Building People, Building Nations: My Kazakhstan Journey with REI

by Tai Toon Lim, a professional manager with extensive experience across public, for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and REI (Singapore) board member

I’ve always believed that the most meaningful work we do is the work we do in people. That conviction has been shaped over decades in my career, where I learned — sometimes slowly, sometimes painfully — that developing people doesn’t happen by chance. It has to be intentional, relational and lifelong.

So when the opportunity came to join Resource Exchange International (REI) as a short‑term professional volunteer to Kazakhstan in October 2024, it felt like a natural next step.

My connection to REI actually began years earlier. Back in 2018, I first heard about the organisation through conversations with Doug Erdmann, REI's president and CEO. The mission stuck with me: Building people to build nations. And the more I learned about REI’s work, the more I appreciated its simple but powerful approach: REI connects skilled professionals with strategic global opportunities—sharing knowledge, strengthening local capacity and nurturing long-term transformation in communities around the world.

As I started thinking about my post‑retirement “career,” the idea of stepping into academia and investing in young minds became increasingly attractive. REI offered a bridge — a way to explore teaching while contributing to something meaningful.

Arriving in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan welcomed me with wide horizons, warm hospitality and a generation of young people eager to learn. Before heading to Ust-Kamenogorsk, I had an enriching dialogue with members of ENACTUS in Almaty. Their passion for social entrepreneurship and their desire to use business as a force for good set the tone for the rest of my trip. It was energising to see young leaders already thinking deeply about impact, innovation and community transformation.

At the Kazakhstan American Free University (KAFU), I met students who weren’t just looking for business tips — they were searching for purpose, direction and a sense of how they could make a difference in their communities.

Because REI has spent years building trust in the region, I stepped into classrooms where students felt comfortable engaging openly. They asked honest questions, challenged ideas and shared their hopes for their country. That kind of openness doesn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of long-term presence and genuine relationship-building — the heart of REI’s work.

Teaching Entrepreneurship with Purpose

My role was to teach entrepreneurship, but not the kind that focuses only on profit margins or growth curves. I wanted to talk about impact entrepreneurship — using business as a tool to solve real problems and uplift communities.

I shared stories from my own journey: the successes, the failures, the pivots, and the moments when purpose mattered more than profit. The students responded with curiosity and sincerity. They were eager to explore questions like:

• What does it mean to build a business that serves people?

• How do you balance purpose and profit?

• What problems around you are waiting for someone to step up?

  
  

These weren’t abstract discussions. They were grounded in real life, shaped by the students’ own experiences and aspirations. And they reminded me why teaching matters — because learning becomes powerful when it’s shared in conversation, not delivered as a monologue.

Staying Connected Through Mentorship

One thing I appreciate deeply about REI is that the work doesn’t end when the trip ends. To stay connected, I volunteered as a mentor in the Servant Leadership program that KAFU provides, spending an hour each week with a student over the course of 18 weeks.

Those weekly conversations became a highlight of my routine. We talked about leadership, purpose, challenges and dreams. We talked about what it means to serve others, not just lead them. And in those moments, I saw again how much young people everywhere crave guidance, encouragement and someone who believes in them.

Mentorship reminded me that developing people isn’t a one-off event. It’s a rhythm — steady, intentional and deeply relational.

Learning Goes Both Ways

Although I went to Kazakhstan to teach, I came home with my own lessons.

I learned from students who were juggling studies, work and family responsibilities with quiet determination.

I learned from faculty members who pour themselves into their students year after year.

I learned from local entrepreneurs navigating change with creativity and grit.

I also learned from fellow volunteers — professionals from different countries, each bringing their own expertise, stories and perspectives. Sharing meals, comparing notes, and reflecting together enriched the experience far beyond the classroom.

And I enjoyed the warm hospitality of the local Kazakhs who hosted my stay. They were proud of their food, their culture, and their heritage, and they welcomed me into it with generosity. Whether it was a home-cooked meal, a cultural explanation or simply a conversation over tea, those moments reminded me how powerful simple human connection can be.

Participating in the Servant Leadership mentoring also sparked something unexpected in me. It inspired me to bring the idea of “Love in Motion — practising love as a verb” into my own entreprenuerial business venture in Sri Lanka. Seeing how intentional care and consistent encouragement shaped my mentee reminded me that love, when practiced actively, can become a keystone habit that transforms teams, communities and even the way we approach business.

Why Professionals Should Consider Joining

Many of us spend years building expertise — in business, education, healthcare, engineering or other fields. But we often underestimate how valuable that experience can be in a different cultural context.

What feels ordinary to us can be transformative to someone else.

REI creates pathways for professionals to share what they know in ways that matter. You don’t need to uproot your life or commit to long-term relocation. Sometimes, a week of teaching or mentoring can spark a ripple effect that lasts far longer than you expect.

In Kazakhstan, I saw how a single idea can shift a student’s perspective. How encouragement can build confidence. How knowledge shared with intention can shape a future leader.

A Movement Worth Joining

REI isn’t just an organisation — it’s a community of people who believe that nations are built by investing in people. It’s a movement of professionals who want their skills to matter, who want to serve, and who want to be part of something that lasts.

If you believe business can be a force for good…

If you enjoy sharing what you’ve learned along the way…

If you want your professional experience to have deeper meaning…

Then I’d encourage you to consider joining this movement.

Kazakhstan reminded me that young minds everywhere are searching for purpose, guidance, and opportunity. And sometimes, all it takes is someone willing to show up — to teach, to listen, to encourage.

Because when we build people, we build nations. And that’s work worth doing.