SHE walks into the room wearing a charming smile, bearing a warm spirit and instantly captures the attention of anyone in her presence.
Humble 26-year-old Irene Okoye has for the past three years been the Income Generation Coordinator for the Zululand Hospice Association, but is due to say her goodbyes next week to take on a new challenge at the Crossroads Teen Centre.
‘It has been a challenging but great experience. I remember when I first started I was told that the last time there had been someone in my position was two years prior, so I came in to quite a cold seat and no one could really tell me what was expected of me,’ she said.
Responsible for fund-raising, marketing, branding, donor relations and community liaison, Irene said her former manager Lynn Rubly had been an incredible mentor.
‘She was an absolute star and that is what built my character and work ethic,’
‘There have been many highlights during my stay with Hospice, but it hasn’t been so much the big donations of money and such things that made my day. Instead it was more the gratitude of those people whose lives we touched that made the biggest impression on me.
‘As much as I will miss the Hospice family and the bunch of crazy and amazing woman, it is time to move on to a new challenge,’ said Okoye.
Taking up a post at Non-Profit Organisation Crossroads Teen Centre as Operations Manager, Okoye will still deal with public relations and fund-raising elements, as well as youth development.
‘Working with the youth is something I enjoy and love, and what makes it extra special is that it is a Christian-based environment, a perfect opportunity to mould the youth,’ she said.
Overview
Born and raised in Kenya Irene moved to South Africa in 2008 when her father took up a post at the University.
The youngest child of five siblings, Irene is a Public Relations graduate and shortly after completed an internship at Grantham Park Primary school prior to her works at Hospice.
Currently studying toward her second degree majoring in Marketing, Irene makes sure to find time for a good blog session.
‘I run my own blog about life and my experiences. I love reading and writing,’ she said.
A tasty traditional Kenyan meal of Capati and Curry and movie night with her girlfriends can be marked off as an evening well spent for Irene.
Secretly a shopaholic, she says her dream destination would be Italy.
‘Ooh shopping! Shopping in Italy has to be any girl’s dream,’ she chuckled.
