Harun, Programme Manager in Sudan
Harun Matuma is Kenyan and works for the NGO World Concern as a Programme Manager. He has been based in Sudan since 2006 and his first assignment was to work closely with traumatised former child soldiers and refugees. World Concern is one of five NGO's working as a consortium with the microfinance charity Five Talents in Southern Sudan. Harun has been responsible for pioneering thriving microfinance programs, including savings groups and village banks helping people to save money safely, borrow money to start small businesses and plant crops. This growth in economic stability has enabled people to rebuild their lives and improve peoples' literacy skills including basic business skills. Harun believes that the key to success has been how he treats people. “If you want to succeed in Southern Sudan and motivate people, you have to learn to understand them. These people have never been appreciated because they have been oppressed for a long time. Give them an opportunity to work and tell them, ‘you can make it’ and this will give them hope.”
Harun and Tom Sanderson will be on Premier Radio on Sunday 13th March from 8am - 9am. Tune in on Sunday to hear them discuss microfinance, Sudan and literacy amongst many other topics.