Are you bored with your Board of Trustees?
Educo Africa certainly IS NOT!
Educo Africa staff and its Board of Trustees took some time out to go on a Board Development Weekend at the Groot Winterhoek Outdoor Learning Centre (GWOLC). It was a weekend crammed with fun and getting to know each other better; and it gave the Board an opportunity to dedicate quality time to Educo Africa business. It worked so well that it was decided that this special time away together as Educo Africa Family should be held annually!
Photo: Some Staff and Board members coming in from the icy-cold, wet basecamp orientation on arrival at GWOLC. Don't shiver, dinner was about to be served with some hot coffee and tea!
The response from the Board was that being together and engaging with the Staff was very valuable. In getting to know more about each other, we had a session where we talked about what Educo Africa has done for us, or means to us, or how it affects us:
"I've always dreamt of sharing a part of my story with the Board. Picture a seed planted into the ground and weeding it, and watering it - I am that seed. And strangers (people not connected to me by family, by blood) did this for me through Educo Africa. I blossomed out of that seed. Now, I am the one doing the planting of new seeds, weeding and watering. I touch people because I have been touched." - Sphesh Chirwa (Staff Member)
Photo: In-between showers from heaven, Board and Staff set out on a short hike into the wilderness ...
"Educo Africa creates the space for you to bring what you are ready to bring, or choose to bring, at that point in time." - Sorayah Martin (Board Member)
"What I love most about Educo Africa is the people. Educo Africa is a family. The staff give everything they have - they have incredible emotional stamina. Educo Africa allows a space for you to be creative and involved." - Trevor Johnston (Chief Executive Officer)
"Educo Africa has given me the richest and most ruthless 14 years of my life. I would say this is my life work. Crystal clear moments that are extraordinarily precious. Educo Africa has given me a playing field to prove that anything is possible... We can play with accepted theories, turn them upside down and say "Look! We can do it!"" - Marian Goodman (Founding Director)
"When I see Educo Africa, I see people working with a passion!" - Bruce Fraser (Friend of Educo Africa)
"Educo Africa has the right Human Spirit. The people are not here to work, it's who they are - the life that they live. I have never experienced such passion and mature responses before, especially from young instructors." - Marlene Whitehead (Staff Member)
"Educo Africa is an interesting place. "Organizations don't work" - and Educo Africa is one of the few where people are happy to be where they are. It has a secret. I want to find out what it is." - Rory Wilson (Board Member)
PHOTO: Sharing dinner around a table with each other was really special. Besides food, we also shared stories, laughter and tears, and hopes and dreams!
The response to what Educo Africa has meant to everyone around the table was unique to each person. However, EVERY single one was a story of gratitude for being impacted in a positive way.
So, it is not just our participants on our programmes that benefit from being part of Educo Africa, but also our Staff and Board Members!
The Educo Africa Team
For one crazy morning, we had our old and new vehicles in our yard before having to say goodbye to our old faithful vans. The feelings of excitement of the new (bigger and better) vehicles arriving and the sadness in saying farewell to our old ones was mixed. Each of our vans had particular memories attached to them. They had all been part of our adventures, our journeys, our team! The image of one of our past staff members, Thomas, standing on top of a mountain peak, silhouetted by the setting Sun (with our Eagle and Africa logo) had become a familiar sight on our roads. Some of us took the time to say goodbye and wish them well with their new owners.Here are some photos that show our old vans in action...
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