What inspired you to work for PLANE?
The nature of work PLANE does with communities, especially working with the vulnerable groups of people in society–including women, children, and youth–basically to improve their livelihoods for their growth and development.
Secondly, I was inspired to work with PLANE for my personal growth and career development related to my field of study.
Describe a typical day at work.
I get to the office at 8 am and check in with the updates or assignments to look at my work plan for the activity scheduled for the day.
If there is fieldwork, I go to the field to attend to my groups, collect relevant data, and register any community cases that may need our intervention. I will also carry out home visits to clients we have planned to see and get information that I record before the end of the work day.
Why do you do what you do?
It's because of passion and love to help raise vulnerable groups within communities in our country. I also do what I do for personal growth and development.
The nature of the work I am doing enables me to interact so much with the community. I get a better feeling for realistic issues on the ground that are pertinent to my field of work to help public policy.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Fieldwork. This part exposes me to a variety of all the different possibilities. In the same regard, it involves many processes that include planning, methods of implementation, community engagement, and exposure through engagement.
This other side allows me to work with community stakeholders and partners frequently. The analytical side also interests me to be able to analyze and process data in different ways.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
I use my education for community development methods that involve community data. My degree has been immensely helpful in community organizing and development. It has aided in participatory rural appraisal, general education during workshops or talks, training, sensitizing, and creating awareness for the different groups.
Along with my education and the sense of working with many different people we are working toward building several aspects ranging from health, livelihood, and human rights and empowering our community members.
What are some current projects you are working on?
Greening Uganda Schools Project is a family clinic project that is in the form of drama to handle issues of domestic violence and conflict in communities.
The advocacy project is for going back to school campaigns where the focus is centered on all, including children with disabilities and young girls. In the project, scholastic materials are always given each academic term for our beneficiaries.
What advice would you tell your pre-travel self?
To seek more knowledge to learn more, advertise, market, and lobby for my country. Emphasizing tourism through cultural understanding in a new environment and identifying what can be benchmarked and brought to our system and cultures in Uganda.
Personal Growth and self-discovery could be another issue through the exposure brought on several aspects and the people.
Global Awareness and perspective should be a focus–what you can learn and gain from those experiences is priceless.
What makes your organization special?
The programs enhance empathy and compassion, interpersonal and communication skills, practical skills and knowledge, personal growth and self-reflection, experiential learning, cross-cultural understanding, social impact awareness, advocacy, accountability, and transparency are what makes the organization special.
Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?
They should consider how PLANE is transparent and accountable for the organization's values and the collaboration with community stakeholders to ensure sustainability and follow-up.
The success achieved so far can be traced on the ground and the stories given to the beneficiaries of our programs. Most importantly, the relationship that we have with our community members and clients.
Community education training for an awareness creation community programs.
What hopes do you have for the future of PLANE?
Expand our reach and impact. We hope to expand and serve a large number of needy individuals and communities.
Collaboration and partnership. We hope to foster collaborations both within and outside the nonprofit sector, sustainability, and scalability.
We hope to establish a solid organizational structure, financial stability, and efficient processes to ensure long-term sustainability, awareness, and advocacy.
PLANE can hope to raise awareness about the issues faced by those in need and advocate for policy changes or systematic improvements at a local, regional, or national level.
Are there any developments with PLANE that you would like to share with us?
We plan to purchase land and construct a school for needy children. We are mobilizing funds for the establishment of vocational schools to train and empower teenage mothers and youth.
We plan to extend our community outreach areas, develop more concepts and programs for our communities and those on board, and bring more into the organization.
What makes your organization easy to market to potential participants?
The mission and impact of PLANE have a clear and compelling mission statement that resonates with potential partners. PLANE has made a big impact by transforming people's lives, including children, parents, and the community at large.
PLANE’s unique approach in the community showcases different methods of activity and implementation that are action-based and innovative.
Transparency and accountability, highly effective communication, and recognition make for easy and trustworthy marketing campaigns and branding.
What is PLANES's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
To promote empowerment programs for better health, education, and livelihoods for disadvantaged populations. It’s our mission we advocate for the protection and promotion of children's and women’s rights.
We continue to build and strengthen a structure that provides rural communities access to social services like education, health, water, and sanitation for improved livelihoods. We do all of this through the viewpoint that health and gender-related issues in communities are key.
PLANE continues to support vocational skills to orphans and school dropouts for their improved well-being. We also protect and strengthen our support and contributions to the Orphans and Vulnerable Children model homes.
Overall, we always promote good governance, democracy, and peacebuilding.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
We hope they benefit through our education and awareness programs through sensitization on different aspects of the communities.
These programs are aimed at promoting education, environment protection, gender-based violence reduction, and sustainable nutrition programs to reduce malnutrition and avert hunger in homes.
How do you help support participants?
Increased empathy and compassion-building skills are essential. When participants are building relationships with members of the community it can lead to deeper and more intentional relationships.
Enhanced interpersonal and communication skills. We like to showcase to participants that regardless of who you are communicating with, there’s always something to learn. We harbor deep respect and gratitude from beneficiaries and mentors to peer-on-peer respect.
Practical skills and knowledge. Dependent on the specific program, participants may acquire practical skills and knowledge relevant to health, family clinic services, drama, environment conservation, gender-based violence prevention, or education for needy children.
They are able to hone, learn, and harbor skills that include medical support, counseling techniques, environmental conservation practices, classroom management, or awareness-raising strategies.
Personal growth and self-reflection. Engaging in meaningful work within PLANE's programs can provide participants with opportunities for personal growth and self-reflection.
Through volunteering or interning, participants may gain a sense of purpose, self-confidence, and self-awareness as they contribute to the betterment of disadvantaged communities.
Experiential learning. Participants can gain hands-on experience and practical insights into the challenges and opportunities present in the sectors in which PLANE operates. This experiential learning can provide valuable real-world knowledge that complements academic or theoretical training.
How is your company handling COVID protocols? What should participants know about your COVID readiness? How are you assisting participants with navigating the new travel landscape?
We are still emphasizing standard operating procedures in congested areas and teaching beneficiaries about COVID-19.
We continue to give out operating items to schools and health centers, such as hand washing machines and soap, and provide access to water. We also regularly encourage people to go for COVID-19 vaccinations to reduce the spread and effect of the disease.
If you could participate in one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would participate in the Go Greening Schools campaign program and visit schools within our operation area.
I would continue participating, teaching, and encouraging people to plant more fruit trees while highlighting the benefits. I would target the highest population–young people–because it's easy for the program to be effective and for high results to be attained.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
The questions depend on the different community programs being implemented at that particular time.
It changes depending on the type of participants in the community. At the same time, leaders always ask different questions on how to handle a certain problem affecting the people at that particular time.
Students also ask different questions related to different methodologies of community program implementation.
Program beneficiaries ask different questions related to cautions, solutions, and modes of implementation (knowledge-based).
Training photo from the same awareness creation community programs.
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Traveling abroad provides opportunities to learn new languages or improve existing language skills. Effective communication with locals fosters connections and deepens cultural understanding. Language skills acquired through travel can be advantageous in both personal and professional contexts.
Breaking down Stereotypes and Prejudices: Immersive cultural experiences challenge preconceived notions and biases. By interacting with people from different backgrounds, travelers can break down stereotypes, challenge prejudices, and foster a greater appreciation for human diversity.
Adaptability and Problem-Solving Skills: Traveling abroad often requires individuals to adapt to changing situations, navigate unfamiliar environments, and solve problems on the go. This mindset enhances adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving skills, which can be valuable in many aspects of life.
Memories and Experiences: Traveling abroad creates lasting memories and experiences that can shape one's life and provide a sense of fulfillment. These memories often become cherished stories and can serve as a source of inspiration and motivation in the future.
Career Opportunities: International exposure and cultural understanding gained through travel can significantly enhance career prospects, especially in today's interconnected world. Experience with different cultures, languages, and global perspectives is highly valued by employers in various industries.
Why do you think learning a new language is important?
Cultural Understanding and Sensitivity: Experiencing different cultures firsthand helps broaden one's perspective and enhances understanding and appreciation for diverse viewpoints, traditions, and ways of life. It promotes cultural sensitivity and fosters empathy, breaking down stereotypes and promoting mutual respect.
Personal Growth and Self-Discovery: Traveling abroad pushes individuals out of their comfort zones and challenges them to adapt to unfamiliar environments. This work promotes personal growth, builds resilience, and fosters self-discovery.
It can lead to increased self-confidence, independence, and a better understanding of one's values and beliefs.
Global Awareness and Perspective: Experiencing new cultures enables individuals to gain a broader global perspective. It exposes them to different social, economic, and political systems, helping them understand global issues and challenges from various angles.
This global awareness can inspire individuals to become more engaged global citizens and contribute to positive change.
Language Skills and Communication: Traveling abroad provides opportunities to learn new languages or improve existing language skills. Effective communication with locals fosters connections and deepens cultural understanding. Language skills acquired through travel can be advantageous in both personal and professional contexts.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Traveling abroad and experiencing new cultures is important for several reasons. Cultural Understanding and Sensitivity: Experiencing different cultures firsthand helps broaden one's perspective and enhances understanding and appreciation for diverse viewpoints, traditions, and ways of life.
It promotes cultural sensitivity and fosters empathy, breaking down stereotypes and promoting mutual respect.
Personal Growth and Self-Discovery: Traveling abroad pushes individuals out of their comfort zones and challenges them to adapt to unfamiliar environments. This promotes personal growth, builds resilience, and fosters self-discovery.
It can lead to increased self-confidence, independence, and a better understanding of one's values and beliefs.
Global Awareness and Perspective: Experiencing new cultures enables individuals to gain a broader global perspective. It exposes them to different social, economic, and political systems, helping them understand global issues and challenges from various angles.
This global awareness can inspire individuals to become more engaged global citizens and contribute to positive change.
Language Skills and Communication: Traveling abroad provides opportunities to learn new languages or improve existing language skills. Effective communication with locals fosters connections and deepens cultural understanding.
Language skills acquired through travel can be advantageous in both personal and professional contexts.
Breaking down Stereotypes and Prejudices: Immersive cultural experiences challenge preconceived notions and biases. By interacting with people from different backgrounds, travelers can break down stereotypes, challenge prejudices, and foster a greater appreciation for human diversity.
Adaptability and Problem-Solving Skills: Traveling abroad often requires individuals to adapt to changing situations, navigate unfamiliar environments, and solve problems on the go. This enhances adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving skills, which can be valuable in many aspects of life.
What issues do you see in the world of international education that don’t line up with your values and expectations for mutually beneficial & educational relationships between providers/programs and the communities in which they are located within?
Some of the issues faced that don't align with education today are low-quality instruction, inadequate supply of high-quality teachers, and the need for more attention to early childhood care and education.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues, leaving students in low- and middle-income countries way behind in mathematics, reading, and other subjects.
What does ethical global engagement mean to you?
Ethical global engagement is a term that refers to the practice of engaging with people and communities around the world in a way that is respectful, responsible, and sustainable. It involves working collaboratively with people from different cultures and backgrounds to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
Ethical global engagement requires a deep understanding of the social, cultural, and political contexts in which people live, as well as a commitment to promoting human rights, social justice, and environmental sustainability.
It also involves recognizing and addressing power imbalances that exist between different groups of people and working to build relationships based on mutual respect and trust. Ethical global engagement is an important concept for individuals, organizations, and governments to consider as they seek to create a more just and equitable world.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
My hopes are high for further education as I want to experience a new challenge but also exposure.
Given the opportunity through several engagements, my peers and people in the field are invigorated to develop and garner it. The love I have for further education keeps me highly motivated to have a further and even more established international education space available.
What qualities in program & host community relations are important to you? (And your organization?)
A few that are most important to me are community advocacy programs for the education of children and their human rights protection.
Also, education and awareness for environmental conservation and protection through our Go Greening Schools campaign. Sexual reproductive health promotion in schools and promotion of proper hygiene and sanitation in a bid to fight diseases, including COVID-19.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Travel means getting exposed, learning the news, and discovering new features. Traveling abroad teaches you more about the world and other cultures.
Association with different people, learning how different things are done in their countries that can be benchmarked and brought to our country. These include how systems are run in education, health, transport, and so many others.
