Well hello all. Jim has been doing such a great job blogging I have been lazy. However I feel compelled to share with you today. I have been feeling better the past couple of weeks however the month before that I was having a difficult time. Still struggling on a daily basis with life here in Kenya. I may not be as learned as my husband in the socio-political realities of East and Central Africa but I can feel the daily realities of the people here every day.
Let me talk about working in a developing country in a developing organization. Working in a organization that receives most of its funding through an aid organization (USAID) has both its benefits and its drawbacks. The great thing is that AMPATH receives a relatively large amount of from USAID. Is also has other small funders for some programs. The drawback is that the AMPATH has to focus its efforts on what the AID organization says it has to do and this spreads the funds thinner and thinner every year as the programming expands, but the funding doesn't. This is working in a resource constrained environment funded by AID. In addition, Kenya and the AID organizations are very focused on monitoring and evaluation and reporting of 'numbers'. However this reporting and numbers do not necessarily focus on measuring indicators which are based upon quality improvement. Often it is just to get 'numbers' which the government and AIDS organizations want. Unfortunately much money and effort is spent reporting back to the funders and government.
The other struggle at work is that there are many inefficiencies (and for those of you who know me, know that this is a pet peeve of mine). Gigantic inefficiencies. However, there is not a significant focus on making a change. Inefficiency is part of the culture here. It is fully accepted. While some people work extremely hard (I see people in my office put in many more than 40 hours per week), there are others who work very little. I have seen people play solitaire on the computer for most of the day and their boss know about it. I see clinics running busy for 4 hours of the day and then the staff visit with each other for the rest of the day. There is part of the culture that says, 'don't work too hard, it isn't worth it. Just do the bare minimum. Don't put in any extra effort". Not everyone follows this, however it is a very strong part of the work culture. This is one part of the culture I struggle with every day but have managed to work through it so far.
One thing about the Kenyan culture is that it is very hierarchical. What the boss says, goes. No argument. People grew up in this culture. Children are not allowed to question their authorities figures (parents, teacher). If they do, they are beaten. This continues all through their formative years. So in the work environment people do not understand how to question each other and their bosses. There is no questioning your boss (in the vast majority of cases). There is certainly no managing your boss. This leads to limited delegation of authority and much micromanagement. Most decisions have to go up to the very highest level. Even very simple, low level decisions. As you can imagine there is not much leadership development.
Kenyans are very focused on 'education'. You can have the best skills in the whole world, but if you don't have the right piece of paper, you will not go anywhere in an organization. And in Kenya, if you are wealthy, you can 'buy' your way through your education and thus the right piece of paper. So in organizations you see people who have the right piece of paper, but are not competent at their jobs. And this once again is accepted. I have met some very capable Kenyans who don't have the 'right piece of paper'. I would hire them in a second.
Culture, culture, culture. It is the most difficult thing to change. Ever! How about having people focused on the common good versus only themselves. There is a pervasive culture in this country on the self and not improvement of the greater good. The politicians at the very top of the food chain are the best role models for this. They take and take and take. From anyone they can. While 70% of the population lives in extreme poverty, those at the top 'eat' very well. Corruption is rampant from the very highest levels and then it trickles down. What do they say about role modeling? Corruption occurs at the very lowest levels in society. Bribes are occurring everywhere. The only thing most people here have is hope.
So with all these frustrations with culture of Kenya there are the bright spots. Like some amazing people I work with. They are smart, competent and want to make a difference. There is the amazing couple Hellen and Eric who have started a school on their farm property for vulnerable and orphaned children in their neighborhood. They have 10 children and all of them have university degrees. You will be hearing more from me soon about the school. There is our friend Andrew who is a single father (very unusual in this country for a father to take responsibility for his son), who has limited literacy and still runs two businesses. And my friend Michael who works every day without a day off for 11 hours and makes $1.50 a day. However, whenever you see him, he has his bright beautiful smile and greets you like you are the best thing in the day. So there is hope! And an unbreakable spirit in so many people.
So until next time . . . love one another and have a little fun.
Lori
Let me talk about working in a developing country in a developing organization. Working in a organization that receives most of its funding through an aid organization (USAID) has both its benefits and its drawbacks. The great thing is that AMPATH receives a relatively large amount of from USAID. Is also has other small funders for some programs. The drawback is that the AMPATH has to focus its efforts on what the AID organization says it has to do and this spreads the funds thinner and thinner every year as the programming expands, but the funding doesn't. This is working in a resource constrained environment funded by AID. In addition, Kenya and the AID organizations are very focused on monitoring and evaluation and reporting of 'numbers'. However this reporting and numbers do not necessarily focus on measuring indicators which are based upon quality improvement. Often it is just to get 'numbers' which the government and AIDS organizations want. Unfortunately much money and effort is spent reporting back to the funders and government.
The other struggle at work is that there are many inefficiencies (and for those of you who know me, know that this is a pet peeve of mine). Gigantic inefficiencies. However, there is not a significant focus on making a change. Inefficiency is part of the culture here. It is fully accepted. While some people work extremely hard (I see people in my office put in many more than 40 hours per week), there are others who work very little. I have seen people play solitaire on the computer for most of the day and their boss know about it. I see clinics running busy for 4 hours of the day and then the staff visit with each other for the rest of the day. There is part of the culture that says, 'don't work too hard, it isn't worth it. Just do the bare minimum. Don't put in any extra effort". Not everyone follows this, however it is a very strong part of the work culture. This is one part of the culture I struggle with every day but have managed to work through it so far.
One thing about the Kenyan culture is that it is very hierarchical. What the boss says, goes. No argument. People grew up in this culture. Children are not allowed to question their authorities figures (parents, teacher). If they do, they are beaten. This continues all through their formative years. So in the work environment people do not understand how to question each other and their bosses. There is no questioning your boss (in the vast majority of cases). There is certainly no managing your boss. This leads to limited delegation of authority and much micromanagement. Most decisions have to go up to the very highest level. Even very simple, low level decisions. As you can imagine there is not much leadership development.
Kenyans are very focused on 'education'. You can have the best skills in the whole world, but if you don't have the right piece of paper, you will not go anywhere in an organization. And in Kenya, if you are wealthy, you can 'buy' your way through your education and thus the right piece of paper. So in organizations you see people who have the right piece of paper, but are not competent at their jobs. And this once again is accepted. I have met some very capable Kenyans who don't have the 'right piece of paper'. I would hire them in a second.
Culture, culture, culture. It is the most difficult thing to change. Ever! How about having people focused on the common good versus only themselves. There is a pervasive culture in this country on the self and not improvement of the greater good. The politicians at the very top of the food chain are the best role models for this. They take and take and take. From anyone they can. While 70% of the population lives in extreme poverty, those at the top 'eat' very well. Corruption is rampant from the very highest levels and then it trickles down. What do they say about role modeling? Corruption occurs at the very lowest levels in society. Bribes are occurring everywhere. The only thing most people here have is hope.
So with all these frustrations with culture of Kenya there are the bright spots. Like some amazing people I work with. They are smart, competent and want to make a difference. There is the amazing couple Hellen and Eric who have started a school on their farm property for vulnerable and orphaned children in their neighborhood. They have 10 children and all of them have university degrees. You will be hearing more from me soon about the school. There is our friend Andrew who is a single father (very unusual in this country for a father to take responsibility for his son), who has limited literacy and still runs two businesses. And my friend Michael who works every day without a day off for 11 hours and makes $1.50 a day. However, whenever you see him, he has his bright beautiful smile and greets you like you are the best thing in the day. So there is hope! And an unbreakable spirit in so many people.
So until next time . . . love one another and have a little fun.
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| Mount Kenya Base Camp |
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| Mount Kenya Plants - beautiful!! |
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| Add caption |
Lori
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