Member Q+A: Why Clusters Make A Difference

Over the years, we’ve heard reflections from Cluster members on how Arukah’s model of listening, friendship and collaboration has been the key to real progress in their local communities. In this blog, we highlight a few of their stories…

Is being in the Cluster different from working elsewhere? Yes. The environment of our Cluster is such that it generates learning. There's a lot more collaboration rather than competition here, and everything's based on relationships. You feel like people are doing things with more passion, and it's very infectious. Sushma - Health Trainer, India

Does being part of the Cluster make your work easier? Yes it does, absolutely. It’s increased our capacity and improved our implementation. For example, the legal aid and advocacy organisation that I lead has gained new experience and knowledge from other members through SALT visits [a technique used by Clusters to listen to and understand the voice of the community]. We also get volunteers from the Cluster who offer their time working with us or refer many others to our offices for help. Ostack -  Lawyer, Tanzania

Has being in the Cluster impacted you in a personal way? Yes! I have had the privilege of friendships that have now lasted a decade. I have known people who I may never have met if not for the Cluster, people who don’t live close by. And because I have the privilege of getting involved with training sessions, I have learned a lot to apply my area of work. I trained clinically to work with disability, but I learnt the community side of disability by being part of the Cluster. Being involved in the community gives me wider perspectives and allows me to consider differing ways of doing things. Jubin - Disability Specialist, India

What attracted you to the network? I love the fact that Cluster members use local resources available to them to bring change. I have worked with different organisations in the past who decide what is best for the community because of the funding that they give. This has never been a successful approach because no one understands a community better than those who live in it. Arukah is different because it guides and supports members to bring the change that they want. Charles - Counsellor, Kenya 

How did your Cluster change your neighborhood? Before, people just waited for donors or outsiders. But through the Cluster, we learned how to work with what we already have – our people, skills, ideas. It gave us confidence to solve our own problems. And because of it, we did what even the government failed to do. Matthews - Health worker, Zambia 

How does your Cluster support the church's mission? Our Cluster takes a personalized approach to evangelism. Our informal small group discussions and Bible studies have provided a safe space to ask questions and explore faith. In Clusters, it is also easier to disciple, and build each other up. Jackson - Humanitarian, DRC

The various churches in my area have benefited enormously from the work of the clusters in the sense that the clusters act as relays for the churches in the local communities. For example, Clusters raise awareness in local communities about how to prevent disease, teach on important topics such as entrepreneurship, education, drinking water and environmental sanitation, which demonstrate the love of God in practical ways. Bertin - Pastor, DRC

How has your Cluster supported the community during the war in your country? The ongoing war has had a profound impact on us all. Trade has been affected and the ongoing violence has resulted in a lot of fear and trauma. In the midst of it, our Cluster has worked together to run conflict awareness campaigns, visit and assist unaccompanied children in refugee camps, and come up with farming solutions to feed our families and communities. 

Jackson - Humanitarian, DRC

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