Gillian O.
About me
| Gillian O. | |
| Social Policy and Social Work | |
| Public administration | |
| Taught Postgraduate | |
| 2009 | |
| Ireland |
My employment
| CEO of non-profit Abaana Ministries | |
| Abaana Ministries | |
| Uganda | |
| Social care and social work | |
| Small business (0-49 employees) | |
| 2012 |
More about Gillian
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A day in the life of a CEO of non-profit Abaana Ministries in Uganda
I thoroughly believe in making the most of our time by doing a job related to what we love - and personally, helping others drives me and gives me enormous satisfaction.
Briefly describe the organisation you work for
"Abaana" means children in luganda, the language of the Buganda region in which is located Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. Our focus is on increasing access to education for vulnerable children as well as reintegrating street-connected children out of parental care back to a family home. It is a Christian faith-based organisation which partners with churches and other organisations where applicable. There are 20 staff, serving nearly 2000 children at risk.
What do you do?
My role is to lead the team, building organisational faith culture and our staff capacity to deliver to the best of our ability. My role is office based and I provide strategic direction, oversee the finances by managing an accountant, support the governance function through accountability to a local board, lead communication, particularly with our main donor based in UK, and create policies and systems to enhance our interventions. We build schools in rural low income communities, sponsor children in education and reconnect children living on the streets back to family.
Reflecting upon your past employment and education, what led you to your current career choice?
I came to Uganda on a 5 month volunteer placement with a Christian agency in 2001, which resulted to me eventually taking on the leadership of an organisation called Oasis Uganda, when I became the Country Director in 2007. I began a York MPA the previous year to build my skills for this role. I resigned in 2011 to have my first child, and 6 months later joined the current non-profit where I serve. I desire to see wholeness and fullness of life in children at risk and am grateful I can use my leadership and organisation development skills to support my Ugandan staff team bring real change in children's lives. I can honestly say I feel a call to this kind of work.
Is your current job sector different from what you thought you would enter when you graduated?
I studied my first degree (English & Sociology) in Trinity College Dublin, then after graduation, came to Uganda as a volunteer for 5 months as I had a strong desire to be in a social care setting and had an opportunity to get experience with a charity in Kampala. I did not expect to live overseas in East Africa for now 19 years! The MPA that I did for 3 years was an immeasurable help in raising my capacity for leading 2 charitable organisations.
Describe your most memorable day at work
In 2016, we undertook to send a children's choir to UK and Ireland to travel for 4 months from January 2017. This was to raise awareness and funds for our charity but also to give these children an opportunity to express their culture musically and to gain exposure to a completely new world. I can't even begin to describe the challenges of organising legal documentation for a child who doesn't even have a birth certificate, living in an African village community without power and whose parent is illiterate, and probably without a phone, in a country with a lot of bureacracy and, at the time, very manual systems. So, the day we received the passports back from the UK consulate for 20 children and 4 young adults with visas for travel inserted was unforgettable.
Are there any challenges associated with your job?
Working in East Africa is very challenging at times - internet and electricity are unstable; traffic jams can make a 5km journey take 3 hours; Government offices sway from being excellent to being corrupt, and everything is still quite manual, in a very cash-focused economy. It is also difficult seeing children in appalling poverty and only being able to help a few. The people have a fierce passion and friendliness though and it's a very welcoming country. I am a working mum with 2 young sons and there are times it is hard balancing responsibilities at home and work.
What’s your work environment and culture like?
I am the only white person out of the team of 20, but having lived in Uganda so long (and being married to a Ugandan) I very much enjoy the culture of courtesy and respect in our team. It is common here to use titles, not forenames alone, so I am "Auntie Gill" or "Mrs Gill" or "Mukulu" (boss, affectionately!) We dress smartly - the Africa you see of people wearing raggedy dirty clothes is far from the reality in Kampala, where neatness and cleanliness is valued. We are a Christian faith based organisation which means we also pray together and our working relationships are sincere and deep. Most of my team spend hours driving to rural communities where our beneficiaries mostly reside, though personally I am based in an office 10km from home, and also work from home 2 days a week. Working weekends is common in some seasons but it does not feel onerous.
What extracurricular activities did you undertake at university and what transferable skills did you develop through these?
As an online student, I didn't have any university experiences unfortunately. However during my first degree in Ireland I did a lot of voluntary work with children in churches and charities and developed a desire to enter a career of helping others.
What would you like to do next with your career?
For now I am content to be where I am, and desire to use my skills to the fullest to make a positive difference in the lives of as many children as possible. I would pray that I would remain in the non-profit sector, possibly specialising in HR or admin in a much larger, possibly global organisation, should I move on.
What top tips do you have for York students preparing for today’s job market and life after graduation?
Discovering your passion is so important. We can't spend this life waiting for the weekend or a 2 week's getaway once a year, counting down the hours Monday to Friday. I thoroughly believe in making the most of our time by doing a job related to what we love - and personally, helping others drives me and gives me enormous satisfaction. I have interviewed hundreds of people over 15 hours of recruitment and the ones who clearly express their passion and their values stand out every time.
What topics from students are you happy to answer questions on?
I know my situation might be a little unusual and I am happy to speak to anyone, but especially those interested in working overseas, development work in East Africa or Christian missions work, and working mums, may find my experiences most of value.
Next steps...
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