Interview with MARIA CONCEICAO

1. What was the motive behind your concept?

I wasn’t looking for a cause to support or to start a charity but my first visit to the slums of Dhaka, Bangladesh when I was working for Emirates Airlines really hit me hard. The people in the slums had absolutely nothing; the children didn’t even have clothes. They were so desperate yet I could sense that they were bright people with a lot of potential. When I saw their desperate living conditions in the slums, it made me realize how fortunate I was to receive help from my adoptive mother Maria Cristina Matos, and I understand how a guiding hand in the right direction can make so much difference in a person’s life. I saw great potential in them, if only they had opportunities, so I decided that I have to do something. In the beginning, the help I gave them was on a small scale but it grew and grew until the Maria Cristina Foundation was established.

2. Who are the people you would be targeting?

The main aim of the foundation is to empower the slum children by providing them with a good education that will give them a chance in life, such as compete internationally for universities or careers, and then support their families and lift them as well as future generations out of the poverty trap. Our aims are long term but the good we are trying to do will not benefit only a single soul, or be limited to the children we are sending to school. Rather, the benefit we are all working for is social change, with the whole community enjoying the fruits in the end. It’s also a long term solution that we are carrying out; not just one-time relief but a sustainable one. We also have adult education/employment programs where we train slum dwellers in English and other basic skills to become good employees. We then find suitable placements for them with reputable companies in the Gulf. We have some great success stories of this highly ethical employment program, helping create a good image in a region that sometimes receives bad press for employment issues. Not only do they support their families comfortably, but many put back into the community; one has even opened a small school in his village.

3. In what ways could one contribute to the foundation?

Both private individuals and businesses/companies are welcome to contribute to the cause. Individuals can donate or organize fundraising projects or events. Companies can also donate a percentage from their profits or they can raise funds with special programs where customers have an option to donate to the cause. This is a great way to boost moral in a company as employees take a lot of pride in working for a company that supports a good cause.

We encourage all financial donations to be paid direct to the partner school that we use in Dhaka to cover the school fees; this way we encourage complete transparency and visibility of how the money is spent. We also set up an online portal through an organization called justgiving, and there on our page, donors can make their direct contributions to the foundation. Just visit: www.justgiving.com/maria-cristina. Details for the latest MCF project can always be found on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MariaCristinaFoundation.

Sometimes donors want to sponsor specific children, in which case we give feedback of how those children are doing in school as well as the welfare of their families. The family welfare is very important as parents can often be under a lot of pressure to take their kids out of school to send them to work or to marry off their young daughters to help make ends meet.

4. What keeps you going?

When I start something, I have to finish it. I made a promise to these families 10 years ago that I would see their children through education and so I will do everything I can within my power to see that through. Maybe it comes from the fact that I was looked after by Maria Cristina and her family even though it wasn’t their responsibility and they kept their promise.

5. What in your opinion are the essential things in life one should focus on?

I think that helping others, especially those less fortunate than yourself is an essential thing for a more fulfilling life. I’m not saying that everybody should give up their careers and work in charity, but we can all do our bit to help others. I think it’s so easy to get so wrapped up in your career that you don’t have time for anything else. People who choose careers such as nurses, teachers etc. often do so for the satisfaction of helping people and they can end up having the most fulfilling careers (even though the pay may not be great), but, anybody can benefit by occasionally making time to help others who need it.

6. What would be your message to executive women?

My message would be, don’t get yourself stuck in a comfort zone. Keep challenging yourself. Not necessarily just to achieve bigger and greater things, personal growth is great but I think most executive women already have personal growth as an objective. I think it’s important to keep challenging yourself to be prepared. The world is changing fast and it’s unpredictable; you never know what is around the corner, but the more you challenge yourself, the more you will be prepared for it.

7.Do you believe that in a self-oriented world, change would be possible?

Sure, change should still be possible, less likely maybe but definitely possible. Somebody may seek to become one of the greatest scientists of our generation by fixing global warming or make a name for himself by reducing the world food shortage. When mobile phones or the Internet were developed, I don’t think that it was intended to help the third world, but it had in many ways, by giving more access to information and communication. It’s always possible to make business and make a good profit but to also make a positive change in the word at the same time.

 View the Article on Executive Women Here