Last Days in Namibia

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

This is will be by last entry into this blog that has followed this extraordinary experience in Namibia. I write it with mixed emotions and a real sense of perspective on what I have gained from this opportunity. It has not only challenged my views on Africa and it’s people, but also the way we deal with issues in the UK.

I hear so much. about how tough it is in the western world with the financial crisis and I cannot help but think back on some of the people I met in Namibia. There was the Grandmother who, because of the death of her children, was bringing up eleven grandchildren on her own by weaving baskets. She never once complained or moaned, but asked that we consider buying her goods. There was the woman who was made homeless by the floods and her worldly goods fitted into the boot of a car. She worked as cleaner and in the following week she lost her job, because of financial cutbacks. Although I knew her quite well, she never asked for anything. There were the children at school who lived in the Hostels, where the conditions were so poor that just walking through them was an emotional roller coaster. Whenever I met them around the school, they always had a smile on their faces and were always dressed immaculately. How they managed it, I will never know, as I would have thought it was impossible to stay clean in such a place.

Has this changed me as a person? Most certainly, how could it fail not to!

Has it changed me as a Head Teacher? Only time will tell, but I am sure that this experience can only be an advantage to me in the future.

Monday was a time to say goodbye to both schools and ensure that contacts would be maintained in the future. I was at Nuuyoma School at 7.00 a.m. to address the children at their assembly. I received a great reception and I felt really sad as I stood up on the step and spoke to the whole school. At mid-day I was invited to Mupewa School where I had a great send-off, with singing and speeches from the children. In the afternoon I attended a Braai (Bar-B-Q) in my honour, where I was presented with traditional Ovambo shirt, which I am told is a great honour. The pictures below are a selection from this special day.

On Tuesday it was final meetings at Elim and Outapi offices, where I said goodbye to the Director of Omusati. I also gave a verbal feedback on my time in Oshikuku, and the impact of the work.

Wednesday was travelling down to Windhoek to be there to collect Ann at the airport the next day. I found a nice place to stop, but struggled to sleep well on a soft, bump free bed.

On Thursday I picked Ann up at the airport and was driving north by ten o’clock. We headed straight for Etosha and stopped in a lovely Lodge in the southern part of the Park. We took a little drive out before sunset and saw lots of animals including two Lions and a very big Lizard, which must have been one and a half metres long. After a very nice meal we sat by the illuminated waterhole and saw Zebra, Jackals and a Rhino all coming for a drink.

Friday was a long, slow drive through Etosha, spotting all sorts of animals. We then headed to Ongwediva and booked into a small hotel. After a quick stop at Penny’s house we had an evening meal with the other Head Teacher Volunteers and Penny.

Saturday was the trip to Oshikuku to pick up my remaining things for the last time. We also met up with Amber who is an American volunteer working with a basket-making group of women. She is an extraordinary person, and has done amazing things to support a group of women and children in Oshikuku. Needless to say we bought a considerable number of baskets from her, with Ann getting into her best shopping mode.

I also showed Ann around one of the schools I had been working in and the home for special needs children. It was an emotional day all round, but more was to follow. In the evening a very special event took place where Doris, a very special Zulu lady, had organised for her dance group to entertain us to say goodbye. It was an amazing evening and made the more special as it was Ann and my twenty-eighth wedding anniversary. It will be something I will never forget.

On Sunday Ann and I said our final goodbyes and drove to Ruacanna falls (picture above) and then on to Khorixas. This involved driving through the Namibian desert for hundreds of miles and not seeing anyone. I attach a picture of Ann on one of the many gravel roads we travelled on.

Monday was travelling back to Windhoek, with some sightseeing along the way and more, very long gravel roads. In the evening we went to the famous ‘Joe’s Beer House’ for a meal.

Tuesday was last minute shopping in Windhoek, and then, all too soon it was time to part again. However, this time it would be only for a few days.

As I close this blog, I would like to thank all of the people who have followed it and read my ramblings. I hope you have enjoyed the stories and pictures from my experiences in Namibia. I consider myself very lucky to have had this opportunity and it was great sharing it with you all.

Lots of love and best wishes for the last time.

Barry X

Last Full Week at Work

Hello Everyone,

I cannot believe that, as I write this blog, I am talking about my last full week of work. The time has gone so quickly, and I really feel that I am just starting to make significant changes in each of the schools I am working in. On refection a three-month placement seemed very long initially, but it actually takes you that long to settle and understand the cultural differences. However, any longer would mean that I could not go back to my original job, so it is a compromise.

Monday started in Ongwediva this week as Penny and I were doing some joint working. When I got up I also found a Praying Mantise on the ‘Bird of Paradise’ Flower, which I attach a picture of. As Penny’s leg is still not healed, I drove, and firstly dropped some papers to Nuuyoma School. I then went to Mupewa School and spent some time with the Head and some of the staff. Mupewa had taken on the task of using the training I had delivered to them on Cumulative Record Cards, and delivering it themselves to all the schools in the Omusati region. This was ambitious, but we had gained the approval of the Director of Education for Omusati, and today was their first workshop. There were four staff involved on the first workshop and I went through each section with them. In the afternoon we met them at the area office where the training was to be done. I sat at the side of the room with the type of nerves you get when one of your children are performing in an event at school. Penny was there to report back to the Director on the quality of the training, and whether it should continue. We needn’t have worried, and I sat there like the proud Father as they delivered an excellent workshop. I kept hearing my words come out of their mouths, and the thirty schools there, all seemed pleased with their training. The picture is the mupewa staff during their training.

Tuesday was working from home in the morning and then picking up five Mupewa staff in the afternoon to deliver another workshop at a different circuit office. Once briefed, I let the staff do the training again, on their own. It was another great success, and I could see the staff grow in stature as I fed back my evaluation to them.

However, feeling really good about the work I had done with Mupewa was short lived that night, as I felt terrible with a fever, sickness, stomach cramps and various other unmentionable symptoms.

The next morning was no better and I just about managed to get myself dressed. and meet up with Penny. We went directly to the Health centre and tried to get an appointment with the Doctor. I arrived at 9.00 and as seen at 11.30; it makes the NHS look really fast. The good news was that it wasn’t Malaria, but it was probably another bite, which I would have to live with for a while. The rest of the day was spent between work and the toilet, but I did have a little sleep in the afternoon, as I had not slept the night before.

On Thursday, I woke up still feeling ‘grim’, but I had managed to get some sleep. This was just as well as I had a meeting in Outapi, 100 Kilometres away, at 9.00 am. We managed to get there on time and I met with the special Needs Team. Another volunteer also showed me around Outapi Hospital, which was quite an eye-opener. I have seen cleaner farms, and the infection rate must be very high. In the afternoon I presented the new development plan to the Nuuyoma Staff. I felt shattered at he end of the day, but did get myself back to Ongwediva to sleep at Penny’s house.

Friday was a general workday, but I did go back to Oshikuku, in the evening, to show a film to the children in Nuuyoma School. Harry Potter and the chamber of Secrets’ went down extremely well, but I would hate to have Health and Safety check the electrics that were set up.

The weekend was highlighted by another trip to Etosha on the Sunday. Penny wanted to go again and we took an American volunteer called Gretchen. It was great as usual, but we didn’t see any Elephants or Lions this time. However, I did have a troop of Mongoose try to bite me. It doesn’t sound good, does it; in an area of wild and vicious creatures a Mongoose attacks me. It was quite big though, and I attach a picture to show how ferocious it was.

I expect next week will be my last blog, but before that, Ann will be joining me. I am hoping to be able to show you some of the pictures and tell you some of the tales.

Take care.

Barry

Thinking of going home.

Hi everyone,

Well this has been a much quieter week, with work happening in three main places. This was the two main schools and the circuit office where I was working with eighteen Principals from the Elim and Etayi cicrcits.

On Monday, Penny O’brien and I had put a training session together for Cluster Centre Principals. This was trying to explain how a Cluster Centre could improve Teaching and Learning and Management Development, both in the school and the Cluster. This training went extremely well with eighteen Principals, and I was very pleased with the quality of the discussions and the positive way that the Principals approached the training.

Tuesday found me back in Oshikuku and opening the door in the morning I found a number of Donkeys standing outside my door (Picture below). It is always interesting to find out what is in my garden when I wake up each morning, as I have had, Goats, Cows, A Bull, Dogs, Chickens, Donkeys and a Chipmunk type Mouse. I worked from home for the whole of the day preparing for some forthcoming training and meetings.

On Wednesday, I was at one of my schools at 6.30 in the morning, ready to issue the whole of the School Staff with their Certificates of Attendance from the previous Workshops. I did drop into Mupewa Junior School, where I was presented with a young girl who was obviously very sad. She had a school bag, which was stuffed full of rubbish and I spent an hour talking to her and asking her why she collected the rubbish. I include her picture below, and I am sure colleagues in Parkside will recognise a child who needs a lot of time from someone to be spent with her. I gave the school some advice on how to build this girls confidence and self-esteem and promised I would visit her again. The rest of the day was spent preparing for another training session with the Cluster Principals on the forthcoming Friday.

On Thursday I had a development meeting with Nuuyoma Secondary School’s Senior Management Team. We agreed a very simple Development Plan to improve the Professional standards of Teachers, the Improvement of Teaching and Learning, Improvement of Lesson Planning and the Development of Subject Policies.

On Friday I woke up to find another one of those big flat spiders in my room. This time I took a picture of it, which I include below. It is about 4 to 5 cm across and can move extremely very quickly. I am told that they are harmless, but I think that depends on you point of view! The day was mostly training the Cluster Centre Principals, which was very successful again and the evaluation returns were very pleasing.

The weekend was also quite quiet, but Penny was pleased to see one of her plants come out in flower for the first time. It is called a ‘Bird of Paradise’ flower and it has taken three years to produce its first flower. I know that Vicky will be particularly interested in this, so I took a picture of it and included it in this Blog.

As I complete this Blog I realise that I have just one more to write before I head for home. Again I have mixed feelings about this part of my life coming to an end, but I do know that I will never forget this experience. I feel that, as so often with Africa, it puts your own life into perspective, and makes you appreciate what you have back in the UK. However, it may make me a little less tolerant of those people who are always moaning about their lot!!

Take care until next week.

Love to all.

Barry

From Life in Oshikuku to the lives of the Himba

As I start my tenth week in Namibia I cannot believe that I have less than a month to go in this amazing country. I have mixed feelings of sadness for the limited time I have left, but also happiness knowing that I will soon see friends and loved ones at home in England.

Monday started with a long journey back from Rundu to Ongwediva. It was very interesting as we changed areas and tribal regions. Not only do the buildings change but so does the language. On the journey we stopped briefly in Tsumeb, where I met some Damara speaking people. Their language is full of clicks, which are formed at the back of the throat. I thought they were choking, but Pennie assured me that they were talking to each other. We also saw a lot of children and young people selling fish at the side of the road. This is the time of the season where the real big fish can be found in the Oshanas (temporary lakes). We also saw some lads selling the bullfrogs that they had caught, which is unusual, as they are normally caught at the start of the rainy season, before Christmas.

Tuesday was a full work day, but I did mange to go out into Oshikuku and take some photos of everyday life. As you can see from below, there are always Goats and Cattle roaming around the streets, but the market is normally very interesting. I don’t pretend I know what everything is that they are selling, and it sometimes even smells good.

Wednesday was the first of a number of award ceremonies I have planned. I went to Mupewa Junior School and presented them with their certificates of attendance for the five workshops that I had completed with them They were all very pleased to receive them as you can see from the photo below.

Thursday was work day from my house; but I did mange to go to the independence day celebrations at Mupewa. It was a really nice event, if a little disorganised and it was very picturesque as they hold assemblies underneath the big tree in their grounds. I managed to get some really good photos, and I include a couple below.

Friday was a preparation day for next week, which is going to be very busy with workshops. However, I did go to a leaving do in the evening for two German trainee Doctors who work at Oshikuku Hospital. As with the other hospitals I have seen there was a little unofficial campsite outside the gates. I am told that women who are expecting babies walk from their homesteads and camp outside until they go into labour. It could save the NHS millions of pounds if we introduced it in the UK!

The weekend was a bit of a treat as we decided to take a trip to the Ruacana Falls and stop overnight in a lodge. With the heavy rains we were told that they were spectacular; and they were! The Lodge was also very nice, with air conditioning, and for the first time in nine weeks I slept under covers. Luxury!

On Sunday morning we took the option to visit a Himba village, which was a long way into the bush. It was really interesting and we were given a friendly welcome in yet another different language. As you can see from the pictures, the Himba coat themselves with Ochre, a red mineral. The women also mix the ochre with clay and put it in their hair. However, they can only do it when they become a woman, and the little girl you can see has her hair done differently until she is deemed to be a woman. Men can have as many wives as they wish, as long as they can support them! The one we met only had two wives as he was getting on in years. The buildings are very traditionally made, but surprisingly comfortable inside, but the beds were just a blanket on the ground. I don’t think my back could cope with that any more!

Best wishes to all at home, and with this adventure drawing to a close, I am starting to think of the changes I will find back in England.

Has it stopped raining yet? Is Norwich City in the Premiership? Is petrol up to £20 a gallon? Are Christmas decorations on sale? Is Gordon Brown still Prime Minister? Will the children at Parkside remember me? Is there any ‘more’ Celtic staff at Parkside School?

So many questions!

Barry

The Road to Rundu.

The week started with not having any electric; but this time is was our fault, as we had run out! I then had to walk to the shop that sells the credit for the electric metre, only to find that they couldn’t do it for me. This meant a panicky text to one of the other Heads, Shay, who came to the rescue and bought us some credit. The rest of the day was a standard working session, with meetings at both the junior and secondary school along with preparation for workshops. I took a few pictures at Mupewa, of everyday events. such as getting water and a PE lesson.

On Tuesday I had an important meeting at the circuit office in Elim, which is about twenty kilometres away from Oshikuku. I was picked up from Nuuyoma Secondary School and we drove the sandy road to Elim. Unfortunately, the road had been washed away in parts and I was really pleased that we had a ‘four by four’ to cope with the terrain. I enclose a picture of one of part of the road and a newspaper satellite picture showing the region I am working in, with all the flooding. Oshikuku is in the top left side of the picture and Elim is south of that. As you can see the rest of the road is now under water.

Wednesday was a working day in both schools and I finally got some printing done for the training certificates, as Mupewa had some ink in their one and only printer. I also set a number of dates with both Principals, for work session, up until I leave. I agreed to write a development plan for Nuuyoma and introduce it to the senior managers and the staff. In Mupewa I agreed to support the Principal in delivering training to other school Principals, and help him produce a simple website for the school.

On Wednesday evening I had a visit from a ‘Peace Corps’ Volunteer from America, who is working with a group of women in a Basket Making business. She had worked on a ‘Fund Raising’ video presentation, and wanted my opinion. I also received a phone call from VSO to say that our bid to purchase a digital projector had been successful, and the money had been deposited in my account. This is a bit late for us, but it will benefit future Heads who work in Namibia.

On Thursday I had a training session on Record Cards with Nuuyoma Secondary School, so I had to get some copies done. This time the photocopier was broken, so I had to go to Mupewa to get them done. Their copier was also broken, but they did have an old one, which after 50 miss-feeds I was able to get most of the training materials done. The actual training went well except a few young staff that I had to tell off for not taking it seriously.

In the evening I went drumming again, and this week it actually sounded OK at times. From there I went onto a ‘leaving do’ for an English volunteer, Chris, who was returning to England very soon.

On Friday, Pennie and I were off to Rundu, to meet up with a old colleague of mine, Linda Shiner, who had been an Educational Psychologist in Norfolk and had come over to Namibia to work, over two years ago. However, before we left I had work to do, including the purchase of the Digital Projector in Oshikati. Having successfully done the purchase, we set off on our 620 Kilometre journey. It sounds a lot, but with the roads so empty, and so very straight, we were there by 6.00 pm, having stopped for a short lunch break in Tsumeb.

Saturday, started with an aborted trip to a lodge by the river, as the access road to it, was completed flooded. However, we did go around the Rundu market, and had lunch off one of the food stalls. I enclose a picture to show the cooking area. The food was very tasty, and I had some locally caught river fish and a variety of different salads. In the afternoon, Linda, took me to meet one of her ‘Special Olympic’ people, Daniel, who is totally blind, but lives with his wife and baby by the Ovango river. His family live in a traditional homestead in the bush, and he took us there for a visit. Most people live like this, which must be very hard as there is no, water, electric or any services. I was made most welcome and was shown around the whole place. I attach a couple of the fantastic photos I was able to take. The only problem, I had, was that Daniel was drying fish in his house, so that the dogs wouldn’t eat them. The smell was something I cannot describe, and I have to say that I never want to smell it again.

Sunday turned out to be a wonderful day, as we joined a group of Swiss volunteers on an all-day boat trip on the Ovango River. It was also time for them to return to their own country, and they wanted to finish their time in style. It was wonderful, with brilliant scenery, excellent food and lovely company. However, I had a surreal experience as Mrs. Booth, Acting Head at Parkside, telephoned me in the middle of the river and miles into the African bush!

It was a marvellous weekend, and Linda was amazing as a host. The area of Rundu is very beautiful and the people were great, and I can see how you would fall in love with it. However, all good things must come to an end, and the long journey back was tinged with some sadness as I had spent such a short time in the Kavango region and Rundu in particular.

Best wishes to all.

Barry

The water continues to rise!

Well, after the trials of Etosha last week, I found myself still in Ongwediva on Monday morning. This meant sleeping on the floor for another night, but it also meant that I did not have to make my way back to Oshakuku by a ‘Hike’ of some sort. I took one of my colleagues to Ondangwa as he was getting a lift back to his work area. The floods were really quite bad here and there were still people by the side of the road with all their possessions. I have included pictures of the floods, but not of the people, as I feel it is not right to do so. Some people are quite pleased as the high water means that there are fish around. These fish seem to survive under the sand for eight months of the year and then appear when it starts to rain. I have included a picture of some of the fishermen, however, we have seen a lot of people using their mosquito nets to fish with. I think they get a lot more fish like that, but it is a bit dangerous and people are drowning.

As Pennie has broken her leg, she has allowed me to use her car, which is great. I went back to Oshakuku and sorted a few things, then drove back to Ongwediva, avoiding the cows, goats and donkeys. I spent most of Tuesday working on a training programme for Cluster Principals, which Pennie and I will deliver at the end of March.

On Wednesday we had no electric for most of the day, but in the morning we met with an inspector to discuss the training. He was from a nearby area called Tsandi, which I am told is where the President of Namibia comes from. Working at the house was quite quiet, but as I looked out of the window the Mongoose seem to enjoy the peace of the area and play in the garden. In the evening I was invited to a local lodge where a famous disabled British actor, Mat Fraser, was appearing. He was a Thalidomide baby and now in his forties, was a great advert for what can be achieved with talent, determination and given the opportunities.

Thursday was more work in the morning, but in afternoon I was invited to a drama performance at the local special school, Eluwa. It was meant to start at 2.00 pm and it was about a mile walk, so I set off with plenty of time to spare. When I got there, I couldn’t find any one who knew what was going on and walked around the school at least three times. I was now late and went back to the reception. I politely asked if the secretary could help me, and she got very upset because I hadn’t spent the normal fifteen minutes on greeting her and exchanging pleasantries. Not a good start, but eventually I found someone who would talk to me and they directed me to a classroom. I needn’t have worried that I was late, because as with all things in Namibia it didn’t start on time. However, it was well worth waiting for and we had a wonderful dance performance from a group of blind and deaf girls, followed by some story-telling drama. Mat Fraser led some of the drama activities and I managed to get the job of taking the photographs. It was a wonderfully inspiring afternoon, and I was really glad I had been invited. However, I did note that the signing and finger spelling is all very different here from our country, which is a great pity as this school would have been a very good link for Parkside School.

On Thursday evening I went to an African drumming class, which was a bit of fun. At the end of the session I even made a sound that was almost rhythmical. I apologise now to Mrs and Mr Holderness and any other musicians for this very poor showing of musical talent and general co-ordination. However, it might not end here as I thought I would even go again some time; sorry music world! I enclose a picture of me with Doris my Zulu instructor to the right of me and a Dutch girl to my left.(Can’t remember her name)

On Friday morning Pennie and I went out into the country and met with my Inspector to discuss the training we were putting on. The journey was interesting because parts of the road had been washed away. When we arrived we found that my inspector had another meeting with Principals, but we managed to squeeze in a brief meeting with him. At twelve I was supposed to have a guided tour of the special school, Eluwa, but the person who was meant to be showing me around, had forgotten she had another meeting. I must get them to use a diary!!!!

The weekend was very interesting and I did a lot of new things. I had my hair cut on Saturday morning, which turned OK, surprisingly. I then went to see a dance group that Doris runs, in the afternoon, where they performed outside a shopping area. (I attach a picture of some of the dancers). In the evening I went to a Braai, which is African for a Bar-B-Q, at the house of the Dutch couple I rescued from Etosha last week. It was really good, but I think I may have had a little bit too much orange squash! I also met a fellow special needs teacher from Suffolk, who went on all night about how Ipswich is doing better than Norwich this year. I couldn’t argue with her as I had just found out that they had lost again to Blackpool.

On Sunday it was back to Oshakuku, and preparing myself for the weeks work ahead.

A week which ends in a rescue!

As I start my sixth week in Namibia, I think to myself that the first five have flown by. It will not be long before I am preparing to go home, but there is so much work to be done here and so little time to do it.

Monday was going to be an exciting day for me, as I was to be picked up and taken to Outapi, the educational regional head office for the Omusati area. At Outapi, I was to present four workshops to the special needs team, to see how they could be rolled-out to more schools in the region. I had organised a lift with the head of the SEN team, and I was to wait outside the Secondary School to be picked up. So I waited, and waited! After two hours I decided to wait no longer and headed back to my place. It seems that something had gone wrong with the transport organisation; which was not a surprise. There seems to be a lack of basic organisational skills here, which quite often leads to such problems. I am going to introduce the ‘Work Diary’ to Namibia, where people write down all the things they should be doing; I think it will revolutionise the education system here!

On Tuesday we got up after another night of rain to find the garden completely flooded again. To get out of the house we had to paddle first and then put our shoes on later, as the water had gone over the stepping-stones I had set up. I delivered a workshop to the Primary school in the afternoon, on how to use the ‘Cumulative Record Cards’, which all schools should use in Namibia. They are the database system for learners in schools and also the tracking of their achievements throughout their school careers. The concept is good, but nobody has told the schools how to use them! So I was asked to put a training package together, that could be used in any school. As this was the first workshop of this type I was a little nervous as to how it would go. I needn’t have worried, as it was very well received and staff were extremely grateful for the guidance.

Wednesday was a general work-day in the morning, and in the afternoon I had the final workshop on Special Needs with Mupewa Junior School. This also went extremely well, and the now staff all seem to understand that ‘chalk and talk’ does not include all learners in the classroom. The Principal was so pleased with the training that he had written a letter to the Director, asking if his school could offer the training to other schools. I agreed that this would be a sustainable way to continue this work and suggested I mentored them in the first couple of workshops.

Thursday was meeting with Principals and working on Development Plans, but Bonnie allowed me to lead on a couple of her Maths classes, which gave me an opportunity to model some of the differentiation work. I really enjoyed the teaching and the Learners responded to the different style extremely well.

On Friday I had agreed with Bonnie that I would teach her classes all morning as she was at UNAM, which is the Namibian University in Windhoek. However, it was a weekend where the Learners all go home. As there was severe flooding in the north of Namibia, we had special permission to let them go early. So I ended up teaching classes from 7.30 to 9.15 am, which was a much-shortened session. The Principal told me that the floods had already claimed forty lives in the area, and we had great concerns for the children walking home through the Oshanas (Shallow lakes). The rest of the day was working on management issues and finishing workshop presentations.
On Saturday I went to Ongwediva and did some shopping in the morning. In the afternoon a group of us went to ‘Pondo’, the special needs home and had a great time playing with the kids. I also met the ‘main man’ there and looked at some linking of Parkside School with Pondo. I think it would be great if we could do some work with them. That night I received a text from a colleague who had gone to Etosha wildlife area with some friends, and had broken down. It was decided that I should borrow a 4X4 and go and pick them up. So on Sunday I set off to drive 250 Kilometres to get them from Etosha. I got there at 10.30 in the morning, and there seemed no alternative but to tow them back to Ohsakati. Which is what I did, going very steadily for all 250 Kilometres, towing another 4X4. I was exhausted by the time I got back!!!

The pictures this week are: A group of infant Learners at Mupewa; please note the woolly hats in temperatures of 35 degrees. My house after a night of rain, and the refection of a sunset off my flooded garden. Last but by no-means least, my new girlfriend at Pondo Special Home.

Best wishes.

Barry