Greetings from Namibia!!
I hope you all are keeping well. The planning for our workshops has progressed greatly since the last newsletter. Though I am still in Windhoek 'in process', I am looking forward to putting all the planning into practice soon!
UNESCO, through the Namibian National Institute for Educational Development (NIED) has contributed N$5000. David Sampson has been our stalwart contact at NIED and catalyst for this donation. I am very grateful for the donation not only for its cash value but also for the recognition of UNESCO. NIED and UNESCO have requested that we place their logos on the back cover of the Teacher's Guide; a great statement about the quality of the materials and the program!
In addition to the UNESCO and NIED logos, we are requesting permission to use the Namibian National crest. Although this has held up the printing of the back cover, the combination of logos makes a very strong statement. The video duplication was also delayed by some improvements in sound quality. However, 600 copies are now complete. I have been working with a designer to create a professional cover for the video, and as soon as the covers are printed and placed in the box covers, I will be able to pick up the videos.
Sekolo Projects is now the proud owner of a second-hand Nissan Sani. It is a '4x4 station wagon' in Namibian parlance, but I would call it an SUV. We purchased the car for N$85,000, about US$13,000. The vehicle is in good condition and drives well. It has plenty of room for all of the materials and me to fit comfortably inside. The tyres are all new, including the spare, and I am pleased to say it is a very secure drive on gravel roads.
Geoffrey Silver's filming visit was a delightful jump in pace from my usual routine of hounding the Ministry of Education, letter writing and lesson planning. Together we interviewed several colleagues that I met and worked with during a Ministry of Health workshop. The workshop served to train HIV focal persons in many different ministries to lead HIV prevention workshops. As I will also be leading HIV prevention workshops I joined this Training of Trainers or 'TOT'. The workshop was very informative, and also gave me the opportunity to make connections and friendships with colleagues in other ministries.
Geoffrey and I interviewed Samuel Kaxuexena, the Senior Clerk from the National Council, a far sighted and courageous man, willing to speak his mind and act on his convictions. Amazingly, he attended Sewanee and is ordained in the Anglican Church. We met with Matthew Andreas of the Office of the Prime Minister, Hermen Ormel who ran the workshop and works for the European Community as an Advisor to the Ministry of Health. Our final interview was with Dr. Heinrich Heinrichs who is an advisor to the HIV/AIDS Management Unit in the Ministry of Education (HAMU).
The interviews were great and elucidating, certainly for Geoffrey's film, but also for me to hear a little of the inside workings of various ministries. Geoffrey will return in July to complete the film with footage of the workshops and schools, as well as interviews with teachers and AIDS Club coordinators.
Rui has created a masterpiece for our logo! We will eventually print t-shirts with the full design to give to teachers as an incentive to complete their evaluations, and hopefully sell them in Connecticut as well. Rui is going to carve the design into a lino-block to make a one-off print for us. I hope one day it will be framed and hanging in the offices of Sekolo Projects Inc.
Through meetings and planning with the HIV/AIDS Management Unit at the Ministry of Education, a schedule for pilot workshops in June and July is coming into focus. In the four southern and eastern regions of Namibia (Omaheke, Otjozonjupa, Hardap and Karas) there are only 54 secondary schools. We will run 16 workshops to train teachers at those schools. In those workshops we will train at least 1 teacher at every school, and two at many. The number of teachers at each workshop depends solely on the geographic location of the schools; I have grouped the schools as best as possible, but because so many schools are quite remote, some workshops only have a few teachers (1 or 2 schools) participating. The workshops will take place over 6 weeks in June and July. Final details for the workshops can only be arranged after the Regional Directors have given their approval. HAMU will be writing to the Regional Directors shortly to inform them of HAMUÕs approval and recommend the program. From there it should be smooth sailing!
I must apologize for the lack of updates on out website. I have been struggling with my own lack of knowledge in creating a website and have found it difficult, from Namibia, to find and communicate with someone who can design and upload a new site for Sekolo. I am truly hoping to put up something new this month and will let you all know when it happens.
There is a very special event coming up shortly! At Christ Church, Greenwich, we are very fortunate to have some extraordinarily talented singers who work with the choirs and perform themselves. They have formed a vocal ensemble called
'Schola Cantorum' and will be performing on 20 May at 8:00 (you will receive more details about the concert by email shortly). This is their first concert and will be performed for the benefit of Sekolo Projects. If you are able, I hope you can support this wonderful new ensemble!
Thank you always for your support, letters and emails of encouragement,
Elizabeth
