My silver linings...

nothing is ever all good or all bad...

So, here are my silver linings:

1. Unreliable internet connectivity: while this has ruled out any online / cloud based accounting, it has actually forced me to think about simpler solutions. I even came to believe that, from not having any accounting system at all (not even a proper cashbook) to an online computerised package in a very short timescale has a strong potential to backfire. It is too steep a learning curve and too soon.

I really had to think hard about is most important here and come to the realisation that a simple but well designed (but of course!) spreadsheet would allow the finance team to see the building blocks of the management reporting system from the ground up (as opposed to jiggery pokery going on inside a computer!).

It will be much easier to explain what you put in this column appears in this report at that page etc... Total traceability and complete audit trail are probably a very good thing  anyway, and even more so in this particular circumstance.

And most importantly, it may be easier for the team to understand that they own the system and that it doesn't belong to the volunteers or "outsiders".
 
2. Unreliable electricity supply? No problem! With an engineer younger daughter, specialising in renewable energy, I am not unfamiliar with photovoltaic concept. If I did not know much about Haiti, one thing I know for sure is that it is a SUNNY place! A little bit of googling and I have come up two little neat pieces of kit that may make electricity supply a little more reliable.

A local charity whom I helped with an accounting matter gave me an honorarium. Together with a donation from a friend, I bought a solar powered charger and a battery... to charge up devices such as laptops etc...

I had been able to have the foresight to acquire these items from funds donated by generous friends as well as being provided with salient information by Bryan, in good time.

While these 2 gadgets can not supply a lot of electricity, they should at least ensure a continuous supply, sufficient for a laptop to work 24/7(?!) on the finances!

3. No clearly defined finance team? I understand that I am going to have to teach 3 music teachers to learn book-keeping. This thought terrifies me as much as if I was one of three  bean-counters who are going to be taught, say, to play a saxophone in 3 weeks and be expected to give a concert at the end of that period!

However, teambuilding and knowledge sharing are something that I profoundly believe in. I am thankful that there is a chance for me to become part of their team first during my first week,  there as I have volunteered to be a gofer and do as I am told (traffic cop, practice buddy, sheet music copier / taper...a general dogsbody...) Bonding may happen and if it does, it is more likely that we could work as an effective finance team to make the financial management system happen in the short timescale available.

OK, E, you are right, nothing is outright good or bad!