Just like a year ago, the PROJECT-E Team Europe gathered in mid-January for the first strategy weekend of 2019 in the windy and rough harbour city of Hamburg to evaluate the developments of the last few months and to work out concrete plans for the future together!
In accordance with the PROJECT-E tradition, the first team members met on Friday evening in the restaurant “Abyssinia” and enjoyed the abundant choice of Ethiopian delicacies. In addition, it was taken the opportunity to toast with a glass of wine to the reunion of old friends as well as familiarisation with new team members.
The next morning, the Management Board introduced the strategy weekend’s earning targets: this time, the motto was all about efficiency. At the heart of our attention was the advancement of productivity through clearer task distribution and identification of weak areas and their opportunities for improvement within the departments. After the updates of the Department Heads on the developments of the last few months, the time was used to discuss the areas of responsibilities and problem solving in the individual departments. This was followed by the report of our Country Representative Sena Kinati, who flew in directly from Addis Ababa. In the future, the main focus will be in particular to strengthening the local roots of the Hospitality Institute in Addis Ababa. The final part was dedicated to a workshop under the direction of Stella Sak to gather innovative ideas in order to increase the outreach of our Sponsorship Program. Finally, future strategies for a new Crowdfunding Campaign for PROJECT-E were discussed.
On Saturday evening, interested team members also had the opportunity to learn through an exciting discussions with Lorenza Arnaboldi about a stay in Ethiopia and voluntary work at the PROJECT-E Hospitality Institute. Later there was an emotional farewell to Nadja Frercksen, who has led her last strategy weekend for now, handing over her position on the Management Board to Lorenza Arnaboldi. Thanks to Nadja, but also to Moritz Kolbe and Lorenza Arnaboldi of the Management Board, for the excellent organization and leadership that enabled us to make full use of all opportunities available at the strategy weekend in order to further improve the work of PROJECT-E!
Sunday’s conclusion was designed with a successful little charity event at the community hall, whereby delicious Ethiopian honey, coffee, spices as well cakes were offered on a donation basis and the PROJECT-E projects were presented to interested parties.
The personal meeting of the 2019 Strategy Weekend in Hamburg ultimately enabled us to identify skills gaps, to develop their improvement in exchange with the entire team and to develop better communication within and between the departments. Thus, we will start the new year with even more motivation, new creative ideas and a more interconnected as well as strengthened team.
We look forward to implementing the developed strategies to advance the women’s empowerment in Ethiopia and are ready to face all challenges with new confidence that 2019 will bring!
Written by Mera Dellin
