Hello world,
This morning I was reborn like Vani, the Pulse blogger. This is officially my first blog, so be gentle.
Why today? It’s a memorable day, exactly 1 month before I leave on my Pulse assignment in Kenya, with Save the Children. I just booked my flight to Nairobi, so officially, Day 1 starts on 2nd July! And it will be a looooong day 1, taking off 06:55, landing 20:40, 13 hours, nice!
What you should know about myself: My name is Vanina, but I rather prefer the short name Vani. I come originally from Bulgaria, a small beautiful country in Southeastern Europe. I have economic background, my professional background is entirely in pharma / healthcare industry. I joined GSK Consumer back in 2009 as a brand manager for Balkans, and moved to Poland as area marketing manager for Central and Eastern Europe in 2013. So for the last 3 and a half years I am a passionate lover and advocate of my new host country! On a personal note, I guess I am just a regular girl: I love to travel; I do a decent amount of sports, running, yoga and biking; I am a passionate photographer; and I have the loveliest dog in the world.
Where & what I will be doing? For the next 6 months, I will be working with Save the Children in Kenya, as a communications specialist, on their Signature program in Bungoma and Busia counties.
The why? Heh, it’s a million question. But to answer in short, I wanted to grab this unique opportunity for adventure, personal and professional change, and hopefully have a bigger impact and help, where help is most needed. The need for purposeful change is a big driver for me, as in my life it’s been the periods of biggest changes that helped me learn, develop, grow, feel alive. And for a good reason, change is well embedded into what GSK Pulse program stands for: “Change communities. Change GSK. Change myself.”
Kukaa pamoja na mimi (which hopefully means “Stay with me” in Swahili, relying on good old Google Translate)
02 June 2016 // Warsaw // Poland
The PULSE Volunteer Partnership is GSK’s skills-based volunteering initiative. Through PULSE, motivated employees are matched to a non-profit organisation for 3 or 6 months full-time, contributing their skills to solve healthcare challenges at home and abroad. When PULSE Volunteers return to GSK, they act as catalysts to change the company for the better.
Best of luck to you Vani in your new adventure! Keeps us posted
Best of luck and great post, I look forward to hearing more about your experience!
Nailed it Vani ! Great blog ! You’ll have to allow an hour for Nairobi traffic as well when you arrive so it will be a long day for you ! Go well.
You found me! I was planning to send it out later tonight 🙂
Maybe 2nd of July will be a long day, but I imagine that it will be one of these days that stay with you for a long time, if not forever. Good luck and be well. I guess we have to start an official office countdown as of Monday.
Hi Vani, Great post, keep us posted on the programme in in Bungoma and Busia counties.
who is teaching you this fine swahili? i love it 🙂 great post
Thank you! 🙂 Google is a good teacher, I guess, I can write it, but for sure I do pronounce it properly 🙂 will start practicing in 1 month. Have a great weekend!
Go, Vani, go! …for adventure with waves of positive impact!
Good luck, Vani! It’s really a lovely blog. Keep me posted on Kenya.
Hi Vani – great first post and hoping to read some more Swahili on the way 🙂
Thanks for sharing your first blog Vani – great to hear your thoughts. And you can learn a lot of Swahili from Nono, even if you aren’t in the same country on your assignment (although you are both working for Save the Children!).
Dear Vani, this will be such a great adventure and I am very confident that both, you and Save the children will benefit greatly from it.
And my offer of two weeks reaction time, still remains valid:-)
Hey Vani!! great post and pic! we’re getting close… I booked my flight too, 19th of July 😀 Looking forward to follow your big journey. All the best for your last “getting ready” days and safe trip. Let’s keep connected.
Best of luck Vani! Powodzenia i добър час!
Mam nadzieje, ze bedziesz miala piekna przygode!
Irmina
Welcome ….We are here at Kenya .Good blog . Best of Luck.
Good luck Vani! Successes in making a change!
Hope all is going well after the first week. Thinking of you…. Andrew