When my family and I arrived in Australia in 2002 we were struck by the warmth of the people of this country and their willingness to help. From strangers in the street taking their time to offer directions to church groups offering start up kits, someone was always there to lend us a helping hand.

Having been self-employed in Kenya before relocating to Australia, it was quite tough getting a business started in our new country. We were involved in IT in Kenya so naturally this was our first attempt at creating a business in Australia. The business was about providing clients with affordable airtime by channeling their voice calls through the internet (more specifically Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP). Before long the big telco companies jumped on the bandwagon and cut the rates to non-viable levels, which unfortunately marked the end of our VoIP debut.

The other business sector we had been involved with in Kenya was construction, so we made this our second attempt. This went on well, but proved very stressful due to the tedious process involved, not to mention the numerous tradies needed to complete the work. Our next attempt was a nursing agency. We recruited care workers for aged care facilities and hospitals. Our carers were predominantly foreign students and recently-arrived immigrants. The chief challenge we faced was that we were getting allocated non-viable hours (an hour travel to do a two hour shift), but we persevered and managed to grow the business despite the logistical problems.

As fate would have it, we realised the main problem that existed was the need for carer training (many had never used vacuum cleaners or operated a microwave) so we embarked on training them. We were then advised we could formalise what we were doing by registering as a training organisation – this is how our current business was born. Job Training Institute is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) which has its head office in Melbourne. It is a medium sized organisation that works with immigrants to give them tangible skills for employment.

There have been so many highlights about our Australian experience – too many to list.

At no time did we doubt our place in Australia in spite of the challenges along the way. One paradigm shift we’ve experienced has been seeing government offices that deliver services completely and comprehensively, in spite of knowing no one. Closely aligned to this is the timelines of service delivery, that is, you get set-time for service delivery. The one big transformation has been that the citizens call the shots and hold leaders to account, and leaders who fail resign from leadership as a matter of routine.

The other one is style of education, which has an emphasis on how to deal with and solve problems. This is in stark contrast to education back in Kenya which emphasises rote learning. Another major shift we experienced is the way people in Australia socialise. In Australia people tend to keep to themselves mostly, while in Kenya social interactions are the order of the day. The other major difference is the notion of a “fair go” in Australia, where irrespective of your colour, ethnicity, origin, as long as you observe the laws of the land you have access to the same opportunities as other Australians – our business is testament to that.

The political and personal legacy of Madiba

The story of President Nelson Mandela will continue to be told to future generations. His legacy has affected me on a personal level because I have implemented these important lessons in my own life. I feel like it’s vital to have a big heart, and to encourage forgiveness and sacrifice for the greater good. When Mandela walked from prison, if he was bitter, vengeful and disgruntled, he would have had every justification to be so – yet he decided to preach reconciliation, forgiveness and brotherhood instead. It takes a special person to work with one’s oppressors, and even a bigger person to justify this to the oppressed South Africans. When I am faced with situations in which people treat me unfairly, betray me or let me down, it all fades away when I think of what Madiba had to endure in and out of prison.

As a lawyer, he chose to work on the behalf of the oppressed, including setting up a military wing to gain the attention of the oppressive regime and the events that led to his incarceration. This was to help his fellow oppressed countrymen, not for personal gain – all at a great risk to his personal safety. When I am faced by situations requiring sacrifice I think of Madiba’s personal sacrifice, and that leaves me with no excuse. As I give my time and resources to the community organisation I have the honour and privilege to head, I do so from the perspective that others have sacrificed way too much for me and for others, and this is my way to pay it forward.

I have learnt to lead by example if you want social change. In a continent where we still have life presidents, Madiba chose to do one term and step down and mentor others. Again, if anyone to deserved to be president for life, Madiba was the one, but again he put the greater good of the nation ahead of his personal needs. With this standard we have seen smooth transitions from one presidency to the other in places like Tanzania and Kenya.

Madiba stands out as a global giant loved by all because he dared to be different in a positive way. My directive for 2014 and beyond is that I will continue to dare for the community I live in, and make lasting positive change – whatever it takes in terms of sacrifice. This is because in the end one’s legacy is forged from the difference one makes in the service of others.

Picture below: Mr Njanja accepting the award for Business Entrepreneurial Excellence at the Victorian African Community Awards (VACA)