STAFF SPOTLIGHT! A DECADE WITH NABWAMI KIZITO

2. Tell us about your first day at Save the Children. 

I had an orientation on my first day with about 6 other new staff. It was a great day.

3. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced during your time here? How did you overcome it?

I joined the Sponsorship Program 6 months into its inception, and I was the first person to hold the position of Senior Officer Sponsorship Operations and Communications. There was a lot to do and to learn on the job. Also, Sponsorship Operations has a lot of pressure with strict and regular deadlines. It was tough. However, I had teammates that helped me navigate some of these challenges. I read all the project documentation. I learnt to set up systems and internal controls to ensure that we met all our deadlines. Shout out to Oscar Ojungu who was my biggest ally during that season.

4. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Interacting with children through the Child Advisory Group and delivering excellent work in Sponsorship Operations.

5. What are you most proud of accomplishing during your time at Save the Children?

Delivering highly recognized Sponsorship Operations and facilitating Child Experience through the Child Advisory Group. The children through the support of Save the Children have been able to interface with the leaders at the subcounty and District level and ably presented their concerns. Some of these have since been addressed or are in the pipeline. They have also been able to represent their fellow children on TV programs to voice their thoughts on Education and other issues in their communities. The children are confident, and I believe that they will make great leaders in the future.

6. How do you think your work has impacted on the organization and your colleagues?

We have done some excellent work in Sponsor Child services and have represented the Country Office well. Uganda has been rated highly throughout the lifecycle of the Sponsorship Program, and I am proud to be part of that team. I have worked to ensure that hundreds of children who would otherwise not be going to school have been sponsored and completed primary education with my efforts. Its not just a job for me, it is a real passion because i get to see children’s lives change and them getting a better future.

7. Are there any specific projects or milestones that stand out in your memory?

Working on the Child Experience task force with colleagues from other Sponsorship offices which birthed the Child Advisory Group in Wakiso. Seeing the children stand up and speak on behalf of other children has been very rewarding. In our community here in Wakiso-and perhaps other parts of Uganda, children are taught not to speak up. They are supposed to leave the speaking to the adults who are deemed to know what children want. But establishing the CAG has seen me and other colleagues train children on communication and advocacy skills so that they are able to speak up-in a respectful manner to the adults including duty bearers on what they would like to see change/matters that affect them. As a result, i have seen children cause change in their own families, schools and communities. I hope one day they are able to become great leaders in this country and work to ensure that children have better services.

8. What motivates you to keep going after 10 years?

The work that we do matters. We are impacting on the lives of so many children and their families.

9. How has working at Save the Children shaped your personal or professional growth?

I have grown all round. I have had so many opportunities which also presented challenges that I had to overcome. I have a great understanding of how to manage projects and work with different people to deliver project work as expected. I have had opportunities to be a leader, and I am a better person professionally and in my personal life with everything that I have learnt.

10. Do you have a favourite memory or moment from your time at Save the Children?

I have many. I can’t pick one. Maybe my first great memory was when we completed our first Annual Family Update campaign. It was a big deal and the whole Global Sponsorship Office team was literally applauding. It was the very first time we were doing this major campaign after enrolling the children. It involves going back to the schools, and updating each child's information with them and their parent or guardian as well as taking a new photo of them. It is a hectic exercise with a set deadline. we completed this on time and it was great.

11. What do you love most about the work environment and your colleagues at Save the Children?

I love teamwork. Going over ideas or solutions with other people helps me do my work better. Also having managers that give you room to thrive, participate and grow.

12. What advice would you give to a new employee at Save the Children?

There is no experience that you will have that is meaningless. Strive to do an excellent job and be open to learning new things.

13. What are your hopes or goals for the organization in the next few years?

I hope that the funding landscape will improve so that the organization can continue to do great work to improve the lives of Children.

14. Do you see yourself here for another 10 years? Why or why not?

If there is an opportunity for me to work here, I just might be here for another 10 years.

15. If you could describe your 10-year journey here in one word, what would it be?

Adventure