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)   

Deep Thoughts on 2015 from the Village.....

Long time my friends…

First of all, Happy Holidays! Hope you all had a good one

Second  - Happy New Year! Hope it finds you all well and safe and happy and healthy!

I had the opportunity to spend it in Zambia – in Livingstone – seeing Victoria Falls – one of the wonders of this world! And wow – it was amazing. I highly recommend making your way to Africa and seeing this wonder! And I’m definitely going back. I went with my good PCV friend, Crystal (check out her blog at     ), and met up with my sister and her boyfriend! So, finally, I got her over to Africa :) We had a wonderful time, and it was great to see them, and learn a little about Zambia, its culture and people.

I also celebrated a birthday while there! Well, it actually just passed, but since I was with family and on vacation, I just decided that would be my birthday celebration. I was humbled by the gift I received from my sister….well, actually, it’s from many people…

It’s a scrapbook, with pictures and letters from family and friends – and they all brought tears to my eyes – good tears, of course. And it came at the perfect moment for me – when, even though I had decided to stay a 3^rd year, I needed some motivation, pick-me-up, words-of-advice, inspiration, whatever-you-want-to-call-it to continue on – with a positive attitude. And this book did it. So – to all those who were a part of this gift (and I am in the process of emailing each one of you, individually) THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!

You know, everyone has new year’s resolutions, etc. They think of the new year as a new beginning. I guess I’ve always been lucky – I always think of the “new year” as beginning on my birthday. I mean, that is the beginning of a new year for me, correct? So, here are my NEW year’s thoughts…..

and I have many….new thoughts, ideas, etc rolling around in this brain…I will try to lay out for you all I’m thinking…

·      I’m excited to finish up a few projects here in the village.

·      I’m ready to get my BIG project (a basketball/volleyball/netball court) going – and hopefully get that done by the end of September, here in the village.

·      I’m ready to begin a new project for my third year, starting in June, in Windhoek! (Still sorting out the details)

·      I’m ready to go home for a month to see my family, friends, cat, and dog – yes, as of my birthday, he is still alive and barking!

·      I have TOOOO many books I need to finish reading while I’m here!

·      Crystal says I should watch more movies – and I have a TON on my computer….maybe I’ll get around to that during my third year….lol.

·      I’m already thinking about my trip around the world after my service, on the way to celebrate my sister’s birthday in Switzerland – and am hoping to include a little more of Africa, WWOOF, volunteering in Nepal, and maybe Southeast Asia. Or maybe I need to shorten my list…….

·      I’m worried about going back to a Westernized world.

·      I worry I won’t fit in with many “westerners”.

·      I worry that this experience has brought on a TON of passion….and I won’t have the patience for people who aren’t, at least, willing to step out of themselves and their self-absorbed, know-it-all ways to listen and learn a little about this world. (See, I’m already showing impatience!)

·      I have to go back to grad school.

·      I have to take the GREs (again!).

·      I have to find a decent graduate program – possibly online, but am looking into lots of fun options (secret for now!).

·      I will probably study Statistics, or Monitoring&Evaluation, or Analysis&Retrieval….or something of that sort.

·      I want a career in International Health/Development.

·      Until then….I need to remember that this blog is what us PCVs call “Third Goal”. It’s about teaching Americans (mainly, since the PC is part of the U.S. government – but really, all westerners) about my host country – the people, the culture, its history, etc. And so, I will continue my best at teaching you all about Namibia and this experience.             I AM THE EYES AND EARS FOR YOU, FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO COME HERE AND EXPERIENCE IT FIRSTHAND.

Saying all of that, I do hope you are all learning something. Otherwise, what’s the point in me writing this, or you reading it? Though I do wonder – Did anyone actually take my Food Challenge? Because I never got a response/comment about it. Or did you read Dead Aid? Or Poor Economics?  I have had only 1 person email me, specifically, about these books.

So – now, I want to write about some of the reasons I needed motivation and a smack on the head, to get back to being positive, and continuing on in my service, and trying all I can to help…….

For a moment, close your eyes, and imagine you are living in another place. It could look exactly like the one you live in now. From the outside, many things look the same. Many things don’t. But, everything else – the food, the greeting, the handshake, how you bathe, how you cook, the social interaction, the work place, the expectations, the education, the language, the way of thinking – is all somewhat different. Everything. It’s not like just going from NYC down to the deep south in the States. In that case, it’s still America, and even though people have different views about things, I have realized, generally, no matter where you live, how you were brought up, your education, your family (or no family), etc – Americans all have some of the same values, thoughts, and ideas. Now, take those all away. Even if you’re imaging people dressed the same as you, standing on a road that looks just like yours in your town. Nothing else is the same.

             

I think the hardest challenge, and also most educational, has been learning how to live and work in a culture you are trying to understand, and getting the people to understand you, whey they don’t understand why you’re not like them. 

Confusing? Try living it. For 2 years.

I am sometimes in complete awe of these people, here in the village – their physical and emotional strength, their way of life, how they are happy happy people, and they don’t let things get to them, the way us westerners do.

And then sometimes I just want to scream out my frustrations at them - sorry I have to say this à“And you wonder why you are a developing country! Ugh”. There are certain aspects to the way they live, I can’t wrap my brain around, and I just can’t get myself to learn to do, or even want to do. I know you’re asking “What, exactly?” Well, to be honest – there are 3 big frustrations. (I want to preface this first, by saying that not all people here are this way – but it does seem to happen very often – and I hate making generalizations, but these are my real day-to-day frustrations)

1.     They don’t stand up for themselves, or for what’s right or wrong.

2.     They are scared of authority, and so are scared to approach it – even in a non-threatening way – to make things better.

3.     Their work ethic. It’s very important to show up for work. But production/results is something that is not engrained in many.

I don’t want to offend anyone who is reading this, and again, I stress, it is not ALL people here. But among many PCVs, this is a common frustration. I wonder if it’s this way in all developing countries? Maybe I need to go find out for myself….

I have also really struggled with projects. Every time I would have an idea, it would either be shot down by someone, or no one would help. And even if I openly asked “How I can help you? Are there any projects you are doing that I can help you with?”, they would say “No”.

So why the hell am I here??

There was always an excuse as to why something couldn’t get done, or why we had to postpone it. I’ve tried to be hard-headed, and still continue doing it, and nobody shows up, or nothing happens.

And when I feel that I’m constantly doing nothing, I get lazy. And when I get lazy I don’t do anything. There’s no middle ground for me. It’s all or nothing. And I hate it. I like to be busy. But I started finding myself becoming very lazy…..and this needed to change!

And my birthday book helped to change it!

So, there you have it – I have vented a bit. :)

The reality now, is that things are good. I’ve actually been very busy –

And I only have 1 term left….There are 3 terms in a year, and the first term ends on April 17, and then the learners have exams)

I’m doing another Grassroots Soccer program at the school, along with a Health Club.

My counterpart, Daniel, (who is awesomely motivated!) and I are also having another Grassroots Soccer program in the nearby village – a village in which our clinic serves. It takes about an hour and a half to walk there. And yep, no car. Maybe, if I’m lucky, I can find a ride back to my village after the club is finished each day. But I’m planning on a big ol’ NO to that….We will be going there 1-2 days a week. Yep – trekking thru the bush to another school, to help these kids!! Can’t wait!!!!

Oh, except for this Namibian sun and heat….and the beach sand I have to walk thru. Man, you would think I would have gotten better at walking thru it by now! Maybe in the next 4 months I’ll become an expert :)

I’m also meeting with my brother and niece, every day after school – to help them with their English. Nafimane really wants to become an electrical engineer. He’s in grade 9. He MUST pass grade 10, in order to go to trade school for this. He failed grad 8 3 times (here, if you fail even 1 class, you fail the entire grade). So, this is our goal. Pass grade 9 this year! Then, we’ll attack grade 10. And really, their lack of English skills, is what’s holding them back…..so this is my goal…..

Not that I’m an expert in the English language…ask my mom….but I try...

Oh, and still want to start that chess club…

So – things are looking up – in every direction – especially this Namibian sky! At night!!!

Except for the lack of rain….

This is the rainy season. Well, it’s supposed to be the rainy season. And then, in March, they start cultivating. Except it’s the end of January, and, at least, my village has gotten very little rain. The maize and mahangu have not even sprouted out of the ground. This is not good. I just hope that the rainy season will be a little later…instead of none at all….Otherwise, there will be many, many hungry people…..

So, cross fingers and toes that the skies open up….sooooooooooon……

Oh, and one more thing on my list:

I’m helping a super motivated lady, in my village, get her business going even further. No, I’m not a business volunteer, but have gotten lots of info on how to teach basic finance, and am going to help her. I looked into getting her a Kiva loan. Well, apparently, these loans are actually from some microfinance institution, which she takes the loan out from (with approximately a 25% interest rate!) and then when you give to Kiva, you’re actually giving to that loan company, and she, in turn, pays them back. Is this wrong, or no?

And last, but not least…

I finally finished making a video that will be used to help raise money for a big Basketball/Netball/Volleyball Court that I’m trying to build here! I haven’t gone into much detail, or won’t be using this video quite yet – until the group of Americans have committed to coming to the village! As soon as this happens, I will let put out all of the info….

Well, I must be getting back to work…and studying for that GRE….

Here is one album from my vacation in Livingstone, Zambia. As soon as the rest are synced, I will post the album. Enjoy!

<

Peace & Love,

Ndapandula

p.s. GRE word of the day:

VENERATE: (verb)

To respect deeply

p.p.s. Here is a great article about serving in the PC - and what we learn....
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maya-lau/what-the-peace-corp-taugh_b_1099202.html

Holidays and Rain...

Hi all! I know it's been awhile....
After my amazing vacation with my parents, I headed back to the village. I had been gone for a month! I had a few meetings, including our HIV/AIDS Technical Group, here for PC in Nam. We are working on a few things, to help volunteers sort thru all of the information we're given, and find the best programs/activities to use - as well as ones which we can report to PEPFAR. See, every quarter, we have to send in a report to headquarters in Washington, on our activities at our sites. Well, some of this reporting also goes to PEPFAR - since they help fund the PC and our programs here in Namibia. They've recently changed some things, so our group is trying to put it all in laymen's terms for the volunteers, and make life and reporting a bit easier...We'll see if we will succeed....

I have also been talking with our new Country Director and APCD, and we are working on moving me to Windhoek to begin my third year of service early, helping in the PC office! Although we thought it might be December when I begin, it looks as though it may be closer to February...I hope, at least. School, here in the village and all of Namibia, is about to finish their academic year. For most PCVs, this means a lack of work...

So, I was hoping to get to Windhoek soon, to start working there, but until I do actually leave, I've already come up with some ideas for next school year:

• Continue with Grassroots Soccer - at my school, as well as area villages' schools
• Continue to try to get more interest in gardening and my NAWA program
• Bring my counterpart, Daniel, on any other workshops/trainings - he loves learning and is always willing to keep trying and using the ideas we've been taught (even though he struggles with English, I believe it's getting better!)
• And here's the newest....Start a Chess Club at school in January!! I bought a small chess board, and decided to teach my brother. Well, my older brother asked me to teach him, and as we were playing (from what I remember!) he told me that especially here in the villages, kids don't know how to play - and mostly because they think that only white people can play chess. Well, I'm about to change that thinking! I want both boys and girls to join the club, and we'll even make our own boards and pieces out of different color bottle caps, if we must. I'd like to also have a tournament halfway thru the year - and maybe give the winner his/her own chess board & pieces. 

And of course, I'm still working on my Court&Field Project...which will happen sometime next year. We are in the works of an American group coming here and also collaborating with a Namibian group at a college in Windhoek. Let's hear it for Namibians helping Namibians! But I will keep you updated as I get more info and plans become more concrete....(literally!).

But yes, I do look forward to moving up to the next level, and working at the PC office. I want to learn all I can about management, admin, and technical training. And who knows where this will lead..... :)

And so, until January and the start of the next school season, I have a few trips I'll be taking...

First, we are celebrating Thanksgiving the week AFTER because on November 28, Namibia is having its national elections for President, as well as Parliament. Volunteers are not allowed to leave site for about 5 days surrounding this time. They don't expect any problems - Namibia is a very safe, calm country. But just to make sure all volunteers are safe, we must stay in our villages during the time. So, the following week, we are going to try to find a turkey (though turkey is not a huge item in the supermarkets here) and attempt to make our own Thanksgiving feast, in Opuwo, with a few volunteers who stay there. After that, we are going camping at Epupa Falls! It's now the beginning of the rainy season, so we are hoping the levels are high enough to see some nice water falls...

And then the big trip: Around the New Year's Eve time, my friend Crystal and I are headed to Victoria Falls to meet up with my sister and her boyfriend! We'll be there for about a week and a half. Some things we're planning on is a 2 day/2 night camping safari in Botswana at Chobe National Park, a lion, cheetah and elephant walk, rafting on the Zambezi (!), a traditional Zambian dinner, checking out the local markets, volunteering at nearby schools/villages, seeing Victoria Falls, viewing the Lunar Rainbow over the falls, and possibly trying out the gorge swing and zipline! This will be my Christmas/Birthday trip to myself! I can't wait to see this part of Africa, and share the experience with my sister as well!

Well, that's about all for now...but all is good here....
Penny, the dog is not pregnant again. I had my hair braided for the first time (and will probably do it again! I really thought people in my village would laugh, but instead, they shook my hand and said "Thank you!"). I can open a can of tuna with a knife - therefore, it's official that I can survive anywhere! It's hott hott hott here, but it's also the beginning of the rainy season - which means cooler temperatures after the rain. My little nephew (2 years old) is learning how to speak some English - which is the cutest thing ever to hear.

Peace & Potatoes,
Ndapandula

Here's picture of me with braids:

Speaking of Opuwo - 

here's a nice story about the Himbas - who live in the Opuwo area!

Click on the picture below:

And my mother finished making LOTS of videos of our trip! 

If you want to see all the fun you missed out on, click on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/user/scdiane1/videos

Video fun....??

Here is a beautiful picture of me, attempting to be interviewed, and speak into a camera,

for a video I'm creating to help promote my big

Court & Field Project, here in the village....

Yesterday, things were going great! I was putting together music, pictures, videos, etc....

And this is how it's going now....

Please cross your fingers this all works out in the end....lol

:)

Happy Tuesday

I know I have sooooo soooo much I need to say and write. The truth is, I have ups and downs, and many times, no real workspace, and I run out of motivation, when who knows if the internet is going to work, or when I might get to some good wifi.....

I thought I could keep up this motivation for the blog, but unfortunately, it's not going how I'd like. 

So...one of the things I've learned here, is when you fail or mess up (at least in your own eyes), you must forgive yourself, come up with a plan to make it better, learn, and move on. And do the best that you can do, with what you're given. And I'm tired of stressing over internet, etc. I've even slowly started giving up on facebook (my friends would be shocked!). I try to load the page, and it takes 10-15 minutes for it to load. Then, if I want to actually update my status, or heaven-forbid I want to upload a photo, it can take another 15-45 minutes. 

And that's another thing. I realized how much I relied on the internet before I came here! And I still try. I have downloaded (when in a good wifi area) so many resources to learn more about everything I'm doing here. I want to research everything on the net! I want to research NGOs and other organizations - trying to figure out my next step in life. I want to search and plan for my birthday trip in January - somewhere around Africa. 

But I've learned to have patience. And this kind of surfing may only be able to happen twice a month (maybe).

So, I've decided, when I log onto my blog to write an update, I'm not going to stress myself out about trying to write about what happened 2 months ago. Instead - it's all about right NOW. And who knows - maybe I'll write a book someday - and so you'll get to hear all of the details....Of course, I guess I always have the rest of my life to update this blog and tell different stories....

So - today. I'm getting prepared to finally have a Girls' Club meeting. My AIDS Awareness Club did an amazing job on Friday with AIDS Awareness Day, and yesterday we met, and will begin Grassroots Soccer on Monday! I also brought them sweets (they say this, instead of "treats"), and so they were happy. 

Saturday, I am hoping to have another meeting with the Committee for a project - a Sports Field - we are trying to have here in the village. I don't think I've said much about it, here on the blog. I didn't want to jinx myself, but things are slowly happening. Though it's keeping me busy - with trying to meet with the contractor, drawing up the plans for the field, trying to find funding, etc. And most importantly, I'm putting together a video to help show what this is all about. We are in need of 12-24 Americans to commit to coming over HERE to Namibia...to MY village next summer (northern hemisphere-summer). As soon as I get this video finished, I'll post it, and if you're interested, we would LOVE your help! Until then, the organization I'm working with is called Courts For Kids. If you read this, and before even see the video, jump off your couch, excited by the opportunity to come here, and hang out with me, and build a court, contact me and I can send you details and get you in touch with the organization!

Also - my parents are coming here!!!!!!! They are spending their wedding anniversary HERE, in Namibia, with me. I am so so so so so excited to see them, and tour Namibia with them, as well as hang out in Cape Town for a few days! They will be experiencing a true Owambo wedding, here in my village. It's going to be a fabulous time! 

I really didn't realize how much I would miss family and friends...but I do. I miss your faces. And Skype doesn't cut it, sometimes. You must come visit me :)

Oh, and one last piece of fun - my (Namibian) brother got accepted into Camp GLOW and my (Namibian) niece was accepted for the Diversity Tour!!!!! All 3 of us are super excited. These kids finally have been given an opportunity to get out of the village, see Namibia, meet other kids from all over Namibia, and have fun, and maybe even learn something along the way.....
If you want to still make a donation to Camp GLOW, click HERE.


Well, I guess I must be running....
Hope you are all well and Happy Tuesday!!!

Ondi ku hole,
Ndapandula


p.s. I started back with an Oshikwanyama language tutor - and apparently I know more than I thought I did! Oshi li! Nawa nawa!!!!