Support for the Family of Robert Chikombe
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I am incredibly sad to share that yesterday we lost an amazing member of our buildOn family to COVID, Mr. Robert Chikombe, Deputy Country Director for Malawi. Robert was diagnosed with COVID 19 last Wednesday. He was later hospitalized and our team in Malawi worked to ensure he had the care and medications needed. He was showing signs of improvement before his condition rapidly worsened.
If you had the honor and privilege to work with Robert you know he was an extraordinary man...the kind of person you encounter just a few times in your life. Robert was kind, funny, dedicated, and wise. He was a man of integrity and intense dedication. He joined our team in early 2013 to find a struggling Adult Literacy Program. The concept was there but the program lacked a visionary leader who could take the program to the next level...and that he did!
Robert inspired thousands of adult literacy participants to expect more and start community initiatives that would improve the villages, bring resources into the schools, and help people create sustainable incoming-generating projects. He showed people how to have passion for the possible and to squash low expectations. He inspired men and women cared for seedlings to minimize the effects of deforestation in their villages. In other villages, Robert helped adult literacy members harvest honey to sell for profit. He showed them how to use what they had so they didn't have to rely on anyone. He encouraged communities to come together to plant crops for the specific purpose of supporting out of school children. He inspired other villages to grow food for a school feeding program and then connected them with the District Education Manager's office so they could access more resources and expand their work. Robert's success with the Malawi Adult Literacy Program was an example for other countries...he raised the bar and pulled others along with him, demanding them to be better. He did it with passion, grace, and humility.
Over the past eight years, Robert has made it possible for 4,263 adults to learn to read and write and to increase their incomes. Also during his tenure, we built 330 schools in Malawi. He led the Malawi team in enrolling 11,335 out of school. These children will attend school because Robert Chikombe dared them to find the passion for the possible and dedicated himself to making their education a possibility.. He stepped up last year to lead communities to make 4,052 masks to protect them against COVID. There is another photo attached of Robert on his knees helping a woman cut fabric for a mask. This was Robert...in solidarity with the Malawian people. He never directed. Instead he served the community members with humility.
Robert's contributions FAR EXCEED these metrics. As I mentioned, he is the kind of man who inspires you to be better. The kind of man who pulls you up with him. I have been a student of Robert Chikombe and am a better leader and person for it .
Robert has had a very successful career that spans more than 20 years helping people realize their full potential. He was a strong believer in education and always strived to learn more. Robert has two Master's degrees, a bachelor's, and many certificates in topics that made him a better servant leader.
Robert leaves behind a wife and six children. Please join me in supporting them.
If you had the honor and privilege to work with Robert you know he was an extraordinary man...the kind of person you encounter just a few times in your life. Robert was kind, funny, dedicated, and wise. He was a man of integrity and intense dedication. He joined our team in early 2013 to find a struggling Adult Literacy Program. The concept was there but the program lacked a visionary leader who could take the program to the next level...and that he did!
Robert inspired thousands of adult literacy participants to expect more and start community initiatives that would improve the villages, bring resources into the schools, and help people create sustainable incoming-generating projects. He showed people how to have passion for the possible and to squash low expectations. He inspired men and women cared for seedlings to minimize the effects of deforestation in their villages. In other villages, Robert helped adult literacy members harvest honey to sell for profit. He showed them how to use what they had so they didn't have to rely on anyone. He encouraged communities to come together to plant crops for the specific purpose of supporting out of school children. He inspired other villages to grow food for a school feeding program and then connected them with the District Education Manager's office so they could access more resources and expand their work. Robert's success with the Malawi Adult Literacy Program was an example for other countries...he raised the bar and pulled others along with him, demanding them to be better. He did it with passion, grace, and humility.
Over the past eight years, Robert has made it possible for 4,263 adults to learn to read and write and to increase their incomes. Also during his tenure, we built 330 schools in Malawi. He led the Malawi team in enrolling 11,335 out of school. These children will attend school because Robert Chikombe dared them to find the passion for the possible and dedicated himself to making their education a possibility.. He stepped up last year to lead communities to make 4,052 masks to protect them against COVID. There is another photo attached of Robert on his knees helping a woman cut fabric for a mask. This was Robert...in solidarity with the Malawian people. He never directed. Instead he served the community members with humility.
Robert's contributions FAR EXCEED these metrics. As I mentioned, he is the kind of man who inspires you to be better. The kind of man who pulls you up with him. I have been a student of Robert Chikombe and am a better leader and person for it .
Robert has had a very successful career that spans more than 20 years helping people realize their full potential. He was a strong believer in education and always strived to learn more. Robert has two Master's degrees, a bachelor's, and many certificates in topics that made him a better servant leader.
Robert leaves behind a wife and six children. Please join me in supporting them.
Organizer
Rosann Jager
Organizer
Detroit, MI