Organizational Background
Foxes’ Community and
Wildlife Conservation Trust (Foxes’ NGO) is a grassroots organization that was
founded in 2005 with the aim to provide
shelter,
sustenance, education, and medical care for orphans and foster families
in the Mufindi District of Tanzania, to curtail the spread of HIV-AIDS, to
teach life skills (language, fiscal, vocational, self-sufficiency), and to
create hope and opportunities for future generations.
Until July 2007 the
organization was at a very nascent stage, with the few projects started,
through limited funding at the time, being supervising and implemented by its
founder Geoff Fox, and a small board of family members and a local leader. In 2007 a
Canadian couple, sponsored by a Mission, volunteered to manage the project and
help realize the bigger goals of the organization as more funding was acquired.
In 2008, when the original volunteers returned home to Canada, Jenny
Peck and her husband Geoff Knight were brought in to act in the role of
long-term management of the NGO. Jenny Peck had been a United States Peace
Corps volunteer in a neighboring village, and had already played an integral
role in the orphan care and HIV treatment aspects of the projects to date. They
both had been living in Mufindi, teaching at local schools, and wanted to
commit long-term to the project, with the idea that their job would be to “work
themselves out of job,” with all responsibilities to be handed over to local
staff over the course of five years or so.
Over time, more and projects were initiated to encompass the holistic approach the NGO was
trying to take in reversing the damage the HIV pandemic had made on the
community, and as the organization’s goals and ambitions grew, a bigger focus
needed to be made on human capacity building, and more shared responsibilities.
Management needed to do less ‘doing,’ and start collaborating more during
development and implementation of projects. This would allow management to
start to focus more directly on finding funding for the capital to start income
generating projects, and other ideas that would help transition the community
from Crisis management mode, through recovery mode, and on to a self-sustained
community where the organization could shift into more of an advocacy and
educational related resource.
The First Committee
At the heart of the organization is its most iconic project: Igoda
Children’s Village, a children’s center originally designed to house the most
desperate cases of orphaned and vulnerable children. The center was founded on
the idea that those children with no other living relatives to care for them
would live at the Children’s Village, but have a life as similar as possible to
that of children in the surrounding villages. As the organization grew, the
Children’s Village had approximately 20 staff (house guardians) working with
these children who now total 75. There was a home based care volunteer program
initiated, a bevy of building projects requiring carpenters and mason workers,
and all told the organization grew very quickly to a staff of over 60 people.
With the sheer volume of personalities, work ethics, and relationships,
management saw the need to form a committee that would listen, advocate for,
and/or advice any worker or child on any inter-relational problems they may
have with each other. This could include worker-to-worker, child-to-worker, or
between management. Examples of issues handled by the committee included
arguments between employees that could affect work; discipline support for guardians
with poorly-behaved children (there is no use of corporal punishment at the
Children’s Village even though it exists at the schools) and it acted as a
sounding board for children who need someone else to talk to. This committee
handled countless problems that were deeply rooted in cultural idiosyncrasies,
far beyond the scope of management’s skill-set coming from a foreign country.
The committee was a great success.
Still there was a bit of labor unrest between workers. Workers who were
not working directly with the children began to feel isolated, and a divide had
started where jealousies and petty disagreements threatened to compromise the
great work that had been accomplished. This was the impetus behind starting the
new departmental system that started
in earnest in January of 2013. A Tanzanian lawyer was invited to give a two-day
seminar on the benefits of working together, and an organizational structure
was built that aimed to include all workers, sharing all information regarding
the NGO, and allow for all actions to follow a chain of command through
designated channels, or persons responsible.
The following is a draft of the responsibilities and goals of each of
the newly formed departments and big committee- or “Kamati Kuu.”
Departmental Structure:
Each member of the NGO has specific responsibilities. When
talking to all of the members of the organization at the end of 2012, there was
consensus that there are nine major categories that every issue falls into. For
each category, a department has been formed that consists of the major players
that have been given the most responsibility within those categories. The
organization itself works in three main branches all with the goal of helping
the community in Mufindi care for all of its most vulnerable children. Those
three branches include, Education, Health Care, and Direct Orphan Care. The
following departments fit under one, some, or all of these three aforementioned
branches:
Discipline
Guardianship
Building and Development
Education
Health
Community Hall
Income Generation (Sewing School)
Volunteers
Administration
Discipline
The primary goal of this department is to discuss problems
or issues that might arise between management and workers of the NGO; between
workers and other workers; between children and guardians at the Children’s
Village; and between guardians and children of the Children’s Village. This
department meets if and when a problem to discuss arises. As an issue arrives,
a member of this department may be approached by the party or parties involved.
If a resolution is not resolved immediately, and there is consensus that the
entire department should be consulted, a meeting is scheduled. If the meeting
does not resolve every aspect of the problem, then it may be taken up with
Management, or entered into the agenda of the bi-weekly Committee of Department
Heads (Kamati Kuu). Members of this department include:
-Dept. Head: Rehema Ngimwa, 27 years old, female, house
guardian at the Children’s Village (CV) (Feb. 2011). Arrived upon
recommendation of District Social Welfare Officer with certificate for
child-caring, and two years experience of working in a Children’s Centre.
-Jaokina Kinayavene, 51 years old, female, longest serving
(2007), and most elderly house guardian at the Children’s Village. Commands
respect with her age, and reputation for being able to help people without
using gossip or judgment.
-Isaya Mwila, 40 years old, male, appointed as first House
Father (2010) at the Children’s Village, former adult English student, his wife
Vicky has been the longest serving NGO employee (2005), former government
chairman of the neighborhood where the Children’s Village sits, has succeeded
in leadership role at the Children’s Village and NGO for several years.
-Charles Mwagala, 40 years old, male, house father at CV
(Feb. 2011), former member of “Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Committee’ from
Ikaning’ombe Village, ran for office of “Diwani’ for Luhunga ward in 2010,
brings leadership skills to the NGO, as well as compassion for children who are
going through difficult times, as he did as a child.
-Raheli Mkusi, 28 years old, female, head gardener at CV
(2010), respected member of Igoda Village.
Guardianship
The primary goal of this department is to bring organization
to the regular needs the 80 children of the Children’s Village may have, as
well as to report any maintenance or development issues that may be needed on
the CV campus. The department is responsible for the ordering of any food or
basic needs for the CV as a whole, as well as keeping communication open with
other departments such as education and health about other needs the children
may have.
--Dept. Head: Rehema Ngimwa, 27 years old, female, house
guardian at the CV (Feb. 2011). Arrived upon recommendation of District Social
Welfare Officer with certificate for child-caring, and two years experience of
working in a Children’s Centre.
-Jaokina Kinayavene, 59 years old, female, longest
serving (2007), and most elderly
house guardian at the Children’s Village. Commands respect with her age, and
reputation for being able to help people without using gossip or judgement.
-Christina Mvinge, 39 years old, female, the first house
guardian (2012) to receive scholarship from NGO to receive care-giving
certificate, respected member of the community at large, has been a leader
within the NGO since its inception including leading the batik project, and
chicken banda project.
-Isaya Mwila, 40 years old, male, appointed as first House
Father (2010) at the Children’s Village, former adult English student, his wife
Vicky has been the longest serving NGO employee (2005), former government
chairman of the neighborhood where the Children’s Village sits, has succeeded
in leadership role at the Children’s Village and NGO for several years.
Building and
Development
The primary goal of this department is to oversee any and
all building projects, maintenance, or developing (garden, livestock etc.) that
the NGO may initiate. The main responsibilities include negotiating and writing
contracts for builders and workers; insuring building materials are delivered
in a timely fashion, completing building projects with the budgeted donated
funds, and setting priorities for future developments or building when
necessary.
-Dept. Head: Charles Mwagala, 40 years old, male, house
father at CV (Feb. 2011), former member of “Orphaned and Vulnerable Children
Committee’ from Ikaning’ombe Village, ran for office of “Diwani’ for Luhunga
ward in 2010, brings leadership skills to the NGO, as well compassion for children
who are going through difficult times, as he did as a child.
-Raheli Mkusi, 28 years old, female, head gardener at CV
(2010), respected member of Igoda Village.
-Ezra Mhegele, 21, male, former Mdabulo Secondary School
student with a difficult childhood background, has been working temporarily
with NGO this year as the store clerk, and has been teaching members of the NGO
computer skills in his spare time. His position will be replaced by next store
keeper.
-Jestina Mdalingwa, 26, female, member of the Kidete Primary
School board, has been working as accountant clerk with the NGO since September
2012, responsible for recording of all expenses, oversees all purchasing
assuring proper costs are charged, pays all wages of NGO staff, and gives out
any and all payments for purchasing or contracts.
-Isaya Mwila, 40 years old, male, appointed as first House
Father (2010) at the Children’s Village, former adult English student, his wife
Vicky has been the longest serving NGO employee (2005), former government chairman
of the neighborhood where the Children’s Village sits, has succeeded in
leadership role at the Children’s Village and NGO for several years.
Education
The primary goal of this department is to bring organization
to the regular educational related needs the 80 children of the Children’s
Village may have, as well as to keep all related departments informed of all of
the important dates and requirements from the schools that each of our students
attend. Some examples of responsibilities include, preparing all students for
the new school year, making sure school supplies and uniforms are obtained,
overseeing all school transfer processes for children arriving from other
villages, and insuring all school needs are known by all relevant departments
with appropriate prior notice.
-Dept. Head: Yusto Chumi, 40 years old, Male, church elder
in Igoda village SDA church, was top of the class in Adult English as taught by
Jenny Peck back in 2008, has since worked with the NGO as teacher/librarian at
Igoda Primary School, has tremendous English skills, respected for his
leadership skills and his fair impartial standpoint during disagreements.
-Cornelia Raymond, 47 years old, female, Igoda Primary
School kindergarten/grade 1 teacher (2001), NGO sponsored since 2007, has been
a valued advocate for the NGO since its inception.
-Elida Ndone, 29 years old, female, married to Charles
Mwagala, former chairperson of “Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Committee’
from Ikaning’ombe Village, lives in house number 1 as head guardian there
(2012), is head teacher of the kindergarten/nursery school program at the CV.
Health
The primary goal of this department is to bring organization
to the regular health related needs the 80 children of the Children’s Village
may have, to organize treatment of HIV for the affected children at the CV, to
care for people with special health needs at the CV, and to work with any and
all medical volunteers (esp. Dr. Leena Pasanen) to improve overall health in
the area. This department must inform all relevant departments of health
problems that arise that require an action by the NGO as a whole.
-Dept. Head: Letisia Kitinusa, 26, female, has certificate
of nursing from school in Mbeya, with the NGO working with Dr. Leena and other
medical volunteers (Feb. 2012).
-Sijali Kitalika, 35, female, certified in first-aid care,
came to the NGO (2011) to ask for work as child was sick and needed money to
pay for child’s treatment.
-Christina Kabonge, 30, female, has held many positions
since joining the NGO (2010) including volunteer house keeper, house guardian
helper, and full-time care provider for patients with disabilities staying at
CV.
-Heri Makongwa, 19, male, successful form four graduate
(Div. 2, 2012), has worked during school holidays since 2010, primarily helping
medical volunteers, but also facilitating physiotherapy for children with
disabilities, such as Hezron, has tremendous English, and is respected by staff
and volunteers alike.
Community Hall
The primary goal of this department is to organize events at
the Igoda Community Hall, and to inform all relevant departments of all needs
and budgets required by events or maintenance at the Hall, or the Igoda School
Kitchen program.
-Dept. Head: Titus Nyunza, 45, male, was a member of one of
the first Adult English classes, has good conversational English skills, very
persistent when following up on loose-ends, has been events coordinator since
the opening of the Igoda Community Hall on December 1st, 2009.
-Treda Pius (Mama Ivan), 35, female, has been a leader
within the NGO since its inception, as an HIV+ woman, she has counseled other
affected couples along with her husband, has been events coordinator since the
opening of the Igoda Community Hall on December 1st, 2009.
-Farida Ngigwa, 29, female, Igoda Primary School Kitchen
cook since the beginning of the program.
-Salome Kalinga, 29, female, , Igoda Primary School Kitchen
cook since the beginning of the program.
Income Generation
(Sewing School)
The primary goal of this department is to oversee all issues
and problems related to the sewing school. Examples of responsibilities include
reporting all income and expenses to the relevant members of the NGO
(accountant clerk), to create and initiate ideas for new ways to generate
income for the school, and report any problems with the school to the relevant
departments.
-Dept. Head: Longinus, 31, male, teacher since December
2012, met Management in Mafinga (2009) and arrived suddenly to fulfill a
promise to start a sewing school at Children’s Village, has exceptional talent
as a sewer and an eye for detail, is from Songea (known for breeding sewing
professionals) and went to school in Dar es Salaam for three years.
-Maria, 24, female, top student of the Sewing School since
2012, traveled to Dar es Salaam with Longi and other NGO staff in June 2013 to
attend the Goat Races Charity Event, and managed to communicate well the goals
of the school to many international guests.
Volunteers
The primary goal of this department is to inform all related
departments of the needs of the organizations volunteers, to create schedules
for volunteers as needed, and to ensure all volunteers have a safe,
informative, productive stay with the organization. Examples of
responsibilities may include organizing transport, ensuring food and needs are
present before volunteer arrival, and providing cultural education as support
for the volunteers when required.
-Dept. Head: Yusto Chumi, 40 years old, Male, church elder
in Igoda village SDA church, was top of the class in Adult English as taught by
Jenny Peck back in 2008, has since worked with the NGO as teacher/librarian at
Igoda Primary School, has tremendous English skills, respected for his
leadership skills and his fair impartial standpoint during disagreements.
-Upendo Sanga, has lived and worked at Protea volunteer house since April 2010, has good conversational
English skills, has made all volunteers at Protea house feel at home since she
began as caretaker and cook at Protea
House.
Administration
The primary goal of this department is to facilitate synergy
and cooperation between all other departments. Examples of specific
responsibilities would be to call necessary inter-departmental meetings,
entering a child into the CV, attending local and regional government meetings
relevant to the NGO, and to give tours to officials who may visit the CV.
-Dept. Head: Isaya Mwila, 40 years old, male, appointed as
first House Father (2010) at the Children’s Village, former adult English
student, his wife Vicky has been the longest serving NGO employee (2005),
former government chairman of the neighborhood where the Children’s Village
sits, has succeeded in leadership role at the Children’s Village and NGO for
several years.
-Rehema Ngimwa, 27 years old, female, house guardian at the
CV (Feb. 2011). Arrived upon recommendation of District Social Welfare Officer
with certificate for child-caring, and two years experience of working in a
Children’s Centre.
--Jestina
Mdalingwa, 26, female, member of the Kidete Primary School board, has been
working as accountant clerk with the NGO since September 2012, responsible for
recording of all expenses, oversees all purchasing assuring proper costs are
charged, pays all wages of NGO staff, and gives out any and all payments for
purchasing or contracts.
-Charles Mwagala, 40 years old, male, house father at CV
(Feb. 2011), former member of “Orphaned and Vulnerable Children Committee’ from
Ikaning’ombe Village, ran for office in a nearly successful campaign to be
“Diwani’ for Luhunga ward in 2010, brings leadership skills to the NGO, as well
compassion for children who are going through difficult times, as he did as a
child.
Committee of
Department Heads: Kamati Kuu
Since January 10th, 2013, the heads of all of the
departments have meet every two weeks in meetings that exist to share
information about what is happening in each department. This cooperation has
led to a feeling from all employees of involvement. During the first meeting,
management shared with the committee all of the challenges faced by the NGO as
a whole including fundraising, and budgeting. This was information that
previously was only discussed by the board of the NGO and management. Armed
with the new information and responsibilities, the ‘Big Committee,’ has
invested collective time and energy to solve these problems.
Each of these meetings so far have lasted quite a long time
as each department head gives a presentation of what was accomplished in the
previous two weeks, what are the goals of the coming two weeks, and what are
the overall challenges faced. The space to discuss challenges is reserved for
the end of the meeting, and all department heads are encouraged to help advise others
for two reasons: Firstly, challenges may cut across several departments and
secondly, as all members of the NGO are from the same community there is a very
high likelihood that each member will have had experience with many various
challenges, and may be able to offer relevant suggestions.
Wow!!! Very, very impressive. I hope experience with this model will be well documented because it may well be something that should form part of a research paper, i.e., for application in one form or another in other projects. I am very curious about the number of meetings held by each department (in a year, for example), the nature of the issues addressed and the nature / characteristics of the solutions arrived at. Good luck - this looks amazing.
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