About Hatua
Industry: Non-profit
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Company size: < 50 employees
What they do: Work to ends generational poverty by preparing promising youth from low-income families to thrive in Kenya's modern economy
Website: hatuanetwork.org
Q&A with Vivian Osano, Data and Learning Coordinator
Q: How did you come to work with the Community Impact Initiative?
A: I work for Hatua Network, a nonprofit that provides high school, college, and university scholarships to top-performing students from families that can't afford the cost of education in Kenya. We're a small organization, and we needed to overhaul our database management system. This system enhances our efficiency by improving student tracking and digitizing our scholarship process, which is crucial for donor reporting and securing additional funding. We saw an opportunity to access top talent with strong analytical skills and expertise in database management systems through the Community Impact Initiative. Their work has greatly advanced our mission to end generational poverty through education.
Q: How does D'Amore-McKim's Community Impact initiative differ from other internships?
A: D'Amore-McKim's approach to student support stands out in multiple ways. Each student worker has a dedicated career advisor who ensures smooth coordination and clear communication throughout the internship. A thorough planning phase before the project launches sets clear expectations and goals, ensuring a good fit between our organization and the student workers. I'd never experienced the support of a career advisor with an internship before. Ultimately, this advanced coordination helped make the initiative a success for all of us.
Our organization benefits from having a team of students who bring a diverse skill set tailored to the project's needs. Rather than having one intern working full-time, I was able to assemble a team that collectively works to equal a full-time intern. The students display a “can-do” attitude, always ready to tackle new challenges. Midway through our project, I had another analytics challenge come up that was outside the scope of our work. When the students learned of it, they were eager to pitch in and use their skills in another way. It was fantastic, and they added additional value.
Q: What kinds of projects did you assign to your student team?
A: I'm the only person on my team at Hatua, and having the student workers pitch in has made my reach greater. The students were instrumental in helping us develop a database management system. They drafted a comprehensive Terms of Reference (TOR) that defined all aspects of the project, including the scope and evaluation, responsibilities, and resources available, which we used to solicit proposals from consulting firms. As a part of the request for proposals, they prepared data templates and finalized the Scope of Work. This assistance was invaluable and greatly enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of the project.
Next, the student team researched and compiled a list of nearly 40 consulting firms specializing in this type of work for the nonprofit sector. They organized and actively participated in the proposal meetings with these firms and managed all communications to clarify expectations and requirements, which significantly reduced my workload and saved valuable time.
Q: Have your student workers aided in your success?
A: Definitely. The team of student workers had just the right expertise and technical skills for our project. The student's expertise in database management systems was crucial in helping us identify the right consulting firm for our project, improving efficiency and effectiveness. Their exemplary dedication, delivering high-quality work ahead of deadlines, has bolstered our productivity and project timelines. Additionally, their open-mindedness has fostered a collaborative environment where innovative ideas flourish, enriching our project with diverse viewpoints and approaches.
Q: How has the D'Amore-McKim Graduate Career Center supported your organization?
A: The career advisors have been actively involved by helping us set up meetings and coordinating with the students. They also facilitate mid-project check-ins between me and the students. Their input during these calls has been valuable, as their suggestions often lead to useful reflections and improvements for our project.
Q: Do you plan to host another Community Impact Initiative?
A: Whenever we have projects that require additional support, I'll definitely choose D'Amore-McKim graduate students because their experience and dedication were instrumental in the success of our current initiatives.
