Meet Beatrice, administrative assistant at our East Africa regional office

This week, we introduce you to Beatrice, administrative assistant at our East Africa regional office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Beatrice’s father worked for the Kenyan government, meaning Beatrice grew up in many different cities and countries. She has lived in Siaya County in southwest Kenya, Kisumu, a port city in western Kenya, and Nairobi, the country’s capital, as well as Germany and the United Kingdom.

Beatrice joined North Star as an administrative assistant at our regional office in Nairobi in September 2011. A typical day for her consists of checking and responding to emails, answering calls, planning meetings and events, and other facilitation and administrative tasks. Her days usually start quietly, but quickly build into a bustling range of activities and challenges that she says are “always providing [her] with opportunities to learn something new.”

When the going gets tough, Beatrice reminds herself that although she seldom gets the opportunity to meet our clients, her contributions, no matter how small, have achieved something that helps ensure key populations get the healthcare they need and deserve.

“The daily work demands in relation to the hours available can at times be rather overwhelming,” confesses Beatrice, so in her downtime she likes drawing and sketching, reading German magazines (as she has taught herself German) and listening to music.

Beatrice notes that she wishes “there was a wider knowledge of the services provided at our Roadside Wellness Centres and how easily accessible they are.”

Which of North Star’s DNA values (People, Integrity, Quality, Entrepreneurial Spirit) do you most identify with, and why?

People Matter: “At North Star, I have learnt to embrace the uniqueness and cultural differences of both the North Star family and the people we serve. Whether we speak the same language or not, people do matter and without them, I believe there would be very little to boast about as an organisation.”