Document Actions
Flexibility in Structure
When I started FORGE, I was very skeptical of policies and strict structures. Through time and experience, however, I've learned that policy is important to maintain consistency and to set clear expectations. Through our policies, FORGE now creates structure. Expectations are clear to all staff. But we try to stay open to change and modification. It's not an absolute world we work in and our policies could never be perfect. In this, we strive to remain fluid and flexible at level. We encourage our staff to recognize when our current structures may not fit a particular situation and how they might be modified for improvement.
FORGE Education Fund – University (FEF-U) runs on a tight budget. Each selected scholar is granted tuition as well as a very basic living stipend. From the beginning, FEF-U scholars are required to manage their stipend for food, basic health care, daily transport, extra clothes, etc. It's not a lavish life… just enough to be happy and healthy while studying.
We often receive requests for more support on the financial level from FEF-U Scholars, but it's something we philosophically choose not to do. The program exists to provide opportunities to education, and not to create a luxurious lifestyle. Our budget is spread as thin as it can responsibly be spread. We frequently and heart-breakingly must simply say 'no' when it comes to FEF-U requests.
The other day, however, we just couldn't. Thom, one of the FEF-U scholars, had just taken a very expensive bus trip from Lusaka, the capital city, to Kala Camp. Thom's journey was to accompany his sister back to the camp after a medical trip to the city. Thom's sister was dying of incurable lung cancer and Thom would not let her travel alone. The voyage wiped out Thom's reserve moneys.
Only hours after he returned to Lusaka, Thom got word from Kala that his sister had died. Needless to say, he needed money to get back to Kala for his sister's funeral and her familial arrangements. Ordinarily, this would be against FEF-U policy… we don't supplement the monthly living stipend. However, how can we deny this request? Explaining that we cannot bolster funds for the purchase of clothes is one thing, but looking at a friend and an integral part of FEF-U and telling him that we cannot support his trip to his sister's funeral is unthinkable.
It may seem simple, but I think it's important that fixation on the grease and gears of the organization isn't counterproductive to its fuel. Some of the best advice I've either received or spread has been on remaining firm in our adherence to policy. But some of the most important little decisions I've made have been when policy was re-worked to better serve a critical situation.
FORGE Education Fund – University (FEF-U) runs on a tight budget. Each selected scholar is granted tuition as well as a very basic living stipend. From the beginning, FEF-U scholars are required to manage their stipend for food, basic health care, daily transport, extra clothes, etc. It's not a lavish life… just enough to be happy and healthy while studying.
We often receive requests for more support on the financial level from FEF-U Scholars, but it's something we philosophically choose not to do. The program exists to provide opportunities to education, and not to create a luxurious lifestyle. Our budget is spread as thin as it can responsibly be spread. We frequently and heart-breakingly must simply say 'no' when it comes to FEF-U requests.
The other day, however, we just couldn't. Thom, one of the FEF-U scholars, had just taken a very expensive bus trip from Lusaka, the capital city, to Kala Camp. Thom's journey was to accompany his sister back to the camp after a medical trip to the city. Thom's sister was dying of incurable lung cancer and Thom would not let her travel alone. The voyage wiped out Thom's reserve moneys.
Only hours after he returned to Lusaka, Thom got word from Kala that his sister had died. Needless to say, he needed money to get back to Kala for his sister's funeral and her familial arrangements. Ordinarily, this would be against FEF-U policy… we don't supplement the monthly living stipend. However, how can we deny this request? Explaining that we cannot bolster funds for the purchase of clothes is one thing, but looking at a friend and an integral part of FEF-U and telling him that we cannot support his trip to his sister's funeral is unthinkable.
It may seem simple, but I think it's important that fixation on the grease and gears of the organization isn't counterproductive to its fuel. Some of the best advice I've either received or spread has been on remaining firm in our adherence to policy. But some of the most important little decisions I've made have been when policy was re-worked to better serve a critical situation.
