Russell Lee
Current Position: Management Consultant & Business Strategist
From: Sydney
Role in Rwanda: Project Coordinator & general Gofer
What sparked your interest in being involved: Nearly 6 years ago Darlene Zschech from Hillsong asked if I would join the ‘Hope Rwanda’ initiative by taking an Operation Open Heart team to Rwanda. At first it seemed too hard and so far away, particularly when we have so much to do in our own ‘back yard’ here in the Pacific and Asia. However I went on an investigative trip and saw the need … and here we are on our Fifth surgical trip.
Similar Trips that you’ve been on: As one of the founders of the Operation Open Heart program in 1985, I have been on numerous trips to many countries. Of the 12 countries the program goes to, there are only a couple that I haven’t visited yet.
What you remember most from previous trips: Each trip & each country is different and that in itself is exciting yet challenge. Every year on every trip I learn something new, mmm and promise I will start planning for next year earlier. Well this year has been exceptionally busy and challenging and if we do want to continue we will need to make radical change with our planning and that is exciting.
Obviously it is amazingly rewarding seeing the expressions on the parents’ faces of the children we operate on, and knowing that their child now has an opportunity to live a normal life. I also get a buzz out of sharing this experience with all the volunteers that become involved, and the lifelong friendships that are developed.
After 25 years of doing this I now realise I really have to look at what we need to do to ensure this program keeps going long after I am not able to be a part of it and I suppose that has become my new challenge, ongoing sustainability!!
Passions & Interests: When I’m not working, I’m likely to be spending time with family, they have been an amazing support through the years so family is really important to me. Sharing quality time on picnics, cycling and well just having some quiet time.
Travel – we like to do that as often as we can. And then there’s cars and gadgets…but hey I had better stop there!