Jessica Bradley

Almost 18 months ago, The University of Melbourne Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team established the Nexus Abroad project. The aim was to act as a conduit of knowledge transfer to enable impoverished communities in diverse regions to achieve sustainable growth. Nectar Home, a struggling orphanage in rural Ghana, agreed to serve as the site for a pilot project and in December last year, SIFE alumnus Daniel Tan and I embarked upon our journey to Africa. It was a journey that would open our eyes to the hardships of life in the Third World, a stark reality wholly divorced from our own.

Prior to the consultation visit, SIFE partnered with Global Aid Partnerships (GAPS), a Melbourne-based aid organisation that leads sustainable growth projects in the developing world. With guidance from GAPS, Dan and I were able to spend four days in Kenya’s Ngong Hills, carrying out research into industry best practice. Meeting with the directors of both successful and struggling orphanages allowed us to better understand the challenges of working within such a culturally diverse environment. The vision, determination and resilience of these inspirational leaders continued to motivate us throughout the trip.

Our time in Ghana was largely spent in the Manya Krobo district where Nectar Home is located. Sadly, this district has Ghana’s highest incidence of HIV/AIDS per capita. When we weren’t imparting fundamental business skills or offering strategic advice, we were assessing the efficiency of daily operations and determining ways in which the orphanage’s bleak financial situation could be improved. We were fortunate enough to spend some time in Accra, Ghana’s capital, where we made contact with some local SIFE students from Central University College with whom we have since established an ongoing partnership.

Despite our hectic schedule, we ensured that the children received a great deal of our attention, especially over the Christmas period. Being victims of not only the HIV/AIDS pandemic, but often also of exploitation, poverty and corruption, it struck me as ironic that these children were some of the happiest and most energetic people I have ever met. This incredible opportunity to initiate positive change in their lives is something that I never imagined as being part of my commerce degree at The University of Melbourne.

It was gratifying to realise that our classroom knowledge could address socio-economic problems in the international community, an important step toward these children enriching their lives and pursuing their dreams.