GAME ON!!!! The Village Sports Court Project for Community Health

Quick update on my toe: The stitches have been removed!!! And I'm still planning on going back to site on Wednesday. Keep fingers crossed!

And now, for some even more exciting news!

One of the main reasons I decided to extend for a 3rd year, here in Namibia, was to finish up a project I had started in the village. It is finally coming true!! I have been working my butt off on this, and am so excited to announce it!

My village is collaborating with Courts For Kids, an organization from the U.S., to build a basketball/volleyball/netball court!! A group of 12 Americans and 1 Ugandan will be flying to Namibia on Dec. 31, 2015. On Jan. 1, we will be driving up to the village, and spending the next 4 days building this court, experiencing Namibia and Owambo culture and making my community's dream a reality!

We are so so lucky to have Courts For Kids on our side! They will be assisting in the cost of the court. My village also did their own fundraising, and because of their hard work and dedication, have been able to raise some money, as well.

I, too, am going to help raise some of the funds. This is going to be thru the Peace Corps Partnership Program, an online "crowdfunding" type of grant.

Below is a little more info, as well as a video to explain a bit more about the village and project:

(If you have any questions about this project, please feel free to contact me!)

The village in northern Namibia, where I spent my first 2 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer, shares the same problems as many others in the country: high teen pregnancy rate, alcohol abuse, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and a lack of resources and facilities. Unlike towns, villages have few safe community and health enhancing activities for the children, youth and adults. This particular village is also the center of the main village. The community should be able to host sport tournaments, cultural dance competitions, and other events, Due to the lack of resources, they are unable to provide these recreational and educational gatherings for the community.

The village will be collaborating with a U.S. non-profit organization to build a basketball/netball/volleyball court in the village. It will not only we be creating a safe, healthy space for the community, but by collaborating with CFK, there will be a culture exchange between the Americans and Namibians. This court will provide a safe space for children, youth and adults to use for recreation. Improving their health, teamwork, fellowship, as well as an alternative educational place, used by life skills teachers and students. This court will also allow the community to host events, which could then result in income-generating activities.

The donations raised will cover the cost of supplies, as well as a local Namibian contractor, and a vocational school to build this court. The community has also pledged to help with the cost of this project, through fundraising and labor.

If you would like to donate to this AMAZING project, please go to:

Peace Corps Partnership Program

This will be a tax-deductable donation. Any amount you can give is truly, truly appreciated by myself and the village!


Thank you to all who have supported me and my village throughout the creation of this project! A special BIG thanks to Courts For Kids! We are so so grateful for you help, and can't wait to share with you our Namibian home!


Peace & Love,
Ndapandula
(which means, I am thankful, in Oshikwanyama)   

THE SPORTS COURT IS HAPPENING!!!!

(can you tell I'm a bit excited??)

Hello all! I have so so so much to tell you….

But currently, I am in the thick of doing a million things at the same time. Good things. Which, I will update you on…and hopefully sooner than later :)

My reason for writing this particular post is just one of the many reasons why I stayed here in Namibia, in the Peace Corps, for a third year. First, I’d like to say that I LOVE my new site, and all that is happening there! Promise, my next post will be about that (we just had a wonderful school holiday camp with the kids – pictures and stories to follow).

But this post is about what I had been doing during my first 2 years here – up in the north, in the village. I have so so much to explain to you, and more details will come when I get everything in order – which includes a grant – which, if you so incline to do so, may send in a donation. Until I get all the necessary documents, blah, blah, blah in order, I want to let you know of this great opportunity for some of you Americans! (I guess maybe someone other than an American could come as well – I just hadn’t thought of that possibility! But if you’re interested, let me know!)

Anywho – this coming December 31, 2015, a group of college students will be arriving in Namibia, and on January 1, 2016, we will be driving up to my village in the north, and alongside Courts For Kids (check them out!!) we will be helping the locals build a basketball/volleyball/netball court!! We will be pouring cement for about 4 days, learning about each other’s culture, and then the group will continue on to Etosha Park for 2 nights of camping and game drives. For so so many reasons the village need this – but mainly, there is a high teen pregnancy rate, HIV/AIDS, TB, alcohol abuse, and very limited safe places, activities and entertainment for the children, youth and adults of the community. Courts For Kids has some open spots still available!! This would be for those who are of college age (although if some of you are out of college already, and have an interest, let me know and I can see what we can do!).

Now, the commitment to come, along with a deposit, are due September 18. I know it’s just around the corner, but I thought I would help out Courts For Kids and get these spots filled! If any of you are interested, please contact me, or Selene Nesland (selene@courtsforkids.org). I’m so excited to be collaborating with Courts For Kids, and helping my village!! Plus, I get to show it off to you…. Oh, and you get to visit me :)

Below is something that Selene wrote, with a little more info, which I wanted to pass along…

College Students to Namibia, Africa, with Courts for Kids View this email in your browser

Courts for Kids offering Trip to Namibia, Africa, for College Students over Christmas Break December 29th- January 9th If you are in college and looking for an exciting adventure over Christmas break then join us in Namibia, Africa, to build a basketball/netball/soccer court in Onamumhana, Namibia in southwest Africa.  To learn more about this community and project  check out the video the community made here. You will also get to experience an overnight safari in Estosha National Park-one of the world's finest game parks, where animal sightings are guaranteed. If you are interested in receiving more information (price, flight itinerary, etc.) email Selene Nesland at selene@courtsforkids.org.

Sunday night ramblings.....

Well, my computer's hard drive crashed. It overheated. I am in Africa, though :) So I've been computerless for about 2 weeks. At first it was difficult to get over - it's crazy how much we rely on these stupid boxes. And I was just about to do a back up. So I lost a few things, but nothing I can't get back...at least, I haven't found yet. And I was in the middle of working on this video for my Court & Field Project. But...ahhh...I've been able to start all over again, with no problems. And thanks to my good friend, Erick - another PCV - he is a computer/tech genius - he performed some surgery on her, I got a new hard drive, and will now just need a new hard drive cable. And yay, parents are coming in less than a month and will bring that for me! I can't seem to find hard drive cables here in Namibia....

Ok, so computer issues. Then my phone cord died. And there was a power surge at the clinic, and all of a sudden, the other day, I heard a "pop" from the outlet. Luckily, the little iPhone charger converter-box is the thing that blew - NOT my phone. So I was out of a phone for about a day and a half. And for some reason, I have no idea why, I remembered that I had brought an adapter plug to use an iPhone 4 cord with and iPhone 5. (Of course, these things are rare to get in Namibia - it would have meant I had to go all the way down to Windhoek to find....and that's not easy or fun, when you don't have a car). And luckily, I had my cord for my iPhone 4, here. 

So, away from technology for a bit...but kind of a nice break.....

I'm back to working on the video as well! The Court & Field project, itself, is moving slow. And we're about to have a holiday in August, plus I'll be out of the village for a few weeks when my parents come. But you learn patience here......

I almost had the chance to play my guitar and sing a few songs at an expo this weekend! But I got sick....
My friend, Erick, is an amazing guitar player, and we were planning on playing. Luckily, he also invited another volunteer who plays as well...and they're hoping to get to play this week....

This last week has been rough. I realize how much I miss my family. Sometimes there are happenings in the village that I just have to accept, and it's emotionally draining. And then all of my technology started dying. But I got away for a few days, and will finish up getting some quotes for materials for the court & field, and this week will be better :)

Oh, and I'm going to Etosha next weekend with a few other PCVs and Namibians for my dear friend, Crystal's birthday!!! Bring on the elephants, lions, and giraffes....

This is how life goes, sometimes, in the PC....

I started Grassroots Soccer with my AIDS Club. I think they're really enjoying it! And hopefully learning. This last week they started exams, so we're holding off until after the holiday, to finish the program. But this last time we met, since many didn't show up, we decided to open the floor up to any questions about HIV, sex, etc. Well, they definitely had a lot to ask about sex, and I guess you'd say, I've become the one to talk about sex. I never thought I would do this, but I have no problems with it. I want these kids to understand and learn! And no one else will talk about it.....

But during this class, I started learning a lot about Namibians' thoughts on sex, etc. It's very eye-opening. And the thing with HIV/AIDS and it's high rate - well, it's not about the virus, or a disease. You have to dig deeper - into the culture, the way of life, the way of thinking. And it opens your eyes, and challenges you to try to figure out a different route to "attack" this virus. For example, what I have heard so far, at least in this particular class, is that rape, here in Namibia - and let me preface this by saying that rape is rape, period - occurs because a man wants sex. It's not about power or control, (Though, I'm sure there are times where this is the case) which is what my western mind is used to. Girls turn guys down, and so they find a girl they can rape - so they can have sex. I really don't know how violent it gets, if it does at all. I'm sure every case is different, but again, this is not about power for them - they just want sex.

And I guess I should let the cat out of the bag now....

I'm highly considering staying here a 3rd year!!! I'm gaining an interest in HIV/AIDS, as well as International Health and Development. And, well, I'm living internationally, so why not stay here? I feel like I'm back in school, and I've not finished learning. For my 3rd year, I'll get to pick my own project. So, though I'm still discussing it with my director, I'm thinking of doing some work for PC, as well as an organization such as USAID. Everything is still very early...but I'll keep you up-to-date! Needless to say, I'm pretty excited!!!

And for anyone interested in working in the States, or Internationally, with an NGO, UN, etc, check out the link for FundsforNGOs. There is a place on there where you can sign up for job opportunities - JobsinNGOs.

Well, that's about it for now....we have had to start saying our goodbyes to Group 36...they are about 2 months away from finishing their service. It's weird that they're leaving. And hard to say goodbye...but I know we'll all stay in touch and hopefully meet back up sometime soon! And we just had Group 40 come in last week to begin their training! There are 52 of them! And I've heard there are a few who will be up north, near me. So that's something to look forward to....

Well, time to sign out for now. I hope you are all well and safe and healthy and happy. This world is a-changin', but I have hope that it will all work out in the end.....

Love and Miss You All,
Johanna

p.s. Come visit me!!!! (since I'll be here an extra year - you have no excuse!!) :)

p.p.s. My sister and her boyfriend are racing in the IronMan in Lake Placid, NY today!!! I am so incredibly proud of her - this is her second one! As of right now, she is #17 in her age category!!! Go Cortney!! You are a true inspiration to never, never, NEVER giving up and continuing to push yourself to become better and better everyday! Love you lots!! <3

**Update- even through thunderstorms and lightning and the mountains, she came in at #16 in her age category!!!!**