Make a difference and a living Introducing Sarah Mendell, Fund Developer, The Jo’burg Child Welfare Society.
Management Today magazine’s Alan de Sousa Caires met up with Jo’burg Child Welfare Fund Developer Sarah Mendell at the recent Future-Ed Expo. Over a cup of coffee we had a chat about Sarah’s role at the not-for-profit organisation, her passion for children and about building a career in the Not-For-Profit sector.
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Manhattan, New York State, and was educated at The Brearley School, and then studied English and Film at Bryn Mawr College and The University of Pennsylvania.
years after graduating from university. I loved the hustle and bustle of the business but it wasn’t a perfect fit for me. I didn’t feel like I was making any kind of impact.” Since ending up in South Africa Sarah says that most of her friends here actually work in the Not-For-Profit sector. “I had been here for about a month, and I was still looking for work. One day I picked up a brochure for the Jo’burg Child Welfare in a shopping mall. I gave them a call and they had a volunteer position for me at The Princess Alice Adoption Home close to where I was staying.
“I worked in the film industry for a couple of
arah is one of an estimated 100 000 US citizens living in South Africa, having moved to Johannesburg in 2008. Sarah was born in
couldn’t get rid of me at the end of each day! I enjoyed it so much that I would stay late after hours. Of course I was thrilled when eventually a job opened up there for me. I worked there for 18 months but then I wanted to do more. I had already started helping to plan fundraising events at the Home, and doing some PR work, so I was fortunate that there was a fundraising role for me at the Head Office in Fox Street.
I loved the Home dearly, it will always have a special place in my heart. Working with the individuals there and learning what was going on, being able to grab a few minutes with the babies in my breaks. It is a very special feeling being so connected to them. I now realise that the experience helps me when I am talking to donors because I know the kids, their names, and their stories. It was great to start at one of the Homes and to be able to gain a better understanding of their situations.”
Corporate World. “I don’t think it’s necessarily easier to get a job in the Not-For-Profit sector, most people are very busy and they wear a lot of hats. We are busy simply because we cannot afford to have 10 people to do 10 jobs; so you have just one person that does 10 jobs. So there is pressure as there would be in the Corporate World, it’s not too different in that respect. It is
“I think the CBD is a great place to work, it’s such a beautiful place, there are so many interesting buildings. I enjoy the chance to get out of my car and walk around. That reminds me of Manhattan”
94 Management Today | August 2011 Sarah says that she is happy not to be in the The home has 30 babies, and in fact they
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