In May 2019, 3 new members joined the local team of the Building a Future: Make it in The Gambia programme, namely: Catherine Correa, Logistic and Administrative Officer; Clarice Taylor-Johnson, Accountant; and Joanna Mendy, Social Cohesion Manager.
An induction session was held on April 24th, 2019 to presented IMVF’s mission, values and action all over the world, the HQ team, and the Building a Future: Make it in The Gambia Programme. The session was also imporant to get to know one another.
Catherine M. Correa, the Administrative and Logistics Officer, told us some of her expectations and objectives by participating in the programme. Getting a full understanding of the project and using “Lessons Learned” for progressive improvement is the methodology of this new member of our team.
As Administrative and Logistics Officer she expects to support administrative functions and create visibility into a company’s supply chain though directing, optimizing and coordinating full order cycle and communicate and negotiate with suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers. Plan and manage administrative and logistic issues has become the main focus of Catherine’s action.
According to Clarice Taylor-Johnson, Accountant of the IMVF local team, Tekki Fii programme lead by IMVF will improve the capacity of young people to be self-sufficient and to create a successful story without risking their lives. This programme will demystify the idea that has led young people to leave their country and their communities, the idea that young people need to go abroad to succeed and to have a skilled work.
As Accountant in this programme, Clarice aims to provide complete financial advisements to the team, while ensuring that the best financial practices are implemented. Being part of this change is the biggest motivation of this new member of our team.
Joanna Mendy, the Social Cohesion Manager, said that “For the long-lasting organization growth, it is very important to foster respect, trust, social interaction, purpose, autonomy, and recognition in workplace”. Our Social Cohesion manager aims to contribute in six aspects: Respect; Trust; Transparency; Social Interaction; Autonomy; and Recognition.
Empower teams and promote respect and dignity among the persons involved to ensure trust and transparency across colleagues (employees and employers) and partners is the pillar of a good work environment. A work environment that encourages autonomy and social interaction among staff and partners is crucial to bring long lasting benefits for the institute (IMVF) and to motivate employees. Those are the main goals of Joanna Mendy.
IMVF Tekki Fii mission in The Gambia is to contribute to socio-economic development and to encourage positive prospects for local populations and returning migrants.
IMVF team is committed to Do better, do sustainably, do together!
- Catherine M. Correa
- Born in 1984, Kafuta, The Gambia
- Diploma in Secretarial Studies, Business Studies and Accounting
- Previous work experiences as administrative and finance assistant for NGOs and Catholic organizations
- ccorrea@gm.imvf.org
As an Administrative and Logistics Officer my expectation are: Revolve around managing and distributing information within an office. This generally includes answering phones, taking memos and maintaining files. Administrative assistants also use to be in charge of sending and receiving correspondence, as well as greeting clients and customers. This might include handling details related to conducting research, keeping project management tracking systems updated and fielding calls and managing correspondence from project team members. Planning and managing logistics, is to organize the storage and distribution of goods. You’ll ensure that the right products are delivered to the right location on time and at a good cost and satisfying customer services. Directing, optimizing and coordinating full order cycle. Liaising and negotiating with suppliers, manufacturers, retailers and consumers. Creating visibility into a company’s supply chain. Getting a full understanding of the project and using “Lessons Learned” for continual improvement.
- ClariceTaylor-Johnson
- Born in 1988, Freetown, Sierra Leoa
- Accountancy
- Previous work experiences as auditor of government institutions, companies, NGOs, projects
- ctaylorjohnson@gm.imvf.org
For a number of years now, majority of the young people have the misconception that if you want to succeed you must travel abroad also that skilled work does not satisfy financial burden, this has caused a lot of young people to leave the country and their communities by any means, and the vast majority are leaving illegally even at the cost of their lives. This Tekki Fii project under the IMVF organization will improve the capacity of these young people so they too can be self-sufficient and be the success story without endangering their lives. I feel honoured to be a part of the IMVF team that will be spearheading that change. As the Accountant I hope to provide sound financial advice to the team, whiles ensuring that best financial practices are followed. I am excited to be a part of this change!
- Joanna Mendy
- Human Resources, Administration, Photography
- Work experience as development worker for national and international NGOs in the Gambia
- jmendy@gm.imvf.org
My expectation as social cohesion manager: Respect: To uphold the mantle of leadership with respect and dignity in the execution of my work and also be accorded that. Every staff’s position should be respected and given his/her due. Trust: Mutual trust across colleagues (employees and employers) and partners. This should be the pillar of the work environment in order to give out our best. Transparency: Everything one does should transcend to all so as for all to be updated with any information. Every staff should be given the benefit of the doubt and not to create any overlapping functions. Social interaction: a work environment that encourages social interaction among staff and partners to bring about long lasting benefits for the institute (IMVF). Autonomy: Freedom given to staff to work on their space and no pressure that distracts them. There should be a consensus and consideration/leverage for staff to work on timelines at their own discretion availing them the freedom to do their most awesome work will create an exceptional success. Recognition: It is important to introduce the culture of recognition in a regular and inseparable element in IMVF as this would play a crucial role to motivate employees to add their values for the growth of the Tekki Fii project. For the long-lasting organization growth, it is very important to foster respect, trust, social interaction, purpose, autonomy, and recognition in workplace.
In August, a driver joined the Tekki Fii team.
- Momodou Lamin M Bojang
- Born in 1993, Dippa kunda, The Gambia
- Driver
Logistical support is central to ensuring the achievement of overall project goals and objectives. As a project Driver, I envisage to contribute effectively and efficiently to the sustainable development of IMVF, particularly the Tekki Fii project.
In September, a Communication and Visibility Assistant join the Tekki Fii team.
- Ebrima Sowe
- Born in 1992, Wellingara, West Coast Region of The Gambia
- Communication and Visibility Assistant
My expectations are to increase the visibility of the organization by creating better content and designed materials. I am also passionate about impacting lives especially youths of The Gambia who are less privileged than I am. I want to tell the story of that youth who is in another part of The Gambia supported by our project who is trying to make it here so another one somewhere will also be inspired.
In December, another driver join the Tekki Fii team.
- Alagie Dem
- Born in 1980, Bakoteh, Kanifing Municipality
- Driver
I am a migrant returnee; it is an honour to work with IMVF as they are in The Gambia to empower the youths of the country. My work as a driver with the organisation I want to help the staff in smooth transportation and logistics of their work to help make Gambian youths realise their potentials and that they can all make it here as the project slogan “Make it in The Gambia”.