vso namibia newsletter-issue1

Since 2000, VSO Namibia’s HIV & AIDS Programme has supported a range of government ministries, non-government, community and faith-based organisations

through a range of interventions and activities in order to strengthen their response to and to reduce the impact of HIV & AIDS in the country. These interventions have been provided through skilled VSO volunteers either through direct service delivery (e.g., doctors, nurses and social workers), or via capacity building and organisational support (e.g, managers, accountants and IT specialists).

A programme review conducted in 2006 resulted in identifying its focus, as; a) improving and increasing access to prevention and treatment services for people infected and affected by HIV & AIDS; and b) reducing the burden of care on communities. The programme will continue to support the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), specifi cally in the ART or Anti-Retroviral Therapy Programme, as well as local and community-based organisations in terms of capacity building, service delivery and organisational development. Support will be provided through placement of volunteers, disbursement of small grants, exchange visits, conferences and workshops.

There are currently 12 VSO volunteers working within the HIV & AIDS Programme. These volunteers are placed with community-based organisations, primarily to improve service delivery through individual capacity building and organisational development.

The Offi cial Newsletter of VSO Namibia Inaugural Issue, December 2006

Volunteers Working

for Development

IN THIS ISSUE:

VSO-RAISA 2006 Conference tackles Food Security in a

world of HIV & AIDS

The Regional AIDS Initiative of Southern Africa (RAISA) is a

VSO initiative that operates in six countries in the southern African region - Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. RAISA aims to strengthen the capacity of government and civil society to develop and implement multi-sectoral responses to HIV & AIDS challenges in prevention, care, access to treatment and voluntary counseling and treatment. Special attention is given to reduction of stigma, gender issues, people living with HIV & AIDS, and orphans and vulnerable children.

On November 1- 3, VSO staff and partners from the six participating

VSO and Partners pay tribute to volunteers’ contribution to development

VSO Namibia joins community-based organisations, NGOs, international development agencies and government ministries in recognising the dedication of

volunteers and the world of difference they make wherever they, as the whole world celebrates the International Day of Volunteers on December 5.

While working through international volunteers, VSO Namibia also promotes support for national or local volunteering in the country.

F CONFERENCE: cont. on page 11 F BURDEN: cont. on page 11

F TRIBUTE: cont. on page 10

Increase the AccessIncrease the AccessReduce the BurdenReduce the Burden

Cross-Agency Working for Fillemon

VSO Namibia heeds the Call to Support

National Volunteering

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Volunteers Working for Development December 2006

Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) has been a worldwide-adopted strategy for 25 years now. CBR

is a strategy within general community development for rehabilitation, equalisation of opportunities and social inclusion of all children and adults with disability. Community volunteers have an important role in raising public awareness, as well as in identifying and referring people with disabilities. The Namibian government is already deeply involved and committed to this community-based approach in addressing development related issues of people with disabilities, which makes CBR not solely an NGO-supported approach.

In 1997, the Ministry of Lands, Resettlement and Rehabilitation launched its National Policy on Disability in which CBR was mentioned as having a key role in its implementation. In January 2005, a National Programme for Community-Based Rehabilitation came into being which makes CBR on the policy level, full of potential. On the practical side, however, a lot of work still needs to be done. Today, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) has set up a department that focusses on Community-Based Rehabiltation.

The Disability Programme and CBR

VSO Namibia’s Disability Programme has been suppor-ting the establishment of effective Community-Based

Rehabilitation Programmes since 2003, mainly through VSO volunteers placed in strategic MOHSS departments and community-based organisations. In March 2006, a volunteer serving as national CBR coordinator has started working at the VSO Programme Offi ce to coordinate the efforts of several CBR coordinators in the country. There are currently seven VSO volunteers actively working on CBR, either as management advisor, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or social worker. Through these volunteers, VSO has partnerships with the MOHSS, Onyose Trust (an Organisation working for people with disabilities based in Windhoek) and ELCIN Rehabilitation Centre (based in Oniipa, Oshikoto region). The Ministry and both organisations run CBR Programmes, and the serving VSO volunteers provide support in terms of management, training, fundraising, networking, among many others. VSO is also working together closely with other related ministries in order to adhere to the holistic approach that CBR promotes. One of the many results of VSO’s fundraising and networking activities for CBR is the cooperation with Liliane Foundation.

VSO Namibia and Liliane Foundation

In the beginning of 2006, a memorandum of understand-ing was signed between Liliane Foundation, a Dutch

Minnie Lagria, CBR Manager, working with a child with cerebral palsy at the Occupational Therapy Department, Rundu Hospital.

PROGRAMMES

CBR: A Holistic Approach to Attaining Equal Opportunities for People with Disabilities

organisation focussing on children with disabilities under the age of 25, and VSO Namibia. The experience and network that VSO has, because of the work done in the fi eld through VSO and local volunteers, contributed to the easy access of support provided for by the Foundation. To date, about 35 children with disabilities have received assistance from Liliane Foundation. The type of assistance varies from wheelchairs, walking aid, voice activated laptop to transport money for visits to various rehabilitation services. Since most assistance is provided on individual basis, the application and monitoring therefore is also done on an individual level. Nevertheless, requests in order to make buildings accessible for people with disabilities, e.g., through the construction of ramps, grab rails or adjusted toilets, can also be fi led. A third opportunity is to request for support for income generating projects focussing on either a young adult or parents of children with multiple disabilities.

By identifying more organisations for, and with, people with disabilities, more children could benefi t from Liliane Foundation. For information, please contact VSO Namibia and ask for Menno Bongers (CBR and Liliane Foundation Coordinator).

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December 2006 Volunteers Working for Development

VSO Namibia’s Education Programme is guided by a programme area plan (PAP), which operates within

the parameters of VSO Namibia’s Country Strategic Plan (CSP 2003-2008). The CSP has been drafted in adherence to national development policies, such as the Vision 2030.

The overall goal of the Education Programme is to support the development of quality education for disadvantaged children in Namibia. The specifi c purpose of the programme is to support Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) stakeholders and government departments in strengthening the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) capacity to address the educational needs of disadvantaged children in the targeted regions. ‘Disadvantaged children’ refers to all children fi nding themselves in the previously disadvantaged regions, such as Otjozondjupa, Omusati, Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Kavango and the Caprivi. It also includes Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC), children with disabilities, children who are part of minority groups like the San as well as girls. Our main partner is the MoE through its regional directorates that operate around the country, headed by Regional Directors.

Currently the Education PAP supports the MoE through the educational regions of Caprivi, Ohangwena, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, and Kavango region. Otjozondjupa region will also feature as a partner in relation to support for the San located in the northwest corridor area of Namibia. The University of Namibia (UNAM), through its northern campus based in Oshakati is also a prominent partner.

The support rendered to the regions focuses on achieving results in: a) increasing the number of qualifi ed mathematics, science and English teachers; b) improving the quality of mathematics, science and English teaching; and c) improving and strengthening management capacity at cluster, circuit and regional levels.

The support to the target regions has been stable and ongoing through the placement of skilled and experienced volunteers. Complementing the combined efforts to teach International General Certifi cate for Secondary Education (IGCSE) at senior secondary level, VSO has also developed several teacher placements with an additional responsibility of mathematics, science and

English teacher training at primary and junior secondary school level. Other efforts include the facilitation of regional management capacity building exercises through the placement of Organisational Development Advisors (ODA). An initial short-term placement in the Kavango region resulted in the region recruiting for two other placements of ODA to be placed at circuit level in 2007. This move also prompted the colleges of education in Ongwediva and Caprivi to request ODA placements at their institutions. Management capacity building is viewed as a milestone in the area of strengthening the regional capacity towards the implementation of the Education and Training Sector Improvement Programme (ETSIP), which is the MoE’s fi ve-year strategic plan to attain Vision 2030.

Among the objectives of the San Stakeholders Consultative Meeting in October 2005 was to identify the development needs of San communities in various regions in relation to Disability, Education, HIV & AIDS and Secure Livelihoods.

PROGRAMMES

Some VSO outputs contributing to the attainment of the Education Programme in the target regions relates to:• Facilitating the development of regional bursary

schemes;• Supporting UNAM in developing the foundation

course;• Supporting the proper implementation of the

MASTEP programme;• Facilitating the development of programmes to

attract and retain newly qualifi ed teachers in target regions (mentoring schemes);

• Strengthening the development of cluster-level In-Service teacher training;

• Providing subject-related support to Advisory Teachers;

• Supporting clusters with implementation of school science fairs;

• Supporting the developing of management capacity of cluster Principals and Head Of Departments;

• Facilitating the development of training programmes at advisory and inspectorate levels; and

• Facilitating the improvement of Organizational Development and Management Systems at regional level.

Sustainable Change through

Education

4


Products currently in demand are colorful baskets produced to exact specifi cations. Producers who have worked alongside VSO craft experts are learning that quality products pay the best prices.

Unemployment and underemployment are some of the key development issues in Namibia

leading to consistent poverty for more than half of Namibia’s population. Most jobs cannot be fi lled due to lack of suitably qualifi ed and experienced people. In formerly disadvantaged areas in the north, many non-Namibians are employed in the education and health sectors. The formal sector is unable to absorb the vast numbers of unskilled job seekers, while the informal sector is still relatively underdeveloped. Lack of technical skills, as well as small business development knowledge and skills, and access to credit are the main reasons for the lack of entrepreneurship and growth within the small, micro and medium enterprise sector. In addition to skills shortage, there appears to be a mismatch between the outputs of education and training institutions, and the labour market needs. Most vocational and skills training continues to be maintaining traditional gender roles.

In response, VSO Namibia has developed a targeted and focussed programme based on where VSO can have the greatest impact. In order to contribute to creating employment in rural areas, VSO will be seeking to strengthen partnerships with organisations supporting community initiatives in creating employment and increasing rural incomes. The focus will hence be on communal conservancies where the local population is able to manage their natural environment and where opportunities for exploration of these natural resources exist, as well as on developing a more business- and enterprise-oriented approach to natural resource management, to ensure that such

initiatives are sustainable. In the aspect of enterprise development, craft

production remains the main source of income generation in the Caprivi, the four north central regions, and recently the Kavango region. The challenge for craft producers is to keep exploring new products to ensure constant sales and demand. At present, VSO supports a number of organisations in enterprise and business development through two VSO volunteers with Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation in Caprivi, doing craft, fi nance and organisational development. There is also one volunteer hosted by Rössing Foundation working on craft development.

PROGRAMMES

VSO fi rst made contact with the newly-elected democratic government shortly after Namibia attained

its independence in 1990. Various ministries and local non-government organisations expressed strong interest in working in partnership with VSO. A country agreement with the National Planning Commission of the Government of the Republic of Namibia was signed on 21 June 1991 and this was followed by the establishment of a Programme Offi ce and permanent representation in the country. The fi rst VSO volunteers arrived in September 1991 and the number of volunteers, along with the programme staff has since grown rapidly.

VSO Namibia’s programme is anchored on a Country Strategic Plan (CSP) covering the period 2003-2008. The purpose of the CSP is to maximise the impact of the Programme Offi ce on local development issues within the global development context and VSO’s corporate strategic plan, Focus for Change.

Based on the major local development issues, VSO’s expertise, experiences and comparative advantage in Namibia, the aim to increase focus and impact as defi ned in the Focus for Change, as well as the availability of resources, the following development goals have been identifi ed as key areas for VSO Namibia: HIV & AIDS, Disability, Education and Secure Livelihoods.

There are currently 75 VSO volunteers serving across Namibia, as follows: Education with 28 volunteers, Disability with 24, HIV & AIDS with 12 and Secure Livelihoods with 11. VSO volunteers are professionals ranging in age from 20 to 75. The majority of volunteers are working on a 2-year placement and have appropriate qualifi cations and experience for their placements.

The volunteers aim to pass on their expertise to local people so that when they return home their skills remain.

VSO Namibia… by numbers!

Using a More Enterprise-Oriented Approach to Securing Livelihoods


5


National volunteering, more commonly referred to as community

volunteering, is playing an increasingly important role in Namibia today. The NANASO’s Monitoring and Evaluation Report on the Civil Society Contribution to Tackling HIV & AIDS in Namibia, conducted in 2005, noted that the nature and scale of voluntary input is inspiring. The NANASO directory records more than a hundred organisations working for HIV & AIDS relying on the services of nearly 22,000 community volunteers. This fi gure does not include non-HIV & AIDS programmes, such as those on Disability, Education or even Secure Livelihoods. The Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations’ Forum (NANGOF) database in-progress, for instance, records that at least 33 civil society groups working towards a wide range of development issues in Namibia, alone, deal with a slightly lower total of about 14,000 local volunteers.

Evidently, various organisations are making effective use of local volunteers to implement their programmes, thus enabling more and more Namibians to contribute their share to community development through volunteering. Instead of seeing people as part of the problem, volunteering sees them as part of the answer. Volunteering can mobilize citizens in pursuit of specifi c development goals and can also contribute to the strength of civil society. However, this remarkable development is not without its set of challenges, particularly in terms of the kind of support that is being provided for national volunteers.

VSO promotes volunteering to fi ght global poverty and disadvantage. Hence, VSO Worldwide has been

working through, and with, volunteers since 1958, but more directly with international volunteers, by recruiting and sending them to countries where they are most needed. However, within VSO’s recent discussions around the future of volunteering, VSO hopes to increase its support to local or national volunteering programmes focused on addressing disadvantage in developing countries. VSO will not run these volunteering programmes and will not be recruiting local volunteers, but will support local agencies in doing so where such programmes provide an effective way of addressing shared development aims.

VSO Medium Term Plan commits that, “VSO will grow national volunteering steadily by ensuring that each country programme has explored the potential for national volunteering.” In November 2003, staff and partners from VSO Country Offi ces met in the Philippines to discuss how this commitment could be best transformed into action. To date, more and more VSO Programme Offi ces worldwide are responding to the summons for a more contemporary approach in volunteering and development.

VSO Namibia has heeded the call to build on VSO’s distinctive competence and rich experience in managing volunteers and is now working together with other organisations, government agencies and ministries to provide strategic support to national volunteering in Namibia, particularly within the HIV & AIDS and Disability programmes, wherein a huge number of local volunteers deliver their Home-Based Care (HIV & AIDS) and Community-

STEPS AHEAD

In the recent October planning on the future of Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations’ Forum (NANGOF), support for community volunteers under the Training and Capacity Building Sector, has been incorporated. Furthermore, NANGOF’s key focal areas now include: a) the development of a national framework on volunteering to recognise and support their efforts, to maximise their contribution to Namibian development; and b) taking action on the New Labour Act issues relating to civil society employers, employees and volunteers.

Overall NV Goal: Promote national volunteering as an enabling mechanism for people in Namibia to gain capacities through volunteering opportunities to fully contribute to the development of their own communities.

Objectives: 1) To support the strengthening of volunteer management capacity of Namibian volunteers involving organisations and agencies with emphasis on, but not limited to, HIV & AIDS and Disability programmes.

2) To support foster a more enabling environment for Namibian Volunteers.

Namibians for Namibia: VSO heeds the Call to Support

National Volunteering in Namibia

6


STEPS AHEAD

Based Rehabilitation (Disability) activities. Lack of recognition of volunteers’

contribution, poor relations with the community, lack of material support to facilitate volunteers’ work, need for more appropriate training and supervision, volunteer retention, volunteers’ false expectations and unguided motivations for volunteering, and client’s high expectations from volunteers are just a few of the many challenges that Namibian volunteers, along with the local organisations working with them, face in their efforts to contribute to community development.

Namibian volunteering is thriving amidst these challenges and is extensively supporting the work of several development organisations, including VSO Namibia. Both local and international organisations and programmes on the two development issues in the country are already relying on the voluntary services of local people, specifi cally for their Home-Based Care and Community-Based Rehabilitation activities. However, the driving force behind this movement is infl uenced by the socio-economic conditions in the country. A signifi cant number of community volunteers, who provide direct service to people living with HIV and people with disabilities, do so to have access to free trainings and workshops. Volunteering, therefore, is perceived as an avenue to gain skills to eventually be qualifi ed for proper employment. Under this defi nition, volunteering serves the purpose of building the capacity of a huge rate of

unqualifi ed or unemployable people, while enabling them to contribute to the development of their own communities and in the long run, to nation building.

In a country with only 1.8 million people, and where access to basic needs is still the concern of the majority, it is reasonably diffi cult to further the “beyond me” concept of volunteering. Given the extremely high rate of unemployment and poverty, volunteerism takes on a new meaning. To advocate for appropriate support for local volunteers, concerned civil society groups and government agencies must work around this defi nition of volunteering in Namibia. Nonetheless, the amount of volunteering among the employed and the youth in- and out- of school is also remarkably signifi cant. They volunteer for the sole purpose of being able to contribute to the development of their own communities, through making effective use of available skills and resources. VSO Namibia will also be therefore exploring avenues wherein the academe and the private sector can be introduced to community volunteering activities, since there have been expressions of interest from these sectors to be active in the volunteering movement.

In light of these clear manifestations of civil society’s active participation, VSO Namibia will support a wide range of volunteering efforts through appropriate types and levels of assistance within its Country Strategic Plan and existing programmes, as well as within other potential areas.

Windhoek International School (WIS) Students and Faculty strike a pose with the KAYEC Kids after a fun- and learning-fi lled afternoon at the Katutura Youth Enterprise Centre. Service Learning, which is a method whereby students engage in community service as part of their coursework, and which was piloted by VSO Namibia in partnership with KAYEC, through two WIS teachers and their respective classes. The idea is to allow the students to apply and validate concepts learned in the classroom to real-life situations, while directly being of service to others at the same time. It also allows the faculty to broaden education beyond the classroom. This voluntary activity is just one of the many ways that VSO is looking into to promote community volunteerism from all sectors of the Namibian society.


7


Q&AQ&AVSO Namibia promotes HR Solutions VSO Namibia promotes HR Solutions for Human Resources Challengesfor Human Resources Challenges

STEPS AHEAD

What is HR Solutions Namibia?

HR Solutions is a label of Randstad, a large multinational company on recruitment and out placing. Randstad

and VSO have entered into a long-term partnership and HR Solutions Namibia is one of the embodiments of the partnership between the two organisations.VSO Namibia has identifi ed that there is a stage in the development of most organisations when the need arises for support in establishing Human Resources management systems, structures and policies. Once fi nances are in place, applying knowledge and experience of human resources is essential to strengthen and develop organisations. VSO Namibia has been working with a number of local partners that are in this stage, or will be there soon.

Many NGOs have expressed a demand for HR related services to help strengthen their organisation and build organisational capacity. Many VSO partners not only manage contracted staff, but also work with, and through, community-based local volunteers. National volunteers, more commonly referred to as community volunteers, comprise a signifi cant part of these organisations’ human resources. Unfortunately, effective volunteer management is rare and thus requires support and development.

Small teams often lack expertise in developing systems and structures to enable employees to perform effectively and to support personal and professional development to better contribute to their organisations’ aims and objectives. However, most of the partner organisations are not large enough to require full-time support through a standard two-year VSO volunteer placement.

HR Solutions Namibia will fi ll in the identifi ed gap through offering a range of HR tools, as well as through placement of skilled volunteers. The overall purpose of HR Solutions Namibia is “to develop and share best practices and Namibian solutions for employment and labour issues among VSO partners”.

On a consultancy basis, HR volunteers will support VSO

partners to build organisational capacity through improving systems and structures, ensuring that basic conditions of employment are in place and are being adhered to. Promotion and sharing of books, standardized HR tools, models, documents and other relevant HR resources with partners will be part of the service as well. HR Solutions volunteers and staff will further work with partners in developing their capacity in recruiting and managing local volunteers. To make sure skills are being shared and competences developed, HR solutions will offer workshops and trainings, and will set up a network of those partners

with similar needs and demands.

How does HR Solutions fi t in VSO Namibia’s Country Strategic Plan?

HR Solutions Namibia will be working with partners that have been identifi ed through the four programme areas

of VSO Namibia. Organisational capacity building has been identifi ed as an objective in all these areas. HR Solutions will contribute to the organisational capacity building of the identifi ed partners by focussing on HR management and development. For many organisations, this will also include the management of local volunteers. Statistics show that unskilled and unqualifi ed people often will fi nd paid employment after having volunteered in an environment that enabled them to develop basic skills and experience. Strengthening the HR components of both smaller and bigger or more established organisations will signifi cantly contribute to improved employment conditions for both employees and volunteers. It will help employees and volunteers to develop their skills, develop a result-oriented work attitude and to understand their labour rights. It will support directors, managers and volunteer managers of organisations in the development of their leadership and people-management skills. Overall, it will contribute to improved employment practices and work environments in Namibia.

In April 2005, VSO merged with BESO (British Executive Service Overseas), an organisation specialising in placing volunteers on short-term assignments in many countries in Africa. The merger allowed VSO to expand its services and include opportunities for placing volunteers with partner organisations for shorter periods of time. So far, short-term placements have been developed lasting anywhere between 3 weeks and 4 months. Some of these placements have been developed to support other volunteer placements, such as in the case of a Finance Manager with Ombetja Yehinga Organisation. In other cases, volunteer placements were agreed to tackle work not requiring a long-term volunteer placement of two years, such as in the case of a

placement for an organisational development advisor with the Kavango regional education offi ce.VSO secured some funding to cover most of the local

costs of the short-term volunteers where partners are unable to contribute. Another benefi t of the new scheme is the short period of time required to recruit short-term volunteers. This is especially the case where the length of the placement is for a few weeks only. Another positive

aspect of the scheme is the possibility to receive short-term volunteers anytime of the year instead of only twice per year as is the case with standard 2-year placements. Interested organisations should contact any of the Programme Managers of VSO Namibia to fi nd out more about this new service.

Short-term Volunteering

at VSO

8


STEPS AHEAD

Two selected staff from Catholic AIDS Action (CAA) and TKMOAMS

attended the Volunteer Programme Development and Management (VPDM) Course in September-October 2006 at the South East Asia Rural Social Leadership Institute (SEARSOLIN), Philippines, through VSO Namibia.

The VPDM Course, now on its second year, was attended by 25 volunteer involving organisations’ managers, coordinators and trainers from the national volunteering partners of VSO from China, Ghana, India, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, South Africa and Zambia. Through a variety of learning methodologies, such as structured learning exercises, worksheets, workshops, lectures and games, the Course provided the international participants with fundamental knowledge and skills on the volunteer journey, volunteer management systems, and developing a volunteering programme. More importantly, the participants were also further guided on the relation of volunteering and development.

Highlights of the month-long Certifi cate Course include the immersion and institu-tional visits of the participants to volunteer involving and placing organisations, as well as the panel presentation and critiquing of each participant’s Development Action Plan based on the Course.

Lisa to PetrinaLisa to Petrina

AAfter more than four years fter more than four years with VSO Namibia as with VSO Namibia as

RAISA Country Coordinator, RAISA Country Coordinator, Lisa Davidson has decided Lisa Davidson has decided to move on and she will soon to move on and she will soon be working for the Ministry of be working for the Ministry of Health’s TB Programme in the Health’s TB Programme in the Khomas Region. Lisa has made Khomas Region. Lisa has made huge contributions to the RAISA huge contributions to the RAISA Programme in Namibia, and it Programme in Namibia, and it is safe to say that because of is safe to say that because of her enthusiasm and dedication, her enthusiasm and dedication, the programme has been able the programme has been able to reach many people affected to reach many people affected and infected by HIV & AIDS, and infected by HIV & AIDS, providing support ranging from providing support ranging from a meal through a soup kitchen a meal through a soup kitchen funded by a small grant to the funded by a small grant to the creation of a support network creation of a support network for shelters, to providing for shelters, to providing opportunities to young people to opportunities to young people to be exposed to photography and be exposed to photography and have their photos printed and have their photos printed and exhibited. We could mention exhibited. We could mention many more but it is clear that many more but it is clear that we will greatly miss Lisa and her we will greatly miss Lisa and her varied inputs. varied inputs.

Following interviews in Following interviews in August, we have been able to August, we have been able to offer the RAISA post to Petrina offer the RAISA post to Petrina Mwetulundila. Petrina presently Mwetulundila. Petrina presently works for UNAIDS for the small works for UNAIDS for the small grants fund. Previously she was grants fund. Previously she was involved in a USAID-funded involved in a USAID-funded project in education where project in education where she worked as an HIV & AIDS she worked as an HIV & AIDS Training Manager, and prior to. Training Manager, and prior to. that with the Namibia Planned that with the Namibia Planned Parenthood Association. Petrina Parenthood Association. Petrina will start her post at the end of will start her post at the end of November.November.

Emily to NdapewaEmily to Ndapewa

OOur ever effi cient and reliable ur ever effi cient and reliable Emily Shipatuleni has Emily Shipatuleni has

been promoted as Programme been promoted as Programme Assistant. At the moment, Assistant. At the moment, Ndapewa Kmati is being trained Ndapewa Kmati is being trained to take over the reception and to take over the reception and some of the administrative some of the administrative responsibilities of Emily. responsibilities of Emily. Ndapewa was a former volunteer Ndapewa was a former volunteer at the Resource Center of at the Resource Center of the National Association of the National Association of Differently Abled Women. We Differently Abled Women. We would appreciate your patience would appreciate your patience and co-operation as Ndapewa and co-operation as Ndapewa undergoes her training to serve undergoes her training to serve your administrative needs better your administrative needs better in the future.in the future.

To Petrina and Ndapewa, To Petrina and Ndapewa, welcome aboard!welcome aboard!

Flavia Negumbo of TKMOAMS (seated fi fth from left) shared that she learned a lot from the VPDM Course and that she hopes to convince TKMOAMS to have a proper volunteer management system in place so that they could work with their home-based care community volunteers, more effectively.

Catholic AIDS Action,TKMOAMS participate

in Volunteer Programme Development and

Management Course in the Philippines

Amorey Pote (doing the presentation) of Catholic AIDS Action is already in the process of developing an abbreviated VPDM training manual that is more applicable to community volunteering in Namibia. In partnership with VSO Namibia, Amorey plans to conduct the training for other volunteer managers and coordinators in Namibia. “Proper management and development of volunteer programmes lead to more effective volunteers, which in turn leads to adequate service delivery to our most vulnerable population group. The course has enabled me to share with local organisations how to get the basic principles of a volunteer programme right to achieve better service delivery, ” the CAA participant beams with pride.


9


Cross-Agency Working for Cross-Agency Working for

FillemonFillemon

NEWS & TALES

Sometimes it is the small changes that are remembered the most. One of the important aspects of my role in TKMOAMS has been to build relationships with other agencies. One success of these relationships has been help to a boy named Fillemon.

Fillemon regularly attends the TKMOAMS soup kitchen in Oneshila, Oshakati East. His father passed away a few years ago and both he and his mother have been shunned by their family because of the cause of his father’s death, but also because Fillemon has physical disability (brittle bones that break easily). They do not have anywhere to live and so they move around in the area living in different corrugated iron rooms. The mother is often sick and has an alcohol problem. There have also been incidents of physical abuse directed at Fillemon and often they do not have any food. If they are given food, then this is sold so the mother could buy alcohol – this happened at Christmas time once.

Fillemon has just turned 8 years old but he was not in school until this year. Sanet Cloete from the Ministry of Basic Education was instrumental in fi nding him a place in grade 1 at the local primary school and in ensuring that he was exempted from paying school fees.

Hannah Kambowe, an Occupational Therapist at Oshakati Hospital, was able to get Fillemon some crutches (he has always been in a wheelchair) so he could walk and start to build up strength in his legs, which have been broken many times.

I realised that his situation was not sustainable without my help and I was concerned for his well-being once I left Oshakati. We had arranged counselling for his mother but there was no improvement. I contacted the SOS Children’s Village in Tsumeb and discussed his case with the Director, who advised me that he would meet their criteria but only referrals from Social Services were accepted. I then contacted Ilona Ndjenja, a social worker on the TKMOAMS’ Board. She was able to interview both Fillemon and his mother and put together a case to get Fillemon a ‘child in need of care’ court order which needs to accompany any referral to SOS. During this interview Fillemon’s mother said that she is not capable of looking after Fillemon anymore and wanted someone else to take him.

A court case was scheduled and eventually, SOS Children’s Village accepted him and collected him a week after the court case.

I know that the Namibian Government’s OVC policy is that children should not be put into institution care but be taken cared of by the extended family. However, there are cases where this is not possible or appropriate. I am confi dent that at SOS Children’s Village, Fillemon will be taken cared of and given a chance to a normal life. I met Fillemon again when he was in Windhoek.

He said he liked living at SOS and he looked well and happy. He is a lovely bright child with the most amazing smile and he certainly deserves this chance.by Emma Richards, HIV & AIDS Programme Advisor/ VSO Volunteer, TKMOAMS

Emma supports a community-based organisation in Oshakati that runs a house-to-house network of care spanning 32 rural communities. The network itself is delivered by more than a thousand Namibian volunteers, with Emma supporting the staff to make the most of the huge resource of local volunteers, and to ensure that her skills are passed on to these volunteers and the community.

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In an effort to raise the profi le of community volunteers, VSO Namibia is co-organising the following events to commemorate the day of our everyday Namibian heroes, who freely share their time and skills with the disadvantaged communities in Namibia:

“Landula Oshiholelwa Shandje (Follow my Lead)!”Celebrating 15 Years of Community-Based Rehabilitation through Volun-teeringELCIN Eastern Diocese Hall, Oniipa, OndangwaOrganisers: ELCIN, MoHSS, VSO Namibia

This one-day event on December 2 for Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Volunteers from the four regions of Oshikoto, Oshana, Omusati and Ohangwena, who have been trained by the ELCIN Rehabilitation Centre (ERC) and are supervised by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS) and/or ERC, is both a commemoration of the International Day for People with Disability (Dec 3) and International Day of Volunteers.

In partnership with the MoHSS and VSO Namibia, ELCIN is organising the affair to: a) recognise and celebrate the achievements and work of CBR volunteers; b) empower CBR volunteers to take the initial steps in forming a cohesive self-advocacy and communication network; and c) raise awareness on the activities of CBR volunteers and the CBR programme, as a whole.

Early this year, a problem-solving workshop was organised by ERC for key decision-makers and supervisors of CBR programmes. At this workshop, the participants were asked to seek realistic solutions in addressing the challenges being dealt with by CBR volunteers and the outcome was an agreement on the setting of two broad goals, including: 1) promotion of widespread awareness of the aims and activities of the CBR programme, both within the governmental ministries, which have a duty to support the implementation of CBR on the ground, and within the general public; and, 2) establishment or reconvening of Regional CBR Advisory Committees, which was identifi ed as a pressing need in each of the four regions.

Practical activities aimed at achieving the indicated goals are already ongoing. ELCIN Rehabilitation Centre is working in conjunction with the MoHSS, to strengthen existing structures and to encourage local and regional authorities to implement commitments made in the National Policy on Disability and the National Programme for CBR. However, this is gradual and challenging work that requires persistence,

and unfortunately, offers volunteers on the ground very little evidence of progress.

It is in light of these circumstances that a whole-day celebration of CBR volunteers’ work has been proposed. Such an event of signifi cant magnitude and visibility will serve to raise awareness on and recognition of the CBR volunteers’ work in a manner that has never been done before. This CBR Volunteers’ Day is also a way of addressing many of the issues identifi ed by the volunteers themselves in a more festive and creative way.

“Valuing the Namibian Volunteer Contribution to Development”A Conference on Community VolunteeringOrganisers: MoHSS, NANGOF, NANASO, Namibia Red Cross Society, VSO Namibia

VSO Namibia is working with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), Namibia Non-Governmental Organisations’ Forum (NANGOF), Namibia Network of AIDS Service Organisation (NANASO), Namibia Red Cross Society and other local and international development organisations/ agencies, towards a conference on national volunteering this December 5-6, to commemorate the International Day of Volunteers.

Themed, “Valuing the Namibian Volunteer Contribution to Development”, the Conference will serve as an avenue wherein tangible plan of actions to promote support for local volunteering initiatives could be drafted, and in due course be embodied in a policy on national volunteering.

Specifi cally, the Conference will include paper presentations, interactive discussions, small groups and plenary sessions on the following: a) Volunteerism in Namibia; b) Code of Conduct on Community Volunteering; c) Volunteering and the New Labour Act; d) Training towards more effective management of local volunteers; e) Network formation of organisations working with national volunteers and sharing of best practices among them.

These topics have been identifi ed on the basis of the fi ndings of the ”Report of an Assessment of Community Volunteers and Community Based Health Care Programmes”, a nationwide study on local volunteering in Namibia spearheaded by the MoHSS. The Report is now being fi nalised in time for its launching presentation at the Conference.

The Conference will also provide opportunities for networking and sharing of best practices among the participants.

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At the MoHSS, VSO volunteer Martin Harrison contributed to the establishment of systems for disbursement of funds from the Global Fund on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. At Engela Hospital in Ohangwena region, Dr. Catherine Atkins trained clinical staff and community volunteers on implementation of a comprehensive community-based response to HIV & AIDS.

Through innovative and cost effi cient approaches, volunteers work with local colleagues to support community-based responses to HIV & AIDS.

In recognition of the multiple factors

affecting the spread of HIV & AIDS, VSO’s Namibia’s HIV & AIDS Programme is mainstreaming gender.

Through VSO UK, an exchange visit was conducted for staff from women and children’s shelters in Namibia to visit shelters in South Africa. This resulted in the “Be Court Wise” Programme, now being implemented in Tsumeb, and currently the only program of this nature in Namibia.

The programme aims to prepare women and children to be informed about court procedures, which is already being implemented by shelters in South Africa.

countries will convene for the VSO-RAISA 2006 Regional Conference in Pretoria, South Africa.

Themed, “From Vulnerability to Sustainability: Food Security in a world of HIV & AIDS,” the Conference aims to provide a platform for improved linkages between food security and HIV & AIDS in southern Africa and to enable organisations and people living with HIV &/or AIDS to highlight strategies to decrease vulnerability to food insecurity.

Despite the clear interrelationship between HIV & AIDS and food security, and the critical importance of the issue, this topic has not received the recognition that is urgently required. It has been identifi ed

as a key issue that VSO-RAISA partners are grappling with, and as such, there is a need to develop our understanding further, particularly on successes, and how to improve and scale these up to effectively tackle food insecurity and HIV & AIDS in the southern African region. Two key conferences - one held in Durban, South Africa, in 2005 and the second in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2006 - provided forums to explore the issue and VSO-RAISA needs to build on the momentum and knowledge shared at these events.

Otherwise, we risk facing the prospect that this current food emergency will become a structural feature of the southern African landscape for many years to come.

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Reducing Obstacles to the Walvis Bay State Hospital HAART Clinic

Under the Ministry of Health and Social Services’ Highly Active Anti Retroviral Treatment or HAART Programme, the Walvis Bay State Hospital operates a

HAART Clinic, located in the town center. Carole Alderton, a VSO volunteer working at the Walvis Bay Multi Purpose Center, observed that while the number of referrals to the clinic from the VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) Clinic is increasing, the number of clients receiving HAART is low and decreasing.

After conducting an assessment of the clinic and its offered services, Carole identifi ed the following factors, which deterred clients from going through the process of being placed on HAART:

Ø Up to 200 clients attend the clinic, however, the clinic facilities are very basic, with only one room and two benches.

Ø The clinic has no toilet or bathroom facilities.

Ø There are no facilities for children and/or babies, e.g., changing or feeding area.

Ø The room does not provide privacy for client consultations since there are no room partitions.

Ø There is a lack of effective administration system, leading to long waiting periods by clients wanting to be examined by the doctor.

Given these restricting circumstances, Carole is now working on a small project, in collaboration with the Chief Medical Offi cer from the Regional Management Team, to obtain funding from local businesses. The funding will be used to conduct all the necessary renovations for the clinic to function more effectively. Carole has already received support from an engineer to develop the renovations plan.

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The beginning of December marks three important days. World Aids Day celebrates all that has been

achieved in the previous 12 months in tackling one of the main development issues in Southern Africa. On the 3rd of December, attention is drawn towards the plight of thousands of people with disabilities who still do not have the same rights and opportunities as people without disabilities. And two days later, on the 5th of December, Volunteers Day is celebrated.

While often not recognised by offi cial bodies, the work of volunteers is indispensable in many sectors of society. In Namibia, home-based care is reliant on thousands of volunteers working in hundreds of communities. Community-based rehabilitation is making use of hundreds of volunteers to ensure that children and adults with disabilities receive the care and support they need, while at the same time educating those within the community on how to support people with disabilities better.

Volunteers also contribute greatly to the economies of any country. Though few studies have ever attempted to quantify this contribution, one study in Ireland estimated

that voluntary action consists of around 8% of GDP. In Namibia, quantifying voluntary action to the economy is not particularly useful. Ensuring volunteers are motivated, supported and acknowledged, is however crucial so that key areas of work, such as home-based care can continue to support the many thousands of Namibians that need the care.

In the last few months, VSO Namibia has explored the options of supporting government and civil society organisations in promoting local or national volunteering. The promotion of local volunteering runs side by side with the international volunteering programme that has now reached countries, such as India, the Philippines and Kenya where several volunteers now serving in Namibia have been recruited.

The VSO Namibia newsletter hopes to update our partners and supporters on latest developments, programmes and trends, while also celebrating the excellent work done by both local and international volunteers.

Daan Gerretsen, Country Director

MESSAGE FROM THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR

VSO Namibia assists disadvantaged people in the country to gain

opportunities and develop their capacity to fully participate in society by exercising their fundamental rights. VSO or Voluntary Service Overseas promotes volunteering to fi ght global poverty and disadvantage. We bring people together to share skills, creativity and learning to build a fairer world. VSO is an international development charity that works through, and with, volunteers. The organisation is presently working in roughly 35 countries worldwide, and there are around 1600 volunteers working overseas at any one time.

VSO Namibia8 Month Blanc St, ErosP. O. Box 11339, WindhoekTel: 061-237513Fax: 061- 237515www.vso.org.uk

Editorial Adviser:Daan GerretsenIssue Editor:Abby Mercado

Writers:Menno Bongers, Paul Collair, Daan Gerretsen, Josia Helmut, Lute Kazembe, Abby Mercado, Ehrens Mbamanovandu, Brigithe Oases, Niek van der Spek

Layout & Design:Johannes Aoxamub, The Big SqueezeThe Big Issue Namibia

Send us your volunteer stories, programme news and upcoming events at [email protected]

Programme Name:

Getting It RightProducers:

Josia & Pinehas (VSO-RAISA)Establishment:

May 2004 - to date

Getting It Right is a weekly informative youth radio programme aired through the Katutura Community

Radio (KCR) that aims to demystify misconceptions and confusions surrounding HIV & AIDS. The main message is that being HIV positive does not equal death and that scores of Namibians are living quality and positive lives despite them being HIV positive. Interviews with stakeholders ranging from people infected and affected by HIV & AIDS, as well as representatives from CBOs, NGOs, the church and the government, are featured in the programme.

The programme is aired every Monday from 21h00-22h00 at 106.2 FM, KCR “For the people, By the people”. Getting It Right is produced and hosted by Josia Helmut and Pinehas Iipinge, both second year students at the Media Arts Technology Studies.The radio programme is made possible through the VS0-RAISA Small Grant Fund.

ANNOUNCEMENT

vso namibia newsletter-issue1

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