TRIBE Means: Community

Submitted by Guest on Tue, 2014-10-14 13:12

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Emily Wairimu

HTC Counselor, Maai Mahiu, Kenya

&

Danielle Sandars

Cultural Programs Marketing Team Leader, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

1. What makes you happy? What drives you?

Emily: I get my happiness from the sense of belonging, the love from those around me, the roles I play in my community, my children and the powers bestowed upon me by virtue of being alive, capable and mentally empowered. As well as being attached to a resourceful organization that is backed and supported by committed and understanding supporters...all good things! I am driven daily by the strong passion that I have for what I do to transform the lives of the needy in my community, and helping open the eyes of people unaware of the crises facing so many of their family members, colleagues, orphans and neighbors all around them.

Danielle: Making others happy is what truly drives me. When I feel like I’ve been able to walk away from any interaction with someone (family, friends, etc.) knowing they’re smiling because of something I did or said; that’s where I find my ultimate happiness.

I'm deeply driven by being able to spread the culture, love and passion of the higher purpose of Whole Foods Market and spreading these messages both inside and outside of my job. I’m constantly on a mission, which continues to keep me feeling connected to a higher personal purpose; changing and improving the world around me.

2. What does your typical day look like?

Emily: Everyday my aim is to bring positive change in someone's life: empower or enlighten someone, help a person in need, make a new friend, or bring some hope to someone facing crisis. There is always room for a smile to someone, a workmate, a fellow woman or man, or even a first-time encounter with someone referred to me, heard about me, wanting to support me or... even mistaking me. There is time at the workplace, outside within the community and with my close family members. I also avail time for socialization on What's App (Rubie Ruth and Jannai could elaborate more on this, we chat past midnight …)

Danielle: I don’t really have a typical day, but I’d say that any day of the week I am mostly focused on a Whole Foods Market mission-based project. For example, in a single day you may find me visiting a recently donated Whole Kids Foundation garden in Brooklyn, at my desk answering emails in the office, or I may be leading a cultural training with our team members, or supporting a global project with the Whole Planet Foundation. Day to day may look so different but I always LOVE what I do.

3. What is most important when educating and mobilizing the community of Maai Mahiu/your stores?

Emily: The most important aspects is to be a role model in the community. Also, knowing what the specific needs are for as many individuals as possible, knowing their values, likes and dislikes. Staying on top of important target groups, being informed and updated, friendly but principled. Networking is a crucial component of community mobilization.

Danielle: That’s a really hard question because I’m constantly evaluating this – this is the key to what I do. I’ve come to the conclusion that you can’t teach culture, but you can truly inspire it. When you find that piece inside someone that connects to what you’re trying to instill, that's a great place to start, expand and then build on. You have to find what clicks for them and find a way to connect that to the mission you’re speaking about. My saying is “Find the stickiness within the program, those sticky stories that the other person is going to be excited to tell over and over again”.

4. TRIBE speaks to those that are looking to create positive social impact and shape their communities. What advice would you give to others looking to mobilize their community and create social change?

Emily: Believe in yourself, be open-minded and a relater (recommended reading: one of CTC's favorite books, The Human Fabric), be a role model with real evidence, non-biased, non-judgmental and engaging. One also needs to have perseverance, forgiveness (not all will be positively receptive), patient, informed and available. Accept that you are not a jack-of-all-trades and all work and no play makes Jack a dull, tired boy - give some room for rest, rejuvenation and humour.

Danielle: Zane, CTC's Founder, has done a great job of doing this. I don’t think social change comes easy, but I think it comes easier if there’s a true need for what you’re trying to do. Digging into research on the projects, understanding your audience and the impact you’re trying to make overall, as well as how it affects all stakeholders in your business model, is key.

5. What advice do you have for those facing life crises like you did several years ago?

Emily: Accept that life will not always be a straight line and that the crises are just like curves on a garment or round-a-bouts on a path. Working on how to overcome them gives one a wider scope of ideas, experiences and room for better choices. One should not waste time complaining about the size of the stones being thrown at them but should work towards how the same could construct a firm foundation, a bridge to cross to the other end, a wall of self-defense and so on. The ladder out, the ladder to success can’t be climbed with the hands in the pockets.

6. What are your favorite memories from your time in Maai Mahiu?

Emily: There is so much to value but the strongest memories are the fun moments we have shared with CTC family and the teams. Pizza nights at Café Ubuntu and our staff retreats. The retreat at Diani Beach with CTC staff and Dr. Barrie and her spouse is relived always in my mind, not to forget moments with Zane and compiling of the CTC culture.

Danielle: Do you have 4 hours? My favorite memories are those spent connecting with the people of Maai Mahiu. Meeting the Mums, being able to see the full circle story and witnessing the programs that we’re supporting here in our stores. Walking into a sewing room with 40 mums clapping for you in appreciation, I was completely blown away by the gratitude that they have for us. The WHOLE experience – being able to walk in that room and knowing these women supply all of our 400 stores with products, was incredible. To me, the story of each Mum is deeply woven into the fabric of each of their products. "LIFE in every stitch" is true to its core for sure.

We're halfway to our goal of 65 new members!

If we hit 50 members by Friday, a very generous donor is ready to give $5,000!

7. How would you compare your life before and after CTC?

Emily: The former has its own chain of calamities, scarcity, uncertainty and unfulfillment of hopes and joys, not to mention fewer connections. Life after joining CTC brought much joy. Before CTC, the community of Maai Mahiu often felt like lonely strangers in a dark desert with the only source of light, a dimly lit candle! People found themselves in dark tunnels, not sure of what lay ahead and with no one to consult with, but life is different with CTC. There is room for consultation, friendship, support, fulfillment, joy and fun, empowerment, correction through companionship, and room for achievement. Not to mention the amazing experiences I've had speaking on behalf of our work with HIV/AIDS in South Africa and South Korea!

Danielle: My life after Kenya has changed in so many ways! The most important thing I learned in Maai Mahiu was that true happiness comes from within. When you can wake up every day not knowing where your next meal might come from and then make something of nothing, that is true happiness. I’ve never seen happiness like this before. To wake up grateful every day for what you have and what you’ve accomplished, and being able to tell that story is what drives me now. I even keep Kenyan Shillings in my wallet so every time I open it I’m reminded of what I have and how grateful I am to have met these women and hear their stories.

8. Why do you work so hard for CTC?

Emily: Well for several reasons; like a groom having managed to bring his bride for proud procession, I always want to own and feel part & parcel of this transforming organization. I want to contribute towards the baking and sharing of the CTC pie (better terminology for CTC now would be the Pizza) for positive change in this wonderful community for long and quality lives.

Danielle: I work very hard to get the word out about all of the Whole Foods Market mission based programs but CTC has a very special place in my heart. CTC is a perfect example of one of our win-win partnerships and a true reconciliation of our core values. I love exploring the notion of ‘Shared Fate’ with our customers, our team members and CTC through this partnership that we’ve created together. Also, having the opportunity to visit the women and the community we’re helping to change was so irreplaceable and invaluable to my commitment to supporting CTC.

9. What has CTC meant to the people of Maai Mahiu?

Emily: Surely, whenever light comes, many are the good things that accompany this- herdsmen feel more secure that their animals can all be seen, many specimens of plants can photosynthesize food, electricity bills are reduced, pedestrians can cross the roads more safely, children can play outside where there is more space, and thieves have to take cover. LIght helps create a safe environment for mankind to engage in life transforming activities. This is often how I think of what CTC has meant to Maai Mahiu. A former google on Maai Mahiu would only give negative aspects on this community but CTC has enhanced and spearheaded the positive portrait of this transformed community; creating job opportunities, value and hope for the marginalized, a safe development playground for foreign and local positive transformers, initiation of income generating activities, enhancement in technological and literacy levels, access to quality and professional medical services, overall improvement in the quality of lives… the list is endless.

10. What is your favorite program and why?

Danielle: LIFE Line is my favorite CTC program. To be honest, I love how it all began. There was a need in the community for a special needs school and then there was a need for the mums of these children to work and then there was a need for the mums to create the products. A need breeds a need. I love the story that is present in each of the products we sell. Ultimately, I work for a grocery store so I try to combine our mission and the retail aspect of what I do and LIFE Line is a perfect example of this collaboration. There’s such a chain reaction of how these products came to be – it’s truly serendipitous.

11. What does TRIBE mean to you?

Emily: Being a member of the CTC family means that I belong to a family that is capable of spearheading positive, life-saving change. This gives me the joy of being empowered, room for sharing and self-expression, improvement and achievements. I feel I am part of that important fuel/power source that will keep the lights on. Back up by TRIBE ensures that the circuit is complete and safe guarded. TRIBE holds the CTC lamp high and on a firm stand to ensure that there is ample light on all corners of Maai Mahiu. TRIBE shields CTC to ensure our candles do not get blown off in the storm of challenges facing Maai Mahiu and our surrounding communities.

12. Do you think about TRIBE in your day to day?

Emily: While in my field work and evaluating the health of my community, I always appreciate the TRIBE members who have abandoned their economic achievements, continental boundaries, cultural, political or even race barriers to harken unto the cries of my community's tribulations They have sacrificed, believed in me and supported me, trusting me to implement their kind donations for positive change and feel I should always be faithful, hardworking and committed to the course and maximize in quantity and quality on all outcome from minimum resources. It is my duty to marshal my forces and husband the resources. I could never have achieved the positive changes for myself and those around me without support and TRIBE is just that for so many more. I salute to all who contribute, walk with and encourage me all along!!!!!