make a difference. I needn’t have worried. One of the key things I learned in my time in Uganda, is that even the smallest of acts can make a difference to someone.
“My journey to Uganda turned out to be a personal one, as well as a career-driven one. I now understand more about what causes poverty and this has give me a greater sense of perspective in my own life. In a business as large and focussed as Ernst & Young, it’s very easy to get caught up in your day job. The issues that you focus on in your day job seem very real and very important – until you visit a Country like Uganda.
“Now I am back at my Ernst & Young desk, I have a fresh perspective and outlook. I can approach issues and problems in a more logical fashion, with the understanding that all the problems I face are manageable. I also have a determination to be more positive. Even in the face of extreme poverty, the people I met in Uganda were exceptionally positive and have such as great attitude to life. It is very humbling.”