Farewell and a new beginning

Sibylle: There are so many great memories of strong teams and the great joy of being part of such an effective organization. I'm deliberately not saying this in the past tense, because I will remain connected to ena, for example as a mentor and through friendships. I was able to follow an exciting learning path from intern to division manager. The rebranding process was a highlight of this and such a highlight is a good moment to move on.

Christa: My takeaway is that the best approach is to work with local partners. I am proud of these people who are committed and I have great respect for them. It is an honor for me to have met some of them. Looking back, I can say that I have invested 25 years in a wonderful job and thank God that I had such a good employer. When I spoke about our work and gave presentations, I was always able to do so with complete conviction.

Christa: I was able to share these experiences on the adventure trips. We sat in the homes of the local project participants, ate together what they had cooked on the fire and listened to their life stories. It was enormously exciting to see what this does to people from my culture.

Sibylle: I experienced this in Peru a few years ago. I was able to get to know the people I was reporting on personally. That awakened my awe at their courageous approach to the challenges of everyday life. The team retreats where we worked together on ideas for the future were also special moments.

And a very special moment last year was when the Board of Directors decided on the new design. I experienced it as very emotional, because what we had been working towards for months became a reality.

You could actually add another 6 months to that number. Like Sibylle, I was already an intern at TearFund before my communications studies. I was impressed by ena's flexibility and courage right from the start and the team's great commitment. You can really feel it in the day-to-day work. One of the highlights was the big rebranding event last year, also because local partners from Peru were able to attend. Their visit brought me even closer to the project work.

In the first few years, there will be a strong focus on consolidating our new image. Externally, this is the exciting and challenging task of marketing. I am currently attending a CAS on decision-making psychology and hope to incorporate the findings from this into my new role as divisional head. Not as a focus, but much more as a supporting tool.

Sibylle: It's a special time. We've known for a few months that Tamara is taking over as Head of Marketing. We have already been able to plan the goals and measures for the current year together. On the one hand, I'm still fully involved in the day-to-day business, but I'm gradually handing over responsibility because Tamara then has to stand behind the decisions.

Tamara: It's also been a balancing act over the last few weeks. Where does Sibylle still have to go? Where am I allowed to? But I find the handover very pleasant overall, also because we were able to spread it out over nine months.

Sibylle: We will complete the final handover in June. Tamara will then have full management responsibility and I will still be there as a coach and supporter. I will still be finalizing a few things - emotionally as well.

Tamara: I am very grateful for this first month in divisional management with Sibylle as my "in-house coach". I assume that one or two questions and uncertainties will still arise. You can't pack 20 years of experience into just nine months 😊.

Christa: For me, it's a kind of closure. I was able to travel to Malawi again in February. That was an important step in the process. But I will certainly stay in touch with Africa and the people there who have become my friends. I'm closing down my job, but my main concern will remain working with a wide variety of people. It will continue, but in a different way.

I can't quite realize what it will be like yet. But, as I've already said, I'm especially grateful that I've been able to invest my life so well.

Christa: The next trip to Africa for this year has already been booked.

Sibylle: I will be taking some time off. In the fall, I'm starting further training in the environmental sector.

Tamara: And I take Sibylle's place in the marketing office. First of all, literally: I move my office documents from the public relations office to the marketing office.

Sibylle: hopeful & realistic expresses that in the crazy reality of this world we have a hope that goes beyond it.

Tamara: free & connecting. As ena, we want to communicate at eye level and thus establish a connection - with our local partners, but also with the donors in Switzerland. I want to remain true to this equality not only at ena, but also in my private life.

Christa: Also free & connecting. After I retire, I will be FREIIII ! At the same time, I will remain connected to the world and I will continue to be involved in connecting.