Advisory Board members Willie Watt and Calum Paterson visit Kenya

A few months ago an Advisory Board was set up for the Foundation existing of a few high profile and very experienced Scottish business people. For more information on each of the board members and their respective companies please visit the partner page on our website.

In November Willie Watt and Calum Paterson visited the Sumerian Foundation programmes in and around Nairobi. With their extensive business expertise they came back not only with huge admiration for the work of the Foundation going on in Kenya but also with some fantastic advice on how to simplify and enhance our social enterprise model.

Following the philosophy of the Foundation each of the board members and the enthusiastic volunteers in each of their companies are getting very hands on involved in the Foundation programmes. There is an incredible buzz and synergy that is achieved through working in partnership with people based in Kenya and over here, all coming from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. That positive energy keeps overwhelming me and I believe is what is truly going to make a long lasting difference.

This particular example of business people providing support to creating economic opportunities to me is a great example of what we can do to provide just that bit of help that is often needed. As most people that have been involved with people in Kenya would say all the talent and drive and enthusiasm is already there in masses. How rewarding to work in partnership in providing a bit of expertise on business models and access to investment to make just that bit of a difference that can give many young bright driven disadvantaged people the opportunity they need.