Telma Neves, Project Assistant

 Highlights:

• Has been with NSJ since 1993
• Finds communication important among cultures
• Intermediates between participants, offices and staff

Although Telma has worked for NSJ for over ten years she still finds her work unpredictable. From assisting the Managing Director, Administrator and Training Manager of the organisation, to waking up at 4 am everyday, hers is an endless task.

Printing a schedule                               Checking mail at 07:50

Work for her consists of everything you think an organisation that brings in fifteen people from different countries needs done; contact participants to see if they are coming, follow up on each day’s agenda at the venue and her head office, look into accommodation and adressing all problems including sourcing soap for Christeter when she noted that her bath wasn’t quite the same without any.

Telma sees it as the contents of a day’s work because a ship that is not well oiled goes no where. Perhaps that is why she is also studying for a degree in Business Administration which she says has improved her delivery immensely.

At 45 years old, she dreams of finishing her degree then own a business upon retirement.

All she asks for in the meantime is for participants to always communicate any problems or queries they might have to her.  People from different cultures must meet in the middle. Her English is not good which manes she makes an effort to speak slowly and be patient and she is adamant that that is the way to go for things to work out.

“Bring your ideas across clearly and completely do not fear the outcome because it is better to hear a compliant face to face than hear anything said on the side”.