The EALF is an annual meeting of leaders from Pangea’s current and former grant partners in East Africa. The forum provides an opportunity to share experiences and expertise on a variety of issues related to running effective organizations. Below are some testimonials from the Forum’s participants.
From Robert Kalulu, CEO, Child Empowerment Program (CEP), Uganda:
“I have been attending this rotational forum since 2018 and found it to be an enriching experience. This years’ forum taught me the scope and significance of communication, as well as other critical issues. Topics discussed included:
- Branding in broader time where I understood that every small detail including the organization colors are very important and any alteration is a misrepresentation of the identity of the organization.
- Taxation in the East African context, and in relation to organizations and how we can file returns. We know who amongst us to call for guidance at no cost.
- Dissecting the challenges of our organization, creating a platform to deeply understand our weaknesses as leaders, and challenges of external origin and brain storming on how we can address them.
To me, the EALF is a worthy experience for leaders in East Africa, especially because they are of different leadership experiences and competencies. We learn from one another, and it is an opportunity to relax from the highly demanding offices and stress from the communities that we support. It also provides an opportunity to create a network of leaders for support on day-to-day challenges in running the organization. I personally came to the leadership of CEP Uganda without experience and with limited exposure but with a need to address the pressing challenges of our community. Working in a rural community is challenging because highly professional human resources are concentrated in the urban area and accessing their expert advice carries a big cost in most cases. Small charities like the ones that we head always operate on a small budget and lack allocations for the consultancy activities. The EALF has been a greater substitute and it has worked so much for me.”
From Jules Mayele, the co-director of Solidarity Eden Foundation (SEF), Uganda:
“At the EALF, we indulged ourselves in the strategy and best practice sessions that were facilitated by the amazing Wendo Aszed, and Joshua Machinga. Wendo covering the policy approaches, and Joshua covering the taxation duties of NGOs, among many other things.
We were so thrilled and fortunate to be part of this amazing cohort. The knowledge and resourcefulness the group holds are incredible. During some of our down times, we were able to link up with Michael Kamunya from Playmakers Theatre. Michael runs a very powerful program using poetry, short films, and documentation to run intervention messaging with youth and women. We are happy to borrow some of their poetry and drama curriculums.
We also exchanged with Carol Odera at WISE Kenya, who runs a nice program in Entrepreneurship for Women, where women own and run businesses themselves. We both agreed that the best way to improve communities is to invest in women and girls, it is the most comprehensive, pervasive, and high-leverage investment to lift up humanity. We left the forum very highly energized and knowing we have a shoulder we can rely on in terms of consultancy and seeking advice within close range here, the East Africa Pangea Crew. Before we boarded our buses back to our respective communities, we were so pumped that Joshua will be our next host in 2023 in West Kenya, Kitale County, and Kampala our next host in 2024 at Solidarity Eden Foundation.
Gratitude from us all at Solidarity Eden Foundation.”