A Different kind of Marketing Plan

Well its been just two weeks since I've been back in Burkina and thankfully the transition hasn't been too difficult. Ok, I'll admit it - this past weekend I stayed in my house for the most part but the hot sweltering sun is as much to blame as is my uneasiness about returning. I went from 5 degrees to 100 degrees in the matter of one long plane ride. Whew, and its only February. Every time I say, “its hot” someone is quick to shoot back, “huh, just wait until April. This is nothing.” Great.

I figured the best way to get back in the swing of things would be to jump into work with both feet so that's exactly what I did. Over the past two months, I've been working on creating a punch list of projects that I'd like to tackle during my time here. Following one of the first rules in brainstorming, no idea is a bad idea, I jotted everything down that came to mind. That may well be but there is a handy phrase that is in reference to biting off more than one can chew. With my notebook in tow, I went to visit my friend who is in charge of the hospital here and all things health-related, to run the list by him to get his reaction. Two hours later, we had worked through each of the 30 items on my list and I had a better understanding of which things were actually feasible and those that were not. My consulting friends will be happy to hear that I put my consulting skills to use as I performed a needs assessment there on the spot to help prioritize which things should be bumped to the top of the list. No pretty powerpoints with graphs and charts but the outcome was the same. Prior to the meeting, I began working on a few mktg plans to figure out the best way to organize my activities and to plan out the remainder of the year (and beyond). [Heidi, unfortunately I haven't been able to find a dry-erase board for my calendar although you'll be happy to hear that my “to do” list check box system is firmly intact. : ) ] Once I put the finishing touches on my plan, the real work begins as I start the daunting task of consensus building and getting people excited about all the possibilities. It's good to dream big, right? If I have my way, I'll be working with a wide variety of groups and individuals to get these programs started. The goal is sustainability so it's important to win over the locals and involve them in the process as soon as possible. I think it's important that the projects touch a broad spectrum of people so there's everything on the list from starting a savings club for expectant mothers, to hosting a quarterly small business seminar to building public latrines. In addition to these projects, I'm also committed to the work that I'm doing with the women's artisans group which I expect to take a fair amount of time. The good news is that the PC is not a 9-5 job, rather its a 24/7 type of arrangement so there's a lot of flexibility to try and squeeze it all in.

While it's taken me some time to get here, I finally feel like I can make a difference and that my work does matter. I actually feel true contentment and am encouraged by the possibilities. I like it here. It's taken me over four months to get to this point but I'm thankful for all of the learnings that have led up to this point. Thank you, my fellow tax payers for allowing me this unique and challenging experience.