I went to Kenya to develop and implement community projects in a tiny Maasai village of Kajiado county, a couple hours south of Nairobi. The Maasai Mara is a region heavily based upon the trade of livestock. In this male-dominant society, women often do not have the opportunity or the means to gain financial independence- for both economic and sociocultural reasons. However, traditional Maasai jewelry has gained popularity in regions outside of Africa, so many women have used this opportunity to use the beading skills they have learned while growing up to generate income.
In the past few years I’ve become particularly interested in microfinance, so the opportunity to work on the Women’s Savings Cooperative was immediately appealing. Prior to the trip, I thoroughly researched different microfinance and savings cooperative models to find a suitable method to structure the program for the villages. On the ground, we were able to meet with several women’s groups in neighboring villages to run workshops on proper bookkeeping, meeting procedures and handling of finances.
The ultimate goal of the savings program is to help them not only keep track of their revenues, but put together a formal savings cooperative where they can pool their resources and begin saving for their financial independence and future goals. Looking forward, after the program has grown and sufficient capital has been pooled, members of the cooperative will have the opportunity to apply for small loans to start or grow their businesses, send their children to school, etc.
Roadblocks and Lessons Learned
While I had grand visions of how the program would be run, I quickly realized how difficult it is to put a program in place in a country you have never visited. During the planning and preparation phase, I researched cases on similar programs in different countries, recalled previous books I had read about microfinance programs abroad, and put together what I thought was a simple, efficient way of holding meetings, documenting financial transactions and specific rules and regulations surrounding a savings cooperative.
However, there are numerous challenges that are faced when executing a program abroad. Many things that we take for granted, such as computers, printers, or even paper and pens, are not always accessible in the region you are working. Taking this into account, I spent a lot of time pre-planning to ensure we had a sufficient amount supplies to run the workshops, as well as the cooperative which would need to run for the next year or so. Tactile items aside, there are also challenges in the areas of communication and understanding when working with cultures that are unfamiliar.
Working in a small village in Kenya was proof that not every culture operates the same. At a very basic level, time is not kept in the way I was used to. In North America, we are constantly aware of the time, which is one reason why scheduling precise meeting times comes naturally to us. We have our days, weeks, months and even years planned out and documented on agendas or in our phone/email calendars.
In Kenya, I rarely knew what time it was. I wasn’t wearing a watch, and often did not have my iPhone on hand This meant that meetings were scheduled and held at times such as ‘the morning’ or ‘the afternoon’ or simply, ‘after lunch’. In Canada, this could mean so many different things to different people, which would ultimately end up in a frenzied mess of calendars and meeting overlaps. However in Kenya, it just worked. Things happen when they happen, and if they don’t, well then, they just don’t. Maybe another day.
As frustrating as this was in the beginning, I quickly began to see the beauty of it. Although meetings and workshops did not always happen when we wanted them to, when they did, they were authentic. The energy and enthusiasm of everyone to learn more about how to grow their small businesses, build the women’s savings cooperative and grow as a community was genuine. It made every day of preparation leading up to the trip not feel like work, but a worthwhile contribution to this community, which will be a sustainable program to improve their standard of living and quality of life.
Take Aways
- The key to doing business abroad is to let go of what you do back home and immerse yourself fully into the culture. Literally, soak it in. Be one with the culture. As silly as it sounds, it’s the only way to fully understand why things operate the way that they do and overcome frustrations or even opinions of ‘we do it the right way back home’.
- Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Communicating in a foreign language is difficult, a program component proves easy for you but difficult for the target audience to understand, or sometimes an entire project has to be scrapped and re-worked. Be adaptable. These things can and will happen, and your patience will be tested. It’s all part of the learning experience.
- Appreciate the beauty of every culture and environment you are placed in. You may find yourself in a remote village with no electricity or running water. Maybe there are no skyscrapers, sidewalks or even paved roads. Your first thought might be, “How am I going to live here?” Instead of looking at the negative, find the positives. The Maasai Mara was one of the most beautiful landscapes that I have ever had the privilege of visiting, and three weeks of fresh air and an open sky full of stars each night was a blessing on its own. More importantly, the people I met in these Kenyan villages were amongst the most friendly and positive people I’ve ever met. They are incredibly resourceful; they live their lives simply and cherish family, friends and community over everything else. I think many people in North America could learn a thing or two from them. I sure did.
In the next 16 months, I will have the chance to participate in the Ivey Global Lab, where I will work on consulting-based projects in India for ten weeks, as well as study abroad at two CEMS partner schools, HEC Paris and HKUST. My experience in Kenya was the perfect accompaniment to these endeavors, particularly because it gave me exposure to a region and a focus that is often overlooked by business students, and instilled a greater knowledge and awareness of social enterprise and sustainability.
I truly believe that taking the plunge and gaining as much international exposure as possible, whether through an academic exchange abroad, or working in a foreign country is crucial in becoming a successful international business leader. My experience on-the-ground in a developing nation provided a whole new perspective on doing business abroad, and allowed me to work on a project that was both socially and economically sustainable. These components were critical in preparing me to be a CEMS student that will continue to be exposed to different countries, cultures and streams of business abroad.
I hope to gain further microfinance experience by developing a career in consulting, which will enable me to build upon my current knowledge to develop best practices in the field.
