Building a Long-Term Career at One Acre Fund

Meet Victor Matianyi

Victor Matianyi is an I.T. Manager from Kenya who has been working for One Acre Fund since 2013.  After meeting a One Acre Fund team member at a local career fair, Victor was inspired by the opportunity to help farm families like his own. Victor was soon hired as an IT Officer and was later promoted to associate, then manager. We had the opportunity to sit down with Victor and hear about his work, and why he's committed to a longterm career at One Acre Fund.

What are your largest responsibilities in your current position?

I coordinate between the support and network teams and work on many projects, including network and laptop maintenance. I think there were around 100 computers to oversee when I started and now there are around 300! Everything has grown exponentially. We have a very big network with four different connections just in Bungoma alone.

How do you feel you’ve grown in your time with One Acre Fund?

I’ve grown a lot professionally and personally. I recently traveled for work- it was the first time I ever boarded a plane, so I was nervous but it was great! When I got to Rwanda, it was a different culture and I got to interact at the workplace and also outside of work, which really taught me things.

In terms of my career, I am getting the real life experience of dealing with networks that people depend on as well as the responsibility of support and standardization of software for a whole organization. I think I’ve also learned better how to interact with people because of the unique family we have here. Everyone cares about my development as a person and a professional. I have been given the chance to learn and explore while having so much trust placed in me.

Overall, how do you feel about working for One Acre Fund?

I really like working for One Acre Fund.  It’s a very friendly and easy environment to work in. There’s a lot of respect vertically and horizontally, which is so unique. The other thing I like about working here is where it’s located. It’s not in a big city. I don’t have to be far from my family and can see them at lunch time. I also know that I’m not just working for the sake of working- my work is impacting a farmer somewhere. Everywhere in the country, there’s impact.

What part of your job makes you the most proud?

I’m always very proud when I’m working with the field staff to solve challenges they have and knowing they are working directly with our farmers. It makes me feel I am solving the farmers’ problems first hand. I love that I can help all the other departments, and by helping teams do their work I’m helping to serve farmers better, and that makes me really proud. Everyday I work knowing that I’m working in a community that I’m actually helping and the job I’m doing directly impacts and improves someone’s life. It’s not just about me getting a salary; it’s about the community. The small things I do here could impact the whole country because agriculture is the backbone of Kenya.

Do you feel your job at One Acre Fund has impacted your family in any way?

I think it’s having a very positive influence on my family. My mom farms, and when I joined One Acre Fund, she enrolled. She just got inputs this year and her yields are already improving.  I also earn a salary and can better support my parents My dad gets sick sometimes and I can access an emergency loan and get him to the hospital for treatment, so that has been very positive.

Do you see a future for yourself at One Acre Fund or in the career track you’re currently in? 

I definitely want to continue growing at One Acre Fund long-term. I want to be in a position where I can serve One Acre Fund in the best way possible. I know One Acre Fund is trying to grow in other countries, so if I can help to standardize the growth in Kenya and into new countries it would be an exciting adventure for me. I’ve seen changes at One Acre Fund, building systems and standards, and I want to help other countries do this.