Strengthening Our Hive
Ruben Centre held its monthly staff meeting on 24th June 2025. The meeting began with a reflection from the Director, Br. Frank O’Shea, who shared thoughts on the theme “Moving On and Beyond 25.” He posed deep and reflective questions to the staff, such as whether Kenya is thriving, whether our organization reflects the dysfunctions in the country, and whether we are truly different or just the same. He challenged us to reflect on whether we aspire to be different. To support this, he played a video titled The Story of the Honey Bees, which illustrated the power of teamwork and community. Staff members shared key lessons from the video, including synergy and collaboration, effective communication, collective action, teamwork, empathy, connectivity, dedication, and innovation. The story showed how bees work in harmony, each with a role, contributing to the collective success — a lesson that applies strongly to our organization. Br. Frank emphasized the need to build a respectful culture, avoid polarization, view issues from multiple perspectives, and train managers in conflict resolution. He reminded us of the importance of balancing individual rights with organizational needs and fostering openness to new ideas. He concluded the reflection with a word of prayer.
The Human Resource Manager then gave several updates. Adjustments have been made to the leave policy, and Ruben Primary has officially transitioned into a comprehensive school. The new payroll system is in place, and payslips will now be shared through staff emails. Additionally, updates to Ruben Centre’s internal policies will be shared.
The Day of the African Child committee informed staff that the theme had been revised to “25 Years of Transforming the African Child.” They shared updates on the planned program, including morning and afternoon sessions, and assured the team that preparations are progressing well.
The Communications Officer gave a briefing on the expected visitors arriving on Monday and Tuesday, including the program of the day. He also shared his personal experience during his recent trip to Australia, where he was honoured to speak at the Edmund Rice 500 Luncheon. He expressed nostalgia and pride in representing Ruben Centre and encouraged all project leaders to be proud of the Centre’s growing name and recognition in Australia.
The Programs Manager thanked staff for their continued effort, especially in the successful progress of SmartyGrants reporting. The Finance Team confirmed that the 2024 audit has been finalized and that any issues raised have been resolved.
The Health Department shared their ongoing collaboration with AMREF International and progress in implementing planned activities. The Urban Farming Officer reported a successful harvest of capsicums and shared insights gained from her training in South Sudan. In the Special Needs Unit, repairs are ongoing in readiness for the upcoming visitors. The Education Department reported that midterm exams have been completed and learners are currently on break, expected to resume on Monday.
The Advocacy and Networking team reported on the closure of the government financial year on 30th June. They introduced a new financial sustainability initiative titled “Jenga Biz na Ruben FM,” encouraging local businesses, churches, and schools to advertise through Ruben FM. The Social Work team shared that their activities are running as usual, and they have visited eight companies in their effort to source quality flooring for ECDE classrooms.
Finally, the Human Development and Skills Training Program team reported that they are implementing planned activities and are currently enrolling students for the second cohort of the Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy class set to begin in July.
The meeting ended with a sense of unity, purpose, and renewed commitment to continue transforming lives in the Mukuru community.
By Benson Kagwima