Reflecting on the End of a Partnership
GlobeMed at University of Denver and Buddhism for Social Development Action end their partnership after 10 years
Taylor Swift said in her commencement speech at New York University this year that, “Losing things doesn’t just mean losing. A lot of the time, when we lose things, we gain things too.” While partnerships between GlobeMed chapters and grassroots organizations are structured as long-term relationships, for a variety of reasons sometimes the partnerships come to a close. However, that doesn’t mean the partnership was a “failure.” Instead, these are seen as learning opportunities for both the organization and chapter to reflect on as they are given new projects.
GlobeMed at University of Denver and Buddhism for Social Development Action (BSDA) have been in collaboration since 2011. In their 10 years of partnership, they have fueled projects for public health and education in Cambodia.
However, recently this partnership came to an end.
“We keep in touch with them, and they wanted BSDA to be successful so they agreed to change partnerships. We still support each other,” Nhe Sophors, BSDA’s Project Manager, said.
Through social development projects focused on health and education, BSDA aims to empower and support marginalized groups such as women and children. GlobeMed at University of Denver aided in multiple successes, and while the partnership has ended, the impact of their work together remains.
In fact, failure is rarely the cause for the ending of a partnership. When mistakes are made, chapters and organizations work together to overcome the problem.
Nhe Sophors shared about a time when they faced a setback together, “Once, we talked about fundraising and they did not meet the goal, which made the budget smaller. It was important to be honest and open with each other at this time to work together.”
When a partnership ends, the reason typically lies in outside factors that affect the ability for a chapter and organization to work together. In this case, GlobeMed at University of Denver was too small to fully participate in what BSDA was looking for and needing in a GlobeMed partnership.
A member of GlobeMed at University of Denvers said, “We valued our partnership and loved working with BSDA. In the best interest in rebuilding our chapter moving forward, this was the only course of action that we could see.”
However, this is not the end of GlobeMed’s relationship with BSDA nor the end for GlobeMed at University of Denver. BSDA is connecting with GlobeMed at University of South California, while GlobeMed at University of Denver is working to prepare for a new partnership.
During the time period in between partnerships, it is important to reflect on the experience. The purpose of the GlobeMed partnerships is to be a learning opportunity for both sides, alongside achieving the grassroots organization’s goals.
“The partnership allowed me to work with different types of people,” Nhe Sophors says. “We as an organization can get and share information. Both sides could get feedback from each other while the community got a lot of profits and benefits.”
“The partnership really helped to develop my skills and reinforce my commitment to help the people in my country. I think this project will help solve some problems that I meet with other people too,” Solken, a staff member of BSDA reflects.
In addition to this, reflection introduces the opportunity for GlobeMed members to think deeper about how they applied GlobeMed’s principles and Leadership Practices in their actions, and what they may do differently in the future.
While no longer working together, both BSDA and GlobeMed at University of Denver maintain a friendly relationship with each other and continue to strive for global health equity.
