There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about. – Margaret J. Wheatle In the last 12 months, NCBA BANK Rwanda has launched four communities namely the Women’s and Men’s communities (WINR), and (MENTORS), respectively as well as a Book Club which provides opportunities for all staff to engage with literature and discuss issues pertinent to their lives and a Savings Group. All communities launched at the bank function like other departments with approved strategic plans, budgets and leadership. Taking a lead in the communities contributes to individual performance. Ms. Deborah Gasatura stated, the banks Senior HR officer, “It is important for us at NCBA to be part of a community, with advantages which include connecting for opportunities, support, inspiration and motivation. Being part of a community does not only provide the sense of belonging, but also is a source of great empowerment”. In April, 2021, NCBA bank Rwanda launched an internal Book Club led by Ms. Jesca Mukabarisa, a Relationship Officer, to encourage communal readership and improve the level of reading literacy for all. Eight books have been read so far by about 40% of staff and these include, “The Alchemist’ by Paulo Coelho, “Who Will Cry When You Die” by Robin Sharma, Good to Great, ‘Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t’ by Jim Collins among others. In August, 2021, The Women’s community (WINR – Women in NCBA Rwanda) Chaired by Ms. Catherine Ngali, the banks Channel Manager, whose main goal is to serve as a platform to inspire, share professional knowledge, promote teamwork, encourage networking across genders, promote and empower women leaders launched. WINR connected with women from MTN – WENET who challenged NCBA Women to tell their stories for growth and inspiration. WINR hit another milestone by launching the first NCBA Rwanda mother’s room on the 10thNovember 2022, which will serve as a lactation room and expectant mothers resting room. In October 2021 the Men of NCBA Bank Rwanda followed suit and launched their community – The MEN-TORS (Men who are Trusted, Open, Responsive, and Smart). MEN-TORS vision is to demystify the confusion between career and purpose, create real friendships, hold each other accountable but most importantly support the He For She global agenda in the work place. Following the theme of international Men’s day celebrated on November 11th, MEN-TORScelebrated the day by raising awareness through a webinar on ways men can have better relations with women both in the workplace and at home. Invited guest speaker Rutayisire Fidele, a gender specialist and founder of RWAMREC, shared some ways men can be good allies in promoting better relations between men and women. These included and encouragement to Men to reflect on their own power and privilege as men, credit their female co - workers’ ideas fairly, advocate for gender-equitable policies in the workplace, among others. In May 2021, the Savings scheme Group was launched. The group chaired by Paulin Kadahizi has also reached significant milestone raising almost RWF 30m, and investing in Government securities. At NCBA Bank Rwanda, it is important that all staff find a sense of purpose beyond their usual career obligations through leading, participating and being part of one or more communities. The Banks CEO Lina Higiro stated that “With these communities in place, we are poised to lead and deliver more efficiently”, supporting a popular African proverb which states that, “If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far go together”.
