A SPECIAL FAREWELL

- Jamie Walling -

By Standing Voice

December 17^th, 2019

This Christmas, we’re bidding a sad farewell to our Programmes Manager Jamie Walling.

In the five years he has spent at Standing Voice, Jamie has made an incredible contribution to the work of our charity: overseeing the expansion of our health programmes across Tanzania and Malawi; driving qualitative improvements in all our projects; and helping to build an increasingly diverse network of partners, who share our vision and work with us to realise it. Less tangibly but somehow more palpably, Jamie has also impacted the culture of Standing Voice, his own personality and values fused permanently into the identity of our charity: an extraordinary effect for one person to have, but a testament to the singularity of Jamie.

Jamie has been a pillar of Standing Voice and a shining ambassador for the work we do: an example of what can be achieved when even the most testing challenges are met with exuberance, warmth, humanity and joy. Although it would be impossible to fully encapsulate Jamie’s contribution, we’ve asked his colleagues and collaborators to do their best. Scroll down to read some of their favourite memories and highlights in the time they’ve spent with Jamie.

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Jon Beale, Director of Development (UK)

One of my most impressionable times spent with Jamie was actually the first time we met, for his Standing Voice job interview. Never have I interviewed someone so inquisitive and assertive! He knew exactly what kind of role he wanted and what his expectations were as a potential employee. I think about halfway through I realised our roles had switched, and we were now being interviewed! We were fielding questions left, right and centre: questions that genuinely put us on the spot. After an hour or so it was obvious to me that Jamie was an absolute gem, with energy and attentiveness beyond our expectations. It has been these very qualities, which Jamie maintains without fail, that have driven the ascension of Standing Voice over the past five years. During this time Jamie has become a central member of our family, as he will remain regardless of his departure. After our interview, we continued our discussion over a pint, and so our professional and social journey with Jamie began as it would go on!

Alex Magaga, Operations Manager (Tanzania)

I met Jamie in the summer of 2015 when he first visited Standing Voice in Tanzania, delivering our low vision services in Moshi. I was stunned by his level of energy and concentration: I was extremely tired and wanted a break but Jamie remained alive and alert for the whole day. When we did break for lunch and walked to a local restaurant, Jamie suddenly realised he was walking with a bare left foot. He had been so focused on the day's work that he had walked for 10 minutes without realising he was missing a shoe! When I tell everyone this story, they don't believe me. What is extraordinary about Jamie is his ability to follow up on everything, to remember details you're sure he must have forgotten. He will search every record, communication and document until he finds what he needs. There's only one thing Jamie has never been able to find - the shoe he lost in Moshi! An incredible person with extraordinary strength who I will miss greatly.

Sam Clarke, Communications Manager (UK)

It’s hard to isolate my favourite memory of Jamie. There have been so many! One highlight comes from Summer 2016: I remember arriving at our training centre in Tanzania, where Jamie had been coordinating our local celebrations of International Albinism Awareness Day. I stepped out of the car and was met with scenes of absolute joy: hundreds of locals erupting in song; people with albinism dancing alongside their peers and neighbours in a wonderful demonstration of unity and glee. Wading my way through the crowds, I found Jamie, at the centre of the commotion and clearly having the time of his life! It was the first of many occasions where I would come to understand the brilliance of Jamie: his extraordinary ability to bring joy to his work, to imbue each task with spontaneity and warmth, and lend a human face to the often-abstracted world of development. Jamie’s gift is a rare one: he finds light in the darkest of times, and spreads that philosophy outward, illuminating and animating those lucky enough to call him a colleague and friend. That day in 2016, I watched an entire community come alive because of that quality, and it’s never been the same since!

Bonface Massah, Country Director (Malawi)

Working with Jamie is such a blessing. He has inspired me in so many ways. He's not just a colleague, but a brother to me. Together we have shared our feelings and emotions in supporting persons with albinism.

All the memories we have will always stay fresh in my mind; we are near with these memories and we are together in our hearts. I thank Jamie for his cherished friendship, and wish him God's blessing to achieve his dreams in future.

I will miss him so much.

Harry Freeland, Executive Director (UK)

In 2016 we set Jamie the task of coming up with a fundraising event for Standing Voice. The brief: to engage staff in fundraising and to test us all to our limits as we raised as much money for charity as we could.

Most people would have settled for a marathon, a cycle ride or the Three Peaks Challenge perhaps, but not Jamie.

In September 2016, seven of us set off on a tailor-made adventure to the Scottish Highlands that we’d never forget. Quickly dubbed ‘Highland Heroes’, we canoed 60 miles along the Great Glen, cycled 200 miles across Scotland and summited seven highland mountains all in seven days.

Jamie has a natural ability to bring joy to every task he takes on, and for those challenging seven days in the Highlands he brought us all together. We were blessed with beautiful weather the whole journey and it will always be one of the most memorable things I’ve done.

Jamie: you're an incredible person, you've been instrumental in so much of our work over the last five years and have helped to make Standing Voice what it is today. I am really sad to see you leave us, but I know whatever challenge you take on next, it is sure to be an exciting one. I wish you all the success you deserve in your next adventure. The door at Standing Voice is always open for you.

Chrispine Mabwenga, Library Assistant (Tanzania)

I can remember when I first joined Standing Voice, I interacted the most with Jamie. He spoke with me at length about his vision for the Umoja Training Centre, and I can frankly say he is the reason for so many of the developments we have recently achieved here.

He has not only been my closest mentor at Standing Voice, but has also strengthened my confidence and self-belief. The skills and experience I've gained under his leadership over the last two years would have otherwise taken me a decade to develop! I insist he must return to Ukerewe Island one day, even if it's years from now, to see the fruits of his work and ideas. I'm going to miss him, but I'll never forget how much he has done for all of us here.

Andrew Sharp, Chair of the Skin Cancer Advisory Committee

I have been on three field trips with Jamie and who better to share long hours in vehicles with, try out street food in remote towns, fire up local teams in presentations and get through hot days in busy clinics. His infectious laugh, irrepressible enthusiasm and determined optimism keep the whole team moving and inspired. Jamie, I discovered, is multitalented: a very capable programmes manager with excellent interpersonal, problem-solving and decision-making skills. But these talents may extend even further. Having watched myself and colleagues perform surgery on many occasions, he said to me, ‘I think I could do that.’ Yes, I’ve no doubt he could. Who knows where his skills will take him next.

Rosa Shindler, Challenge Events Fundraising Officer (UK)

Working with Jamie in the London office for the past three years has been an absolute joy and pleasure. I feel extremely privileged to have worked alongside someone so motivated and committed to the work that he does, all the while managing to have a smile on his face and always make me laugh. His infectious energy is going to be terribly missed by us all, but I’m sure the positivity he emanates will follow him to his next adventure. Thanks for teaching me so much. In the words of Jamie himself, he’s a true legend!

Kate Scholler, Health Programmes Coordinator

My favourite memory of working with you is when you once joined us in the Tanzania office for a whole day. That day felt like the old days in London when I benefitted a lot from your direct supervision. I could also see how much the others enjoyed having you around in the office. I remember we had a very productive day solving some tricky data management issues among other things with lots of laughs in between. And maharage na chapati for lunch - your favourite dish you never seem to get tired of! Thanks Jamie for days like this and many others. I truly enjoyed working with you and I will certainly miss you and your funny jokes! I am wishing you only the very best for your next project with your family.

Dr Rebecca Kammer, Vision Programme Director

I met Jamie about five years ago and since then, we have planned and conducted many low vision patient care and training events together. As some of my first ever trips to Tanzania, my visits were always memorable, but also sometimes filled with uncertainty. Jamie is fearless in contrast. I remember bringing my family to help on a trip a couple years ago and we wanted to explore a local market, but felt overwhelmed by the experience. But Jamie moves with a sense of boldness and confidence. That is something I admire in him. He looked at me and laughed his big, piecing laugh, asking “what’s the big deal, it’s just a market?!” I can still hear him now! He lights up an entire room with that smile. Jamie, I will miss you.

Dr Mark Wheeler and Carol O'Dea (Malawi)

We have enjoyed a close working relationship with Jamie since Standing Voice first extended their skin cancer prevention programme to Malawi in 2016. He has always impressed us with his handling of the many challenges we faced adapting the Tanzanian model to the Malawian situation. He always remained calm and patient, but was also wise and thoughtful and decisive when required. Whatever “expeeeriences” the day held, in the words of Dr Materu, we knew we could look forward to a laugh and a chat over a cup of ginger tea when it was all over. We will miss him as a colleague but also as the friend he has become to us both. We wish him and his family the best in their new life.

Mary Shayo, Finance Officer (Tanzania)

Jamie has always taken the time to help me understand difficult topics and problems. When I first joined Standing Voice, it was Jamie who contacted me from London to guide me through our data management and financial coding systems.

We met in person in 2017, at a Standing Voice vision clinic in Dar es Salaam. I was amazed at how tall he is. Over time I also came to discover how much he loves Jacqueline's chapatis!

I wish him all the very best.

Nofal Ali Pasha, Bookkeeper (UK)

One memorable thing about Jamie is related to when I first started at Standing Voice. In my first week, the person I interacted most with was Jamie. Although he was very busy with his own tasks, he made efforts to stay available for any kind of help I needed.