Empathy pays off when building global relationships
Over the years, illuminAid has served the global development field, encountering people with diverse backgrounds and skills from many corners of the world. As a result, we have fostered numerous incredible friendships along the way. We’re confident these connections will be as enduring as technology’s capacity to uplift underserved communities worldwide. This sentiment rings particularly true regarding a cherished friend of ours in Malawi.
In 2018, illuminAid met Golden Mhura, a talented videographer whom we hired as a Local Video Trainer for our workshop with CARE International in the country. The project was a resounding success, with Golden’s guidance playing a significant role in the training’s execution. We consider the training to be one of our most successful projects to date.
“It was wonderful to be part of the training, along with other Local Video Trainers,” Golden says, speaking about the training. “Together, we had a chance to teach a group of participants how they could use video in terms of their communications strategies.”
Since then, illuminAid has been fortunate to continue working with Golden in various capacities. He now serves as our Africa Regional Representative, conducting introductory meetings with potential NGO partners and helping us expand our network within Malawi. He'll be the first person we contact to serve as a Local Video Trainer for our next project in the country.
Moreover, illuminAid's relationship with Golden has allowed us to demonstrate our commitment to our global friends. Last year, he admitted that he could use a small loan to buy a new computer. While we care deeply about Golden, this was no small request for our modest non-profit organization. Nevertheless, our values of empathy and global friendship prevailed, and we decided to provide the loan to Golden.
"I really appreciate that helping hand," Golden exclaims. "Here in Africa, we mostly have electricity problems, like here, specifically in Malawi. The laptop I was using before ... didn't have a good battery, and I couldn't find a replacement for that ... locally; it's very expensive."
illuminAid agreed to help because we want to invest in our partners and the next generation of changemakers worldwide. We strive to treat people with kindness and respect, whether they are potential NGO partners, funders, or individuals throughout developing regions. We eagerly anticipate working with Golden for years to come.
“Thanks to illuminAid, I had that support, (and) I was able to order one from Amazon with the exact specifications I wanted for video editing,” Golden mentioned. “Now I’m able to do video editing like never before.”