Ugandan woman whose career took off puts it down to language skills
A Ugandan woman who went from bus attendant to office support staff says English classes helped to shore up her confidence, shape her personality and aid her growth in the workplace.
A relative newcomer to the UAE, Margaret Nabatanzi had a meltdown on her first day in her new role when she was overwhelmed at the thought of speaking to senior officers.
“The first day I cried and my boss was like, ‘You can do this’,” Ms Nabatanzi says. “I had to talk to myself. I thought my strength can’t go just like that. This is my chance to be something, so I went back the second day, the third day until I got better.
“I was scared because I had only worked with students before and never with administration staff. I thought maybe they would be rude to me or maybe they wouldn’t like me because of my colour.”
In Dubai for less than a year, the demands of her new job are challenging. But the native Luganda speaker has learnt that she can handle the pressure.
“There are people who others fear to approach,” Ms Nabatanzi says.
“Most staff in my category cannot work with them because the administration staff speak English so fast.
“I’m the only one who can handle them. You have to be bold enough to say, ‘Excuse me, what did you say?’”
As an office messenger, she moves between departments delivering documents. She is keen to have her friends join the Friday English class so they are also promoted, because she believes everyone should have a chance.
“Right now I’m bold enough to speak what I think and express it without any fear,” says Ms Nabatanzi, 27. “I used to be so scared. I was the kind of person who would wait for others to speak. The course has taken me a step ahead. It has really helped me a lot.”
Describing Ms Nabatanzi as the class star, volunteer teacher Sweety Lulla says making all students confront their fear by addressing the group fosters composure and poise at work.
“When Margaret joined she was very shy, an introvert, too
I had to talk to myself. I thought my strength can’t go just like that
shaky to come forward and read or take any initiative,” Ms Lulla says. “But we saw a shift-through the sessions because she has a lot of ideas. Now she is like a star of our class and she also helps others.”
While Ms Nabatanzi’s success has thrilled her family at home, she says most people do not appreciate the power of learning English. Having completed secondary school in Kampala, she did not have the finances to go to college.
“My mum is so proud of me because she knows me as a very quiet person,” she says. “But when she heard I was taking a course in English, she asked what I would do with it.
“I thought I would at least get a certificate and it may take me somewhere.”
Ms Nabatanzi’s ambition is to start a school for girls like herself. “My dream is to work with children and start up a school. I want everyone to get a chance to be enlightened by education. With education you can never fail in life.”
Learning has opened up her world. She is grappling with the concept of karma in a book she is reading. “I learnt that what goes around comes around,” she says. “I know that if you do bad, in the future it will come back to you. It is better if someone does good not expecting something in return.
“For me, I’m so eager. I want to score 100 per cent, so I will put in a lot of effort expecting 100 per cent back.”