A Spark Investor Returns to Africa...Again
Nancy O’Leary sits on the Spark Ventures Board of Directors, and since she first got involved with Spark Ventures in 2007, she has been one of Spark’s strongest ambassadors. She traveled to Zambia with Spark in 2008 and 2009 and is joining Spark for a third Transformation Trip in June. She took a moment to speak with us about her experience with Spark Ventures, Hope Ministries and, of course, the children.
Spark Ventures: Nowadays there are so many organizations out there that you can support. Why have you chosen over the last three years to invest so much into Spark Ventures?
Nancy O’Leary: Spark’s vision, its mission and its partnership strategy were not things that I had seen in other organizations, and I could relate to those. I understood and believed in the strategy as a businessperson. When I came back from my first trip, I was convinced that Spark was on the right track. Spark’s founders have continued to stick to their vision and model, and I have been lucky enough to see that develop over the last three years.
SV: What made you want to go on that first trip?
NO: Well, this was the first time I really started to step out and try something completely different, something outside my comfort zone. I was so amazed by Dan, Scott and Rich [Spark Ventures’ three co-founders], and I was so impressed that they had done so much in such a short period of time. I wanted to be a part of it.
SV: And why have you decided to return for a third trip to Zambia?
NO: The kids! It’s the kids first of all, but it’s also more than just the kids. It’s also the staff and Hope Ministries in general. Frankly, I love seeing the progress that is being made, and I hope that I can continue to contribute to that progress.
SV: Now that you’re about to embark on your third trip, what are some of the changes that you’ve seen in Hope Ministries and the children they serve since that first trip?
NO: You know, there are several things that have changed, and I’ve found that some of the changes that seem small and inconsequential are actually signs of important and powerful changes. For example, on my first trip I noticed that only about a quarter of the children at the school were wearing uniforms. By my second trip, it had already increased to about two-thirds or three-quarters. This seems inconsequential, but I’d learned that in Zambia and in much of Africa generally, school uniforms are a sign of commitment on the part of the students and families. Seeing more children in these uniforms was a sign that the children wanted to be in school and respected it as an institution of learning. I found that to be a really tremendous thing.
To find out how you can help give more students the dignity that uniforms often lend, click here.
SV: After two trips, and with at third one around the corner, what have you found to be your favorite part of Transformation Trips?
NO: I don’t know. I have so many! You know, really, my favorite thing is just spending time with all the great kids.
SV: What is the most powerful memory you have from your trips?
NO: I actually have two. My favorite memory is of meeting my sponsored child, Judith. I had brought a book that was actually an African version of the Good Samaritan story that actually had some words in Bemba [the local language in Ndola] interspersed. I brought the book for her, and as we read it together and when she saw the first Bemba word, she had a huge smile, and that smile was just so inspiring.
Another powerful memory was when I was in the Ndola airport on my second trip, waiting for the luggage to come. Charles [the Executive Director of Hope Ministries] came striding up with the biggest smile on his face and the warmest welcome. He gave me such a genuine and heartfelt hug that I knew that being there was the right thing.
