Each year, welcoming MBA students from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business has become a meaningful part of Othakarhaka Foundation’s journey.
In March, we hosted two student teams working alongside us in different focus areas. One team supporting our strategic planning and long-term vision, while the other focused on fundraising and strengthening our professional volunteer program.
What continues to make this partnership valuable is the exchange that happens along the way. The students bring their perspectives and technical expertise, while our team and community volunteers provide the lived experience and context that ground every idea. This balance ensures that the conversations remain practical and relevant to the communities we serve.
Beyond the planning sessions, the teams have also spent time engaging directly with our programs on the ground.
During a visit to Pasani Primary School, we planted trees together and spent time with the students, creating space for simple but meaningful interaction. Moments like these allow for connection beyond formal discussions and help build a deeper understanding of the community.
The visit also included a Girls Motivation Talk that brought together over 400 students from Milonga Community Day Secondary School, Chambe Secondary School, and Nkanda Primary School. During the session, the MBA students shared their personal journeys, encouraged the girls to stay committed to their education, and offered perspectives on opportunities beyond what many of them are currently exposed to.
These conversations are an important part of our work, ensuring that girls in our communities continue to see possibilities for their future and are reminded that their goals are valid.
There were also lighter moments that brought everyone together. In a friendly football match, the Othakarhaka girls’ team secured a 3–1 win against the visiting students, a moment that reflected not just skill on the field, but also the confidence and growth we continue to see in the girls.
At the centre of all these activities are our community volunteers, whose dedication continues to guide the work we do. Their presence ensures that every engagement remains rooted in the realities of the community.
The teams stayed for three-weeks, we had such a great time, sharing ideas, learning, and we see so much progress that has come from this time together and we look forward to the continued strengthened of a partnership built on shared purpose and mutual learning.
