Maria Auma: Giving Back, what organizations call Corporate Social Responsibility
Being away on a hiatus has really opened my eyes. Truth is I have been engrossed in multiple project proposals. It has been an amazing experience albeit very trying. I have learned a lot and I don’t think I will be able to compress it all into this single post. I really just wanted to write about something that is close to my heart, “Giving Back” what corporate organizations will call “Corporate Social Responsibility.” I do believe that we all need to find a way to give back to our community, be it in the form of volunteer services or donations (group or individually).
A few weeks ago, a friend and I submitted a proposal to secure funding for a project that would address supply-demand gaps and help keep girls in school. I am glad to say that we won the contract, but I must also stress that since this is not a for profit project, we cannot touch a single penny of the donor’s funds. Every single expense has to be accounted for and should be within the project’s stipulated budget. No worry for that because I feel content volunteering my expertise to this cause. Participating in this project is opening my eyes to the realities of the world around me. I will admit that sometimes I do get caught up in a bubble with my friends, my family, and my work. Me. Me. Me. I forget that other people are working twice as hard to secure a better future for their loved ones. We get so consumed in our daily routine that we forget to be selfless.
I know that I may not be able to change the world all at once, but it is the little things that eventually add up. I think as an Investor it is crucial to remember that we make money and acquire assets so that we can be able to improve the community in which we live, be it global or regional. Who would want to live in a palace if all around them is squalor? For us to achieve our goals we need to ensure that our immediate neighbor is comfortable enough or well facilitated to support our progress in a manner that will allow us all to co-exist. The more privileged of us should therefore (out of good will) give a helping hand to those that need the boost.
In closing remarks, I am proud to be a volunteer and keep one more girl in school. It fills my heart with content to know that these girls can have a shot at a brighter future, that they will go on to accomplish great things within their communities and not have their success put out like a candle in the wind.
Maria Auma is CEO of Blue Luxury Investments, Kampala, Uganda.
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