“Let’s carry forward the lessons we've learned and the connections we've strengthened. Let’s continue to push the boundaries of what we can achieve as individuals and as a team. Our clients rely on us to deliver exceptional service, and I have no doubt that with the spirit of "Above and Beyond," we will exceed expectations, time and again” said Ms. Nalini Contreras, Deputy Director, Regional Service Centre Entebbe (RSCE) at the closure of the International Client Service Week.

The annual celebrations kicked off on Monday 7^th October with a vibrant display of Ugandan traditional dances by Comprehensive Primary School followed by the first ever Mock UN event at the Centre. The Mock UN event was a vibrant spectacle of costumes and ceremonial grandeur. Participants embodied the spirit of senior UN leaders, both on the global stage and at the Centre, competing to deliver captivating speeches designed to enthral the audience and perfectly encapsulate this year’s celebration theme. Ms. Oliver Baluka from the Accounts Service Line emerged victorious following fierce competition from other speakers.

On Tuesday, the Centre orchestrated a dynamic managers exchange activity, where managers swapped roles for a day to lead different units. The initiative was met with resounding success, as staff across the Centre enthusiastically embraced their new day managers. Chief Human Resources Officer, Matthieu Elombo Mengu, praised the event, “I had the privilege of serving as the day manager for the Video Teleconferencing Unit and was warmly received. The experience was enlightening, offering me valuable insights into their operations. My hope is that we can establish this manager exchange program on a quarterly basis, as it fosters a deeper understanding of our colleagues’ roles and contributions,” he remarked.

Staff also got the chance to visit other units to get an insight of their work via the UN tour bus. This activity included a fun ride around the Entebbe UN Campus where staff engaged in an informative tour of the various offices MONUSCO has in Entebbe.

Thursday’s sports day was particularly lively, with everyone donning their sportswear ready for competition or as enthusiastic cheerleaders for others. Staff participated in activities that included volleyball, sack race puzzle, tug of war, table tennis and a water game.

The week concluded with a townhall where awards were handed out to winning individuals and teams. The event also recognized unsung heroes who go above and beyond behind the scenes as well as all the key stakeholders who made the event a success. This year, the unsung heroes award went to the transport section and medical unit.

Dialling in from Mali through Microsoft Teams, Mr. Paulin Djomo, Director RSCE congratulated staff on the successful week and commended them on their service where they often go above and beyond. “Service above and beyond is not just a tagline. It is what we do at the Centre. Even though you have been busy with many activities during the week, I have not received even one phonecall or email indicating that you have slackened on your roles” he mentioned jokingly.

The spirit of teamwork continued into Friday evening as staff competed in a quiz at the Place2B cafeteria.