Volunteers Working

for Development
IN THIS ISSUE:
HR Solutions Volunteer At Work

OVC Networks in Windhoek

and Rundu share lessons
via Exchange Visit

The Official Newsletter of VSO Namibia

Pauls Coffee
Shop Soon
to Open Doors
for PWDs
wo years ago, someone came
up with the idea of starting a
Coffee Shop that is actually
run and operated by people with
disabilities (PWDs).
Today, this
dream is about to materialise with
support from different donors and
VSO volunteers.
PWDs in Namibia are generally
subjected
to
stigmatisation,
discrimination, segregation and
poverty. They are often caught in
poverty because of lack of education
and employment opportunities.
Schools for mainstream education
are often not equipped to handle
children with disabilities. Where there
are special needs schools suitable for
children with disabilities, they either
have long waiting lists or parents do
not have the facilities to provide his
educational facility for the child.
Because of lack of education,
people with disabilities have fewer
opportunities to get a job. Apart
from this, other factors that lead to
less employment opportunities for
PWDs include inaccessible buildings,
discrimination
by
employers/
colleagues, or a workplace that is not
suitable or equipped for the specific
disability.
Pauls Coffee Shop is named after

COFFEE SHOP: cont. on page 4

Winter Issue, June 2007

Education Couple Volunteers

gain Intangible Lessons in Teaching

ome VSO volunteers find themselves volunteering with VSO in the beginning and
at the end of their careers. Others end up running into their life partners through
their shared VSO experience. Doug and Jenny Bethell experienced both and their
story tells us how.
Our involvement with VSO began back in 1969 before we had met. Doug was working
for the British Steel Corporation and was sent out as a volunteer teacher to Ghana, while
Jenny had just finished her teacher training and was sent out to Sierra Leone, also as
a volunteer teacher. We met through a mutual friend, who had also been a volunteer

ED COUPLE: cont. on page 7

Namibian Volunteering Conference

Way Forward Activities Now In Action
SO Namibia collaborated 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 and other local
and international development
organisations/ agencies, towards a
national conference on community
volunteering on December 57, 2006, to commemorate the
International Day of Volunteers.
Themed, Valuing the Namibian Volunteer Contribution to Development, the important
role that volunteers play in society and the economy was stressed to the 120 conference
delegates who represented community volunteers, Volunteers are motivated people who
civil society and government. The Honourable freely offer their time, knowledge and
Minister for Health and Social Services, skills to make a positive change in their
Dr. Richard Kamwi, who officially declared the communities, while they also build
their own capacity. Participants in the
conference open, praised the excellent work of
December 2006 National Conference
volunteers in addressing many social issues at on Community Volunteering agreed on
community level. The Country Director of VSO this volunteer definition, after a series
Namibia talked about the tremendous social of stimulating group discussions on
and economic contribution that volunteers make various issues relating to community
worldwide. The UNFPA Country Representative volunteers.

CONFERENCE: cont. on page 2

PROGRAMMES

CBNRM Project kicks off,

Coordinator now on board
he
Community-Based
Natural
Resource
Management (CBNRM) Enterprise Project officially
started this 1st April, after its approval late last year
by the European Commission-- the main funding agency
for this Project.
Working in partnership with the Namibian Association for
CBNRM Support Organisations (NACSO), this Project
aims to provide assistance to selected NACSO partner
organisations to improve the business and enterprise
component within conservancies and other organised
communities enterprises, such those which are not
located within conservancies.
The main objective of this four-year Project is to
improve livelihoods of disadvantaged rural populations in
communal areas. More specifically, it aims to support,
develop and improve the capacity for
effective enterprise development among
conservancy management structures,
organised CBNRM groups (OCGs) and
Namibian partners organizations.
This Project will initially target three Namibian
Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)
to provide support in three geographical
areas: Erongo, North Central and Kunene
regions. Namibias Conservancy movement
made an impressive contribution toward rural incomes
over the last 10 years. However, the generated incomes
now mean that communities have to reinvest for the future
or strengthen their management skills to retain or improve
growth towards self-sustainability.
Main activities for the Project include:
a) Trainings to build the business competency of
conservancies and OCGs;

b) Supporting the development and management

of:
Tourism lodge partnerships with private
sector;
Small tourism related enterprises; and
Enterprises that specifically uses natural
resources.
c) Establishing/ managing an Enterprise
Development Fund; and
d) In-service training and mentorship to staff of
the Namibian partner organisations.
To carry out the main activities, four VSO volunteers will be
employed one is expected to arrive this June and the rest in
September. The volunteers will be based in a) Opuwo with
Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation;
b) Ondangwa with the Rssing Foundation;
and c) Khorixas with Rural Peoples Institute
for Social Empowerment Namibia. The
fourth volunteer will be based in Windhoek
and will have a supporting role to the rest of
the volunteers, the NACSO Business and
Enterprise Working Group, as well as other
NGOs working in the area of enterprise
development.
A Project Coordinator has been appointed
to be instrumental in supporting the Secure Livelihoods
Programme Manager in monitoring progress, and
gathering and disseminating relevant information to aid
strategic decision-making in relation to the Project. A
Steering Committee composed of members of the above
NGOs, the NACSO National Coordinator and VSO Staff
will further assist in the CBNRM Enterprise Projects overall
implementation.

CONFERENCE: cont. from page 1

highlighted how volunteers fill a critical niche in community

health care in the health system and how partnerships are
essential between all the players to motivate and retain
volunteers. The WHO Country Representative stressed
the benefits of community volunteers in the delivery
of health care service particularly, the management of
chronic conditions namely of HIV & AIDS as a disease.
Select community volunteers shared their experiences and
learning from volunteering, while NANGOF summarised
the main recommendations and the Way Forward of the
Conference, as follows:
Finalise the Code of Conduct For Civil Society
Organisations Working with Volunteers and
Volunteering in Namibia;
As one industry, apply for exemption under
the Labour Act so that volunteers should not
be regarded as employees;
Finalise a nationally-accredited training for
NGO Management in 2007;
Strengthen an enabling environment for
community volunteering through formulation

2
Volunteers Working for Development

and implementation of policies and guidelines; and

Revise the draft Community Based Health
Care Policy to incorporate provisions supporting
community volunteers.
NANGOF and VSO have started the groundwork for the
Application for Exemption for the Volunteering Industry,
which entails an information campaign and series of
consultations among stakeholders. Meanwhile, the
Ministry of Health and Social Services has recently
presented its latest draft of Community-Based
Health Care Policy and Guidelines, which highlight
the importance of providing proper supervision and
support to community volunteers. In relation to this,
a training module on volunteer management will be
included in the Home-Based Care Training Kit. Finally,
the writing of curriculum materials for the volunteer
management component of the competency-based
NGO Management Qualifications Project is now inprogress. Part of this undertaking is piloting the modules
on Volunteer Management Systems through trainings
among volunteer managers starting this June.

June 2007

PROGRAMMES

COSDECs provide
Training based on Needs
of Local Economy
at Community Skills Development Centre
or COSDEC in Otjiwarongo as Technical Advisor
Iinstarted
February 2005. It was a critical period due to
management issues within the organisation.
A COSDEC is a community-based, locally managed
skills training centre. Its training activities are linked
to and based on the needs of the local economy. Its
main purpose is to provide skills to young people that
will assist them to compete in the world of work.
Tusnelda Kamatui, the Needlework Instructor at that
time, was there to greet me and our first task was to
do the gardening together as the Centre had been
closed over the holiday period. Its future was very
uncertain and we were occupying ourselves, together
with showing the community that we were still active
to a certain degree.
The Centre had no trainees and we finally recruited
for three full-time courses that year on Needlework,
Welding and Bricklaying. Progress was slow but
sure, and ultimately Tusnelda was rewarded for her
dedication and commitment to the progression of the
Centre by being appointed the COSDEC Otjiwarongo
Coordinator in April 2006. Two more short courses
were added in 2006.
Now, as I move on to the new position of assisting
all COSDECs in Namibia, Otjiwarongo is conducting
four full-time courses on Needlework, Building
Maintenance, Bricklaying and Hospitality and six
short courses on Baking, Business, Papermaking,
Wire Craft, Recycling and Bead Production, which
Tusnelda is managing very ably.
COSDECs have gone through a great amount of
change over the years from the brilliant inception by
the Honourable Nahas Angula, who remains the Chair
of the Community Skills Development Foundation
(COSDEF), which is the umbrella body of all COSDECs.
There are currently six COSDECs in Namibia situated
in Rundu, Tsumeb, Omaruru,Ondangwa, Otjiwarongo
and Keetmanshoop.
*Catherine Walker is a Technical Advisor Volunteer since 2005
to date, under the Secure Livelihoods Programme.

Tusneldas team of instructors from left to

right: Lucia (Hospitality), Adolf (Bricklaying),
Generosa (Needlework), Harold (Building
Maintenance) and Tusnelda herself.

June 2007

First Batch of
NAHT Volunteers
in Namibia
commence work
in June

The first group of NAHT volunteers in Namibia:

Derek (Oshana), Janet (Kavango); Caroline
(Kavango) and Jill (Oshana) will commence their
13-week placement this June.

SO UK and the National Association of Head

Teachers (NAHT) have a common purpose in
ensuring that the UK education system and the
education systems in developing countries can benefit
from the skills and experience of highly motivated school
leaders. VSO and NAHT also believe that school leaders
who are supported to spend up to three months working
alongside senior educational practitioners in developing
countries will return to their posts invigorated and with
new perspectives to apply to their roles. To realise this
common purpose, VSO and NAHT are embarking on
a pilot project in 2007 to place eight school leaders in
Namibia and Rwanda for three months.
VSO Namibias Education Programme continues
to focus on raising the quality of education in the
country through an increased focus on organisational
development. An increasing number of volunteer
placements are being developed in this area. This
move resulted in the successful development of shortterm placements for four NAHT volunteers as part of
the VSO UK-NAHT partnership agreement. They are to
be deployed in the Kavango and Oshana Educational
regions as School Management Advisors.
The volunteers will work closely with Inspectors and
Cluster Centre Heads focussing on the areas of:
1) Performance Management System; 2) Inspectorate,
Advisory Service and Cluster Management Capacity;
3) Circuit Communication; 4) Inspectorate / Advisory
Services relationship; and 5) Cluster Centre
Principal.
The UK Department for Education and Science (DFES)
contributed 5000 towards the recruitment of volunteers
in the NAHT Programme.

Volunteers Working for Development

PROGRAMMES

The Namibia Disability Programme

at a Glance
Introduction
The Namibia Disability Programme or NDP is a partnership
involving the National Federation of People with Disability
in Namibia (NFPDN), a local non-government organisation,
VSO Namibia, an international development organisation
and the Ministry of Health and Social Services, a
government institution, to work together and address the
needs of people with disability in Namibia. The Project
commenced in June 2004 and will be completed in
August 2009. 75 per cent of the funding for the project
was obtained from the European Commission.
Objectives
The overall objective of the Project is to empower
people with disabilities in the most disadvantage regions
of Namibia to access improved support services and
participate fully in all aspects of society.
Its specific objectives are:
1. to ensure effective delivery of organisations of people
with disabilities (OPDs) programmes and empowerment
of their members across five target regions of Namibia
through institutional strengthening, and improved
coordination and networking; and
2. to reduce the levels of stigma and misconception
about disability in Namibian society by increasing public
awareness, depth of understanding and informed political
response to disability issues.
Beneficiaries
The ultimate beneficiaries of this development will be the
20,000 people with disabilities in the most disadvantaged
regions of Namibia--Khomas (through an office in
Windhoek); Omusati & Ohangwena (through an office in
Oshakati); and Kunene (through an office in Opuwo).
Partnerships
NFPDN is the umbrella organisation supporting a number
of national OPDs, as follows:

Namibian Association of Differently Abled

Women

Namibian Association of Parents of

Children with Disability

Namibian Association of People with a

Physical Disability

Namibian Federation for Visually

Impaired

Namibian National Association of the Deaf

One of the key tasks that have been undertaken by the
NDP has been the capacity building of these organisations
through workshops, training, and supporting them in

developing financial systems so that they can remain

sustainable and support colleagues throughout Namibia.
Cross - Cutting Themes
The Project throughout has three cross-cutting themes to
guide the programme:
Rights-Based Approach - that society should organise
itself to include, not
exclude, People with a
Disability, that they have the same rights of access to
all facilities, jobs and opportunities as an able bodied
person.
HIV& AIDS - this is one of the major challenges in
Namibia alongside many other countries and has to
be acknowledged, challenge stigma, promote better
health care, and to promote prevention is core in all
activities.
Gender and Generational issues - to ensure that there
is always equal opportunities to all irrespective of
gender or age.
Decentralisation
Namibia is a large country with a sparse population and a
high proportion living in the North of the country. To ensure
that support and communication is developed to support
OPDs in all regions, another objective of the NDP is to
open four regional offices for NFPDN to support OPDs
in the regions. Half way through the five-year program of
NDP, two regional offices have been opened in Oshakati
and Opuwo. Two more NFPDN offices will be opened in
the next two years.
Future Plans
The NDP has two years and four months more to run, and
a full programme is required as we continue our capacity
building programme in the country, develop and operate
a database of people with disability through our NFPDN
partners and their network of OPDs, as well as open the
other two regional offices. Finally, there is the work with the
NFPDN and the OPDs to draw up their respective five to
10 year strategic plan so that sustainability is guaranteed
after the completion of the Namibia Disability Program.

COFFEE SHOP: cont. from page 1

Paul Hester, a well-known activist for the rights of people

with disabilities, who himself was visually impaired but
who passed away 10 years ago. This first of its kind coffee
shop in Windhoek hopes to contribute to reducing poverty,
discrimination and segregation of PWDs through the
following:
a) income generation and creation of job opportunities for
PWDs;

Volunteers Working for Development

b) education and awareness raising on PWDs within the

society and among people with disabilities; as well as,
c) increasing the PWDs self-esteem and self-reliance.
Information Days were held in March to recruit staff for
the coffee shop. In April, interviews with candidates were
conducted in April, while the training for the new staff of
Pauls Coffee Shop commenced in May.

June 2007

STEPS AHEAD

Namibia identifies Greater Need for Human Resource

Development Specialists
t least five requests for HR Development
Advisors and Trainers have been identified
at the beginning of the year to address
issues relating to human resource development,
management and training of NGOs, CBOs and a
ministerial department. HR Solutions Namibia will be
prioritising VSO partners that have been identified
through the four programme areas of VSO Namibia
- HIV & AIDS, Education, Secure Livelihoods and
Disability. However, new partnerships may be
established under this initiative, which covers the
National Volunteering (NV) Support Programme.
HR Solutions, including NV Support Programme,
are being carried out to support the objectives of
the four programme area plans.
Through HR Solutions Namibia, VSO hopes to find
suitable volunteers for the jobs particularly within the
VSO-Randstad partnership. In 2005, VSO Namibia
commenced with providing HR support to one of its
partners through a Randstad employee-volunteer
recruited through the corporate partnership.
Randstad supports VSO not only through funding
but also more importantly through its know how
in human resources - an area where Randstad has
been proven to be successful as a world market
leader.
Following the successful completion of the first
Randstad volunteer placement, it was decided to
continue to explore the possibilities of providing VSO

partners with HR support through more Randstad

volunteers. The second HR Development Advisor
from Randstad arrived in January and has
since been doing needs assessments on HR
among VSO partner organisations and potential
partners.
HR Solutions Namibia aims to contribute to
improving working conditions for employees in
Namibia, including local volunteers, focusing
on skills development and building capacity
at individual and organisational levels. Local
volunteers are a huge human resource to many
NGOs/ CBOs and government institutions in the
country. Hence, volunteers with HR background
will also further collaborative work on strengthening
volunteer support and management capacity, as
well as on promoting good practices on motivating
and sustaining volunteers commitment.
Through this initiative, VSO Namibia through HR
volunteers will be: a) developing and sharing
best practices and Namibian solutions for
labour and employment issues among VSO
partners, and other stakeholders; b) contributing
to organisational strengthening by providing
more appropriate focus to HR challenges
leading to more sustainable VSO efforts among
partner organisations; and c) establishing and
strengthening partnerships between VSO local
and overseas partners.

HR Solutions

Volunteer At Work
take for granted back home, such as job descriptions,
yearly appraisals, streamlined recruitment, motivating
managers and constructive feedback are non-existent.
Based on the information gathered from each partner,
we then determine what the appropriate course will
bewhether I could address the identified needs
within my six-month placement duration or there is
a need for another volunteer (short- or long-term) to
work specifically with the organisation. As a roving HR
Development Advisor, I am currently providing direct
assistance to NANASO (Namibia Network of AIDS
Service Organisations) and NFPDN (National Federation
for People with Disabilities in Namibia) with such HR
processes.
Dominique Brown, extreme right with the NANASO team,
is a Human Resource Development Advisor under HR
Solutions Namibia, and the second Randstad volunteer
to work in Namibia.
ince I started my work in Namibia late January this
year, I have found that the benefits and need for
human resources has been underestimated. As an HR
Development Advisor, I am working for the four program
areas of VSO Namibia-- HIV & AIDS, Secure Livelihoods,
Education and Disability. Each program area has identified
existing partners that have a need concerning human
resource development and management. Through
needs assessments, I identify processes and systems
that are needed to strengthen the core foundation of the
organisations. Many systems and procedures we may

June 2007

HR Solutions Namibia is also working in collaboration

with the NGO Institute to develop a national curriculum
for NGO Management. This runs parallel with a current
partnership in the Secure Livelihoods Programme,
between VSO and National Training Authority, where
curriculum development is a current priority to build
the capacity within the Vocational Training sector. I am
specifically working on the Human Resource aspect of
the qualifications. I am creating training modules on HR
management to teach NGO managers how to complete
a job analysis, write job descriptions, create an appraisal
system, and execute a personnel records system. These
modules include the volunteer management aspect of
HR management, as well. By the end of the year, NGO
Institute hopes to have all the standards accredited and
ready for the first participants.

Volunteers Working for Development

NEWS & TALES

OVC Networks in Windhoek and Rundu

share Lessons via Exchange Visit
mong the many realisations gained by the OVC
(Orphans and Vulnerable Children) Network
Exchange Visit participants is that if one wants
to start with a day-and-night centre, one must start
with a few children. After awhile, one can start thinking
about all the other things needed to take care of more
children.
The Exchange Visit between two OVC networks in
Windhoek and Rundu took place last 27-31 March
in Windhoek. A total of 16 shelter managers, staff,
volunteers and founding members of day care centres
for OVCs, all of whom are members of the RAISAsupported OVC networks in the two areas, got
together for a five-day sharing of good practices and
experiences on: a) how to set-up OVC shelters; b) how
to work with different groups of vulnerable children; c)
how to mobilise resources for the shelters; and, d) how
to keep children healthy by knowing what kind of food
is good food.
The Exchange Visit consisted of meetings, visits to the
Oununa Vetu Care Network shelter members in Katutura,
as well as sessions on the above topics. At the end of
the week, one of the participants shared, If you want
to do more activities or expand your kindergarten, you
need support from the community.
RAISA Namibia has been providing assistance to
the Oununa Vetu Care Network since its inception in
2004. This OVC Network is composed of six shelter
organisations working for orphans and vulnerable
children in Katutura. Some of the shelters are places
of safety, where the children stay in day and night. The

Your dream might be big, but you have to think in small steps.
- Exchange Participant from Mehozetu Network, Rundu

others are implementing a day care programme, where

children and youth can come for different activities. Due
to their limited resources, the shelters are relying on
individual donations from the community and support
from volunteers.
In June 2006, RAISA Namibia conducted a study to
assess the feasibility of setting up a similar network
in Rundu. During this visit, a meeting of representative
from about 15 day care centres took place. Since then,
the Mehozetu Network was formed among these day
care centres and they meet on a monthly basis. A local
network coordinator has been assigned and among
the initial activities of the Mehozetu Network were visits
among the participating day care centres and a project
proposal writing workshop.

RAISA Regional Conference provides Platform for Improved Linkages

between Food Security Analysis and HIV & AIDS Work in Southern Africa
The presentation on the complex relationship between food security analysis and HIV & AIDS
set the tone for the conference. Based on this introduction and several other equally engaging
presentations, the participants concluded with the following summary of key recommendations:
Analyse and highlight the links, and complex relationship, between
HIV & AIDS and food insecurity;
Focus on vulnerable groups;
Advocate for food rights and hold governments accountable;
Ensure a comprehensive, coordinated response;
Interventions should empower communities and individuals;
Mainstream HIV & AIDS into food security work and food security into
HIV & AIDS work;
Raise nutritional levels in individuals and communities; and
Find out, and document, what works and scale up.

The VSO-RAISA 2006 Conference on Food Security in a World of HIV & AIDS brought together a diverse
group of participants and presenters, all working tirelessly to address the issue of food security in
the region. It showed that with determination and resources, mobilisation for better interventions
could occur at many levels. The complex relationship between food and AIDS is a challenge for these
interventions, but this challenge is not insurmountable.
For people living with HIV, the challenge for good nutrition is crucial and as ARVs are being rolled out
in the region, there is a need to be vigilant to ensure that the high nutritional status of all citizens is
seen as a basic human right. (From Vulnerability to Sustainability: Food Security in a World of HIV &
AIDS Conference Report, 2007. For a free copy of the report, please contact Annemieke Wesemael at
237513.)

Volunteers Working for Development

June 2007

GE 1

RUN OVER FROM PA

ED COUPLE: cont. from page 1

in Ghana. Having enjoyed his experiences as a volunteer

are attended by up to 17 teachers, and are held after
teacher, Doug decided to become a teacher. After a
school. There are then weekly visits to the schools to
one-year PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education)
monitor the impact of the workshop on the effectiveness
course, Doug qualified as a teacher in further education
of the teaching and to team-teach. This has helped
in 1974.
establish a good working relationship with the teachers.
As we came to the end of our careers, we decided to
Teachers now feel confident to ask for help in other
apply to VSO again in 2005. By then, we were already a
areas of the curriculum, for example mathematics and
couple. It was immediately apparent how the organisation
art. At two schools, paints were found and we had
has changed since our experiences in 1969. In those days
great fun painting a new experience for all including
the role was simply that of a teacher and consequently
the teachers.
the pre-departure training was shorter. For Doug, the
For Doug, the training aspect of his role has not been
training involved a one-day teacher training course for
so easy. Linus Shashipapo School has a shortage of
non-qualified teachers and an evening in a pub with a
suitably qualified teachers to teach maths and physical
returned volunteer! Jenny enjoyed a few days of country
science. Consequently, a lot of his time has been taken
orientation at Birmingham University. The programmatic
up with teaching, and the training role has taken a back
approach and Harborne Hall were
seat although some in-service
unheard of in the early days!
training has taken place with
We accepted placements in
teachers at Linus and in the
Namibia in May 2005, departing
circuit. However, the silver
for Namibia in September of the
lining was that he was able to
same year. After a one week
achieve one of his objectives
in-country training course, we
by improving the results at
moved up to Kavango and our
grade 12, in both maths and
new home.
physical science, for last years
We live in the grounds of Linus
IGCSE examinations. In fact,
Shashipapo Senior Secondary
the school was given N$2000
School in the village of Katere,
for having the most improved
which is about 110 kilometres to
results in these subjects for
the east of Rundu. It is our main
the whole of Namibia! The
shopping centre. We stock up
money has been used to buy
on supplies every fortnight and
much-needed calculators and
Learners at Katere Senior Primary School
catch up on the gossip with other
a protractor and set squares
reading to parents on 29th September
volunteers.
for chalk-board use. The other
2006 to celebrate Readathon Day,
Dougs placement is as a teacher
pleasing thing is that there is
when all schools in Namibia stop normal
trainer for maths and physical
an element of sustainability as
lessons and read on this day to promote
reading as a habit. Part of Jennys work
science in the senior sector.
the number of learners with
is aimed at improving the reading skills of
Jennys work involves working
the chance to proceed to
children in grades 2 to 7 using a Reading
with primary school teachers.
tertiary education from Linus
Programme.
For both of us, the challenge
has increased from one in
was daunting. Jenny is the first
2006 to seventeen in 2007.
volunteer in Namibia to work
These learners now have the
solely in the primary sector, while for Doug, one of the
chance to go on to gain a good degree and find suitable
tasks was to improve the results in maths and physical
jobs to aid the economy of Namibia. We certainly wish
science.
them the best of the luck.
The main thrust of Jennys work has been to involve
Extra curricular activities include the introduction of a
the teachers at four schools, in the Ndiyona circuit, in a
Science Club and Science Quiz Nights at Linus. These
training programme to improve the teaching of English.
have helped raise the profile of science among the
As a new syllabus was introduced for grades 1 and 2 in
learners. Jenny spends two afternoons a week holding
2005, and then for grades 3 and 4 in 2006, the majority of
extra reading classes for learners at Katere Primary
her work was focused on the lower primary sector linking
School. This is paying dividends, as the learners
English into the new thematic approach. The teachers
feel better able to cope with other subjects as their
main concern was shortage of suitable resources so we
confidence in the use of the English language grows.
have tried to stock the school libraries with books from the
We shall be leaving our placements in September after
National Library in Windhoek and produce materials on a
two years. There have certainly been some positive
computer. Work has also been done to show teachers
outcomes as outlined above. However, there are
how to use the materials that were already available in
so many intangibles in teaching and the success, or
their schools.
otherwise, of our work in our placements may only
Other work is aimed at improving the reading skills of
become apparent in a few years time as learners move
children in grades 2 to 7 using a Reading Programme.
on through the education system. On a personal note
Jenny has also been holding a series of workshops
it has been a worthwhile experience for both of us to
on various aspects of teaching English. The teachers
put something in to the development of Namibia. We
decide the topic for each workshop in advance. It is then
wish the country the best of luck for the future and will
Jennys role to facilitate the workshops. The workshops
certainly follow its progress towards Vision 2030.

June 2007

Volunteers Working for Development

OR
E COUNTRY DIRECT

MESSAGE FROM TH

ith attention once more focused on the G8 in

Germany, and discussions rife on the extent to
which rich nations are willing to support the poorer
nations in fighting poverty and disease, we should not
forget that real changes are taking place at a completely
different level.
Real change takes place in organisations, and amongst
people, who often show great dedication in trying to
make a difference. And more often than not, change
happens unplanned and with limited financial resources.
Unfortunately, these stories do not get told often enough,
and the good practices that come with them are therefore
not highlighted and shared amongst many.
This issue is reflecting some of the achievements from
people trying to make a difference-- of people effecting
change, and being open to learn from others. VSO
supports opportunities for people to learn from each
other by organising exchange visits. The network of
organisations supporting orphans and other vulnerable
children in Rundu was able to visit a similar network in
Katutura and take valuable lessons back to Kavango.
Some very dedicated people decided to create a
business to train people with disabilities in the catering
industry, while at the same time providing employment to
close to 20 people with disabilities. Of course there is a
risk attached to this venture, but without trying to make

it work, and trying to make a difference, real change and

real development will never take place.
VSO relies greatly on its experienced and motivated
international volunteers. This newsletter features Jennifer
and Doug Bethell, a couple who are making a real
difference in rural Kavango Region. Through working
flexibly with the Ministry of Education, VSO is now able
to provide support at different levels and for different
lengths of time. This winter, a pilot programme involving
Head Teachers from the UK will support two education
regions for a period of three months with organisational
and educational management guidance and support.
While working with international volunteers, VSO also
continues to recognise and promote the valuable
contribution of Namibian volunteers in the development
of their own communities through support to local
organisations and government agencies working with
community volunteers.
Much more excellent work is taking place around Namibia
by motivated and dedicated people wishing to make things
better in the country, and who are not always that visible.
They are the real drivers of change and development in
the world, and not just the world leaders gathering at G8
meetings gaining all the limelight.

Daan Gerretsen, Country Director

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 fight 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
1,600 VSO volunteers working overseas at any
one time.
There are about 80 VSO volunteers currently
serving across Namibia in the areas of HIV & AIDS,
Disability, Secure Livelihoods and Education.

VSO

Y BOARD
ABOUT THE ADVISOR

n Advisory Board for VSO Namibia was established

in March 2003 with the overall purpose of providing
support to its programme implementation. More
specifically, the Board supports VSO in: a) providing
insight into the latest trends on VSO programme areas;
b) providing substantive feedback on the work undertaken
to date; c) providing advice on the strategic direction of
VSOs work in Namibia, including potential partnerships
and opportunities; d) providing support to management
in areas of financial and human resource management;
and e) promoting the work of VSO in Namibia, as
appropriate.
Meetings with the Advisory Board take place twice a
year, wherein the Country Director, along with a selected
staff, provides a report on the last six months of work and
highlights plans for the upcoming period. Issues that have
been put forward by either the programme or one of the
members are also discussed for resolutions.
Having an Advisory Board composed of members
from different sectorsgovernment, non-government
organisations, donors, employing and non-employing
partners-- helps VSO in initiating programme activities
and developing volunteer placements based on local
needs. It is also a way of increasing VSOs transparency
and accountability of the work it does with local
stakeholders.
Namibia as a developing country with only 17 years
of independence strongly relies on the assistance of
international development agencies and partners through
skills sharing and bilateral agreements, says Gerson
Mutendere, Project Manager of the Namibia Disability
Programme of National Federation of People with Disability
in Namibia and current Chairperson of VSO Namibias
Advisory Board.

Volunteers Working for Development

VSO Namibia
8 Mont Blanc St, Eros
P. O. Box 11339, Windhoek
Tel: 061-237513
Fax: 061- 237515
www.vso.org.uk
Editorial Adviser::
Daan Gerretsen
Issue Editor:
Abby Mercado
Writers:
Doug & Jenny Bethell, Dominique Brown,
Paul Collair, Londi de Wee, Daan Gerretsen,
Marjolijn Gischler, Ehrens Mbamanovandu,
Abby Mercado, Gerson Mutendere,
Catherine Walker, Annemieke Wesemael
Layout & Design:
The Big Squeeze/ The Big Issue Namibia
Send us your volunteer stories, programme news and
upcoming events at abby.mercado@vsoint.org

June 2007