I am super excited!! In the pursue of sustainable partnerships, we have just had a meeting with Project Hope, a local NGO that provides health training and support for orphans and vulnerable children. We are now going to work together, so that our communities can benefits from the training, support and assistance and the groups that Project Hope works with can have access to business training and finance if they want to commence their own businesses.
From the discussions it became very obvious, that the partnership would promote self sustainable development of our clients in the longer terms. Project Hope also have an economic development programme of community savings - an equivalent of mutual fund. So if the groups start small with micro loans, while getting the wider benefits of additional training, and then could gradually move on to the longer terms self savings scheme, having a better understanding of how to work with money and plan for the future, they can naturally progress to the more complicated "financial services" model within their own communities.
Yey!!! It is 10.30 am and we have a result!!! Now to the adminy stuff of formalising the proposal, getting the stakeholder buy in etc.... This will definitely help me strengthen the fundraising discussions too. Need to find a few more partners who would give us the support we need in areas of skills development, ongoing business training, women empowerment and may be sustainable energy sources (I had to bring in solar somehow!!;)))
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Namibia - who are you?
I am trying to figure this country out. Not that I have completely figured every other place I have been to, but somehow most places are easier to assess.
Is this is a stable developing country, or is this an under-developed, poor country that needs all the help it can get, as is the case with quite a few of its neighbours? Seemingly, things work just fine around here: great infrastructure, availability of services, no poverty on the streets, people appear to have their own homes - even if it is a box sized ones (I doubt the affordable studio flats in Knightsbridge are any bigger!). Everyone speaks 3 or 5 languages - English is a standard, Afrikaans is popular and is a must for Windhoek inhabitants, Portuguese (Angola is a stone throw away), and a few of the local languages, depending on which village or tribe they come from. Literacy is prevalent (as was advised to me by a headmaster of one of the local schools I met at lunch), although education is not free. Health care apparently is great as well, and there is some social welfare available. Safety does not seem to be an issue, there are police posts almost every 10km on the roads. "Staying connected" is easy - a mobile phone is a mandatory accessory to any outfit, however it is more about the convenience rather than the style!
On the other hand, HIV rate is high, and even with free testing and affordable medication, people would rather not face the reality. Domestic violence and women's rights violation is commonplace too. Almost half of the populations survives on subsistence farming. Most people travel back to their villages for the weekend to work on land - farming crops for consumption, mainly mahangu (pearl millet). Resale business is the most widespread choice for entrepreneurs, and shebeens (bars) are on every corner - drinking is a problem here.
Most people have come from villages, which now only have either the elderly, or the very young - in pursue of education many leave the villages to only come back to help with the ploughing, and to see the grandparents, but not to live. I spoke to someone who stays in my b&b - he is on his way to Angola for his business of "doing this and that with some bits and bobs"."What will I do with the land when my mum is not there"? Life is naturally changing, but the traditional lifestyle is strong. When the elderly are no longer there, someone will probably have to put it the land to commercial use, something they have not really done before...
I would love to see the real villages organised in "homesteads" - plots of land with the house - the complete chain - the supply and consumption of produce on one territory. They can easily survive on NAM$50 a month. David, one of the sons of the owner of the b&b I am staying, excitedly described to me the life in the village and childhood memories of chasing a chicken for the feast when the guests come home. People stick together and share everything - if you kill a cow, you share it with your neighbours. If you have a wedding, the entire village comes - there is no need to bother with invitation lists and sitting plans. In fact, you do not need to bother with much planning at all - all weddings happen only in December and you have to warn people a year in advance. The only explanation I have received so far is that it is because December is when everyone returns to the villages for holidays, so everyone is around to celebrate. Imagine the seasonality of the wedding business in Namibia!! Must be so much easier for the husbands to remember their wedding anniversary though=)
So far the theory of my very first taxi driver Sewen has not been confirmed - people do not seem to be that private. In fact, everyone seems to be very open and friendly - that is all I have been relying on at least in the last week. Or may be they are just very bored, and appreciate an opportunity to interact with a new person.
Namibia is still very closely linked with South Africa, and so it is almost its extension. So the two form something that is an African version of the USA - not economically or politically, of course. The make up of the countries is very diverse, the past is patchy and violent. They even share a similar popular culture - kwaito is a popular art and youth movement, which sometimes is called South African rap. In Namibia, it is very popular, in fact the "celebrities" I have mentioned I met before are into this very kwaito - the art and symbol of the struggle for freedom and equality of the black townships under white oppression and apartheid. And kwaito dancing - seeing a group practice a routine in a club is so amazing to watch! This is not fair, some people are just born to dance.
With all of the above, the unemployment is round about 50%, and even with the mining industry being so developed, only a small percentage are employed by the industry. One of my new acquaintances said that there are jobs, but getting them is a different question. Tribal traditions and differences play a big role in it too...Some tribes are more inclined to work and strive to achieve more, some are content with what they have, even if it is nothing. Some respect the social hierarchy and tradition so much, that if you are poor, the community will not let you get rich - because this is the way things are! Well, of course, if you are rich, the problem you face is slightly less serious - you will have to really try hard to become poor for the same reason. There are probably a lot more dynamics involved in the tribal way of living which have an overall impact. I shall caveat that this is one person's view and no steps have been taken to validate this theory!
Any thoughts?
Is this is a stable developing country, or is this an under-developed, poor country that needs all the help it can get, as is the case with quite a few of its neighbours? Seemingly, things work just fine around here: great infrastructure, availability of services, no poverty on the streets, people appear to have their own homes - even if it is a box sized ones (I doubt the affordable studio flats in Knightsbridge are any bigger!). Everyone speaks 3 or 5 languages - English is a standard, Afrikaans is popular and is a must for Windhoek inhabitants, Portuguese (Angola is a stone throw away), and a few of the local languages, depending on which village or tribe they come from. Literacy is prevalent (as was advised to me by a headmaster of one of the local schools I met at lunch), although education is not free. Health care apparently is great as well, and there is some social welfare available. Safety does not seem to be an issue, there are police posts almost every 10km on the roads. "Staying connected" is easy - a mobile phone is a mandatory accessory to any outfit, however it is more about the convenience rather than the style!
On the other hand, HIV rate is high, and even with free testing and affordable medication, people would rather not face the reality. Domestic violence and women's rights violation is commonplace too. Almost half of the populations survives on subsistence farming. Most people travel back to their villages for the weekend to work on land - farming crops for consumption, mainly mahangu (pearl millet). Resale business is the most widespread choice for entrepreneurs, and shebeens (bars) are on every corner - drinking is a problem here.
Most people have come from villages, which now only have either the elderly, or the very young - in pursue of education many leave the villages to only come back to help with the ploughing, and to see the grandparents, but not to live. I spoke to someone who stays in my b&b - he is on his way to Angola for his business of "doing this and that with some bits and bobs"."What will I do with the land when my mum is not there"? Life is naturally changing, but the traditional lifestyle is strong. When the elderly are no longer there, someone will probably have to put it the land to commercial use, something they have not really done before...
I would love to see the real villages organised in "homesteads" - plots of land with the house - the complete chain - the supply and consumption of produce on one territory. They can easily survive on NAM$50 a month. David, one of the sons of the owner of the b&b I am staying, excitedly described to me the life in the village and childhood memories of chasing a chicken for the feast when the guests come home. People stick together and share everything - if you kill a cow, you share it with your neighbours. If you have a wedding, the entire village comes - there is no need to bother with invitation lists and sitting plans. In fact, you do not need to bother with much planning at all - all weddings happen only in December and you have to warn people a year in advance. The only explanation I have received so far is that it is because December is when everyone returns to the villages for holidays, so everyone is around to celebrate. Imagine the seasonality of the wedding business in Namibia!! Must be so much easier for the husbands to remember their wedding anniversary though=)
So far the theory of my very first taxi driver Sewen has not been confirmed - people do not seem to be that private. In fact, everyone seems to be very open and friendly - that is all I have been relying on at least in the last week. Or may be they are just very bored, and appreciate an opportunity to interact with a new person.
Namibia is still very closely linked with South Africa, and so it is almost its extension. So the two form something that is an African version of the USA - not economically or politically, of course. The make up of the countries is very diverse, the past is patchy and violent. They even share a similar popular culture - kwaito is a popular art and youth movement, which sometimes is called South African rap. In Namibia, it is very popular, in fact the "celebrities" I have mentioned I met before are into this very kwaito - the art and symbol of the struggle for freedom and equality of the black townships under white oppression and apartheid. And kwaito dancing - seeing a group practice a routine in a club is so amazing to watch! This is not fair, some people are just born to dance.
With all of the above, the unemployment is round about 50%, and even with the mining industry being so developed, only a small percentage are employed by the industry. One of my new acquaintances said that there are jobs, but getting them is a different question. Tribal traditions and differences play a big role in it too...Some tribes are more inclined to work and strive to achieve more, some are content with what they have, even if it is nothing. Some respect the social hierarchy and tradition so much, that if you are poor, the community will not let you get rich - because this is the way things are! Well, of course, if you are rich, the problem you face is slightly less serious - you will have to really try hard to become poor for the same reason. There are probably a lot more dynamics involved in the tribal way of living which have an overall impact. I shall caveat that this is one person's view and no steps have been taken to validate this theory!
Any thoughts?
It is getting intense...
Today has gone past really quickly. After spending last week trying to understand more about the operations and specifics of MLF and its customers, organising my own thoughts, discussing ideas with faith, preparing various subsequent action plans and lists, as well as making initial contact with various organisations which I am trying to target for funding, today, I realised how much could potentially be done. Remaining 4 and a half weeks now seem like such a short time! I can just see how I could be here for 4 months and be busy and very interested every day of those...My main concern now is to deliver within the 4 weeks, not the 4 months...
As I mentioned before, my main objective is to raise funds and build sustainable partnerships, as the bloodline for MLF had been cut off, and the budgets are now running dry, yet the demands are not decreasing. I am feeling the pressure, and more so, when we go out to the meetings with clients.
At the meeting we had this morning, the clients found themselves in a tricky situation - they want to apply for a 3d cycle of loans, however some of their group members had dropped out, so now replacement members need to be found, so that collectively they can qualify for the next loan cycle (there is a minimum requirement for the number of group members). Women were very disappointed as January is a difficult month - with all the holidays money run out much quicker than any other month of the year, but their regular payments must be paid regardless. The group concept has been created to protect them, but also it something that sometimes holds them back - if some of the group members do not play ball. The lead of the group owns a cosmetics resale business, and debt collection agency. Another member imports fish, another one sells fruits. They have now completed second cycle and would like to borrow again, which means we are talking about loans of couple of hunder pounds per person - this is what supports their livelihood and children's education. What happens if they have no access to these loans anymore...
When we get back to the office, I get on the phone. Some success, I have 3 meetings set up for the week I am in Windhoek, and 2 meetings for this week with local organisations - all before 3pm. Not bad :) In my conversation with UN Development programme Leader, we discuss that they are looking for partners to support their targeted projects in 9 areas of Windhoek, and we can provide suitable support. I am keen to get her to talk to me in person, even though we are only present in 1 of those areas...I just want to get through the door ;) The voice on the other end of the phone line sounds positive. 'Let's talk', she says. I am expected in the UN - I like the sound of it (even if all that means is that I have a half an hour chat in a small local project office, that's just details!). A couple of other development funds and corporate have agreed to listen to what I have to say... I will worry about whether I actually have something to say later..
After lunch I get a call from someone I met over the weekend - he is in the area. He used to work for E&Y and now owns his own construction company - freelancing, as he calls it. It is good to know people - turns out he knows a fellow ex-E&Y who would be a good fit for a position MLF have been trying to staff for a while - Finance manager. He is not a standard candidate or an obvious choice for larger organisations, but sounds like he could be a good shot. I have the CV and an interview set up within the next hour. This guy better be good!
By the time I have looked through other potential grant opportunities, and started a couple of grant applications, it was already end of the day... First shift rather. There are so many things that could be done...There are not enough hours in the day!
As I mentioned before, my main objective is to raise funds and build sustainable partnerships, as the bloodline for MLF had been cut off, and the budgets are now running dry, yet the demands are not decreasing. I am feeling the pressure, and more so, when we go out to the meetings with clients.
At the meeting we had this morning, the clients found themselves in a tricky situation - they want to apply for a 3d cycle of loans, however some of their group members had dropped out, so now replacement members need to be found, so that collectively they can qualify for the next loan cycle (there is a minimum requirement for the number of group members). Women were very disappointed as January is a difficult month - with all the holidays money run out much quicker than any other month of the year, but their regular payments must be paid regardless. The group concept has been created to protect them, but also it something that sometimes holds them back - if some of the group members do not play ball. The lead of the group owns a cosmetics resale business, and debt collection agency. Another member imports fish, another one sells fruits. They have now completed second cycle and would like to borrow again, which means we are talking about loans of couple of hunder pounds per person - this is what supports their livelihood and children's education. What happens if they have no access to these loans anymore...
When we get back to the office, I get on the phone. Some success, I have 3 meetings set up for the week I am in Windhoek, and 2 meetings for this week with local organisations - all before 3pm. Not bad :) In my conversation with UN Development programme Leader, we discuss that they are looking for partners to support their targeted projects in 9 areas of Windhoek, and we can provide suitable support. I am keen to get her to talk to me in person, even though we are only present in 1 of those areas...I just want to get through the door ;) The voice on the other end of the phone line sounds positive. 'Let's talk', she says. I am expected in the UN - I like the sound of it (even if all that means is that I have a half an hour chat in a small local project office, that's just details!). A couple of other development funds and corporate have agreed to listen to what I have to say... I will worry about whether I actually have something to say later..
After lunch I get a call from someone I met over the weekend - he is in the area. He used to work for E&Y and now owns his own construction company - freelancing, as he calls it. It is good to know people - turns out he knows a fellow ex-E&Y who would be a good fit for a position MLF have been trying to staff for a while - Finance manager. He is not a standard candidate or an obvious choice for larger organisations, but sounds like he could be a good shot. I have the CV and an interview set up within the next hour. This guy better be good!
By the time I have looked through other potential grant opportunities, and started a couple of grant applications, it was already end of the day... First shift rather. There are so many things that could be done...There are not enough hours in the day!
Lazy Sunday...
Sunday is a quiet day here...This is the day everyone starts with the church and spends at home with the family..the markets and the malls are almpost deserted, and people only get out if absolutely necessary. Such a stark contrast to London life when the weekend is the only time people can do their shopping, socialising, sunday brunching and mandatory starbucks runs...
My new local friends took me to see the nearest town, Oshakati. It is just a 15 mins drive away from Ongwediva, and the highlights of this "bustling" for local standards township are the local market and the american style mall - manifestations of two extremes of the economic development scale. In these places they sell everything from traditional dresses, to the cultural achievements of the Namibian music stars, to such local delicacies as fried worms! Apparently, the previous volunteer even had the guts to try it...I am sorry, I am a chicken!
The market was very quiet, but I got to see a variety of beans, lentils, grains and spices that the locals survive on. Reminded me of Wholefoods, where you can find such grains and beans that most people have never heard of.
May be they import it from Oshakati? What you do not get to see in Wholefoods, is the raw meat and offals of all sorts laying almost in direct sunlight awaiting its hungry buyers...I think this one can convince me to become a temporary vegetarian!
My new local friends took me to see the nearest town, Oshakati. It is just a 15 mins drive away from Ongwediva, and the highlights of this "bustling" for local standards township are the local market and the american style mall - manifestations of two extremes of the economic development scale. In these places they sell everything from traditional dresses, to the cultural achievements of the Namibian music stars, to such local delicacies as fried worms! Apparently, the previous volunteer even had the guts to try it...I am sorry, I am a chicken!
May be they import it from Oshakati? What you do not get to see in Wholefoods, is the raw meat and offals of all sorts laying almost in direct sunlight awaiting its hungry buyers...I think this one can convince me to become a temporary vegetarian!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
The start of the weekend is promising....
I take my words back - there is always something to do!
After waking up late and just generally deciding that Saturdays are meant to be for lazying around, I went for a stroll and a brunch in a neighbouring lodge with a promising slogan "African hospitality". There was not a soul in that place, but the TV was shouting out the dialogues from some very annoying soap opera of undefined origin (undefined to me, as I am still unsuccessfully trying to figure out which country produced that gem of cinematography - they actors definitely look Asian, but it is dubbed in English, and their names are pretty Western, so there are no obvious give aways).
I was determined to get fed and eventually found a waitress. The ordering part as always was interesting as they did not have half the stuff I wanted, so we settled on the most expensive dish on the menu, which, of course, they had in stock! Well, I achieved something in the day: meal - done!
When I got back to my lodge there was a lot of life and noise - this is new! A corporate function was taking place where some new joiners were being welcomed. Turns out this lodge is quite a popular place for such events, it is just it is not quite season yet. Well, given I have not seen anyone apart from about 7 staff members duly cleaning out rooms in which seemingly nobody lived, this was a good change.
I spent my afternoon Skyping with past/other volunteers working for MLF (this is work related part, in case everyone thinks I only holiday all the time). By the time I was done, the weather got much better, and the sun came back again, and the sky was getting blue-er (yey!). What shall I do now? I started chatting with the guys who work in the lodge, who coincidentally happen to be the owner's sons...I was asking what they do around here on weekends, to which I received reassuring "nothing"...
Previous volunteers told me that dvd's were an absolute necessity as there is indeed not much to do after you have sampled the cuisine in the available few restaurants and visited Oshakati. There is a club that everyone seems to mention, which has a swimming pool and a restaurant and some greenery, and it is not too far. Sounds good! I asked one of the guys whether it was easy to get to, and after giving me a long explanation featuring a lot of "turn" somewhere, he said that actually he will take me there by car.
When he knocked on my door to go to the club, turned out that his friend was also going there and so would show me around. Excellent, now I have company.
The club is lovely! It is like an oasis, very green, with palm trees and peacocks everywhere (photos to come, bear with my slow internet connection). There is a mini zoo with a couple of monkeys too. This club, Bennie's is a hang out place by day, with cafe and restaurant and has a night club. My chaperone turned out to be an aspiring celebrity from Windhoek, where performs as part of a dance group, and even had the honour to perform in front of the two presidents of Namibia (first and current). Now I am in a company of celebrities too! I learned a lot of quite interesting information about the life of Namibians, which contributed to my attempt to understand this country..I have still not figured it out... This discussion will come at a later date......
After waking up late and just generally deciding that Saturdays are meant to be for lazying around, I went for a stroll and a brunch in a neighbouring lodge with a promising slogan "African hospitality". There was not a soul in that place, but the TV was shouting out the dialogues from some very annoying soap opera of undefined origin (undefined to me, as I am still unsuccessfully trying to figure out which country produced that gem of cinematography - they actors definitely look Asian, but it is dubbed in English, and their names are pretty Western, so there are no obvious give aways).
I was determined to get fed and eventually found a waitress. The ordering part as always was interesting as they did not have half the stuff I wanted, so we settled on the most expensive dish on the menu, which, of course, they had in stock! Well, I achieved something in the day: meal - done!
When I got back to my lodge there was a lot of life and noise - this is new! A corporate function was taking place where some new joiners were being welcomed. Turns out this lodge is quite a popular place for such events, it is just it is not quite season yet. Well, given I have not seen anyone apart from about 7 staff members duly cleaning out rooms in which seemingly nobody lived, this was a good change.
I spent my afternoon Skyping with past/other volunteers working for MLF (this is work related part, in case everyone thinks I only holiday all the time). By the time I was done, the weather got much better, and the sun came back again, and the sky was getting blue-er (yey!). What shall I do now? I started chatting with the guys who work in the lodge, who coincidentally happen to be the owner's sons...I was asking what they do around here on weekends, to which I received reassuring "nothing"...
Previous volunteers told me that dvd's were an absolute necessity as there is indeed not much to do after you have sampled the cuisine in the available few restaurants and visited Oshakati. There is a club that everyone seems to mention, which has a swimming pool and a restaurant and some greenery, and it is not too far. Sounds good! I asked one of the guys whether it was easy to get to, and after giving me a long explanation featuring a lot of "turn" somewhere, he said that actually he will take me there by car.
When he knocked on my door to go to the club, turned out that his friend was also going there and so would show me around. Excellent, now I have company.
The club is lovely! It is like an oasis, very green, with palm trees and peacocks everywhere (photos to come, bear with my slow internet connection). There is a mini zoo with a couple of monkeys too. This club, Bennie's is a hang out place by day, with cafe and restaurant and has a night club. My chaperone turned out to be an aspiring celebrity from Windhoek, where performs as part of a dance group, and even had the honour to perform in front of the two presidents of Namibia (first and current). Now I am in a company of celebrities too! I learned a lot of quite interesting information about the life of Namibians, which contributed to my attempt to understand this country..I have still not figured it out... This discussion will come at a later date......
Friday, January 7, 2011
Universe, seriously??!
I did not sign up for this! Namibia is in Africa, and Africa is supposed to be hot and very sunny! Very sunny! And all that talk about the deserts expanding? Someone tell Namibian sky! Yes, the sky I thought was eternally blue...
Thanks, rainy season for ruining my weekend plans. So much for the National park and the Skeleton Coast....
What do you do in a place where there is nothing to do?=)
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| some kind of white car party going on...foam is missing...=) |
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