There will be times when there is opposition to the change you are trying to make. But if you’re speaking to 100 people and change just 1 person in that audience, you’ve done your job.
Patrick Tusiime: Creating Change One Person at a Time
This week, we highlight the words of Patrick Tusiime, Health Coordinator at the Kasiisi Project, Laidlaw Central project partner. Tusiime's words, taken from a speech he gave to Laidlaw Scholars currently on the Kasiisi Leadership in Action project, highlight a different perspective on opposition and the impact of changing just one person in a large audience:
Patrick Tusiime: “There will be times when there is opposition to the change you are trying to make. But don’t give up. if you’re speaking to 100 people and change just 1 person in that audience, you’ve done your job. You’re creating change.”
A Champion for Community-Led Change
Patrick Tusiime currently serves as Health Coordinator at the Kasiisi Project. The Kasiisi Project works to develop the next generation of Ugandan conservationists and aims to conserve Kibale National Park through programmes that support education, health and care for the environment. Tusiime was raised near Kibale National Park and is passionate about working to improve health at the intersection of people, animals, and the environment.
Tusiime strongly believes that problems in the community are best handled and navigated by community members, as they possess the most in-depth knowledge about their community and its issues. Previously, he was the Co-Principal Investigator on a new study connecting paediatric and chimpanzee health. He was given the title of 2023 National Geographic Explorer for his work recording conservation storytelling around the national park.
Facing Opposition with Courage and Purpose
Tusiime's words show a different perspective in handling opposition to change or new ideas. When faced with opposition, it can often feel futile, and change can seem far. However, Tusiime highlights the fact that if you can change just a single person's mind about an issue, change has occurred. Often, change starts in small ways, with the people around you.
Tusiime's words align with the Laidlaw value of being #Determined and the Oxford Character Project Leadership Virtue of #Courage. Being determined means persevering even when progress and change seem small or slow. Courage means staying resilient and maintaining the change you want to achieve.
A Call to Reflect
We invite you to reflect on Patrick Tusiime's powerful leadership insights. Share your thoughts in the comments: Have you ever changed someone’s mind for the better?
Hi! Having previously been a Laidlaw Undergraduate Scholar studying English Literature at UCL, I am now the Marketing Manager of the Laidlaw Foundation.
My research looked at collaborative and innovative practices in academic publishing, and community building is something I built a passion for during my Leadership in Action. Feel free to reach out or connect with me!
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Hannah, thank you this post about Patrick. As someone who has only met Patrick on Zoom calls, I still get to hear how invested and impactful he and the whole the Kasiisi team is with both the communities around Fort Portal as well as the Tufts Scholars who’ve worked alongside them.
For those interested in learning more about Patrick Tusiime and the incredible leadership behind this project, I’d encourage you to check out these links:
Part of the joy I find in this program is learning about individuals like him whom our Scholars get to work. As an addition to Hannah’s reflection request: is there someone like Patrick you've met through Laidlaw—perhaps a local leader, mentor, or partner—you’d like to recognize for the impact they had on your experience or on their communities?