This week, we caught up with Head of Transformation in Adults and Health, Will Hammond, to talk about his experiences working through and beyond his sabbatical with the Kipawa Trust in Kenya. Leaving in December, he was due to return to the UK in May but stayed until late July following the challenges put in place by the COVID-19 pandemic. We spoke to him about his work with the charity, and continuing to work for Barnet while abroad. Edited highlights are below, and the full interview can be viewed here on Yammer:
Q. What were some of the highlights of your trip to Kenya?
A. I had some fantastic experiences while I was there. I managed to visit South Africa, too, watching England play cricket under the watchful eye of Table Mountain in Cape Town, snorkelling with tiger sharks and seeing leopards on safari.In Kenya, the work the charity does is inspiring, with the aim of giving every child in the area the chance for a fulfilling life. I was staying in their children’s home, where they provide care and support for over 50 children at risk of abuse and neglect. Indeed, one of my early projects was helping them to set up a fostering scheme so that more children can grow up in a supportive family. The charity also runs outreach programmes which include providing food, helping kids with accessing and staying in school or ensuring a stable
income for their families.
Q. How was COVID-19 impacting Kenya that you could see while you were out there?
A. Compared to the UK, the number of reported cases is relatively low, with 32,000 confirmed cases and about 500 deaths, although it is worth noting that the infrastructure for testing and reporting cases is less well developed. But, sadly, preventative measures like lockdown have been devastating for people who live just above ‘the breadline’. Whilst our charity could not provide feeding programmes in schools, we were able to set up a very effective cash transfer programme, to get emergency relief to those in crisis.
Q. How did you find it working flexibly from Kenya in terms of wifi/other technical issues?
A. It was great that I was able to start working while still in Kenya, albeit with some dodgy wifi connections and interruptions from a pair of vociferous goats that lived with me on the compound! Using BYOD and Teams I was able to contribute to important business planning work – and it was great to see and hear from my colleagues again.
Will is continuing to raise much needed funding to support families in crisis during lockdown and into the future. You can donate to the cause here. And watch some videos of Will's time in Africa here.