Volunteers Working

for Development
IN THIS ISSUE:
Getting Plastered in Omusati

Sharing skills
Changing lives
The Official Newsletter of VSO Namibia

Rising Up
to the
Challenges
of Care

his November 1 to 2, the

RAISA Regional Conference
will bring together stakeholders
from different sectors, ranging from
community-based
organisations,
non-government organisations to
policy planners, to create a forum
for discussing innovative solutions
to emerging issues that are affecting
caregivers
within
home-based
care programmes. Three RAISA
partners from Namibia--TKMOAMS,
Yelula/U-khai and Vosinno --will be
represented in the conference to
share their ideas and experiences on
the theme.
It is widely acknowledged that the
impact of HIV & AIDS is not gender
neutral. Gender inequalities are a
key driver of the pandemic, and at
the same time, women and girls are
more vulnerable to HIV infection and
experience more negative impacts.
However, limited work has been
done in advocating that responses
should effectively address the gender
dimensions and impacts of HIV &
AIDS.
To effectively address the HIV & AIDS
pandemic, VSO-RAISA believes
addressing
gender
inequalities
must be placed at the heart of the
responses. While the focus of the

RISING UP: cont. on page 3

CESP on the road

Summer Issue, December 2007

Promoting Male Involvement in Home-Based Care

Through Traditional Leaders

hen addressing HIV & AIDS, it

is imperative to give as much
attention to the underlying impact
of gender. It is recognised internationally
that a womens perceived role in society
increases her vulnerability to HIV & AIDS.
The burden of care falls heavily on women
and their access to care and support is
often limited. However, to have any impact
on this we must engage men to enact
change.
In Namibia, consequences of gender

inequality and patriarchy, such as genderbased violence, women in poverty and

womens lack of access to social and
economic resources, place them at
particular risk of HIV infection. The Namibia
UNDP Report found that in 1999, women
accounted for 54% of all new cases of HIV
infection in the country and this imbalance
of new infections is increasing over time.
In addition, women are also diagnosed at
a younger age than men, given that the

PROMOTING MALE: cont. on page 2

Twiizuleni celebrates1st Anniversary

Through the words of their song and the motto on their t-shirts, Landula Oshiholelwa Shandje!,
the Twiizuleni CBR volunteers urge us all to join them and follow their lead in volunteering for
people with disabilities.

wenty-seven-year-old Fenni Shivolo lives in Otuwala village, some 100km from

the nearest town. She has a physical impairment and has grown up with the
stigma, marginalisation and name-calling common among communities with little
understanding of disability. Now, she is working in a network of volunteers supported by
VSO Namibia National Volunteering Programme, challenging just the sort of discrimination
she faced.
Fenni was trained by VSO volunteer Patricia Flynn, an occupational therapist working with
VSO partner, ELCIN Rehabilitation Centre (ERC) in northern Namibia. Its work ensures
community volunteers have the skills and knowledge to undertake basic assessments;
manage referrals to health, education and support services; raise awareness of disability
issues in the community and ensure people with disabilities gain the basic life skills they
need.

TWIIZULENI: cont. on page 3

PROGRAMMES

90 Volunteers Managers and Government

Staff trained on Working with
Community Volunteers

SO Namibia in collaboration with the Ministry of

Health and Social Services, ELCIN Rehabilitation
Centre, Namibia Network of AIDS Service
Organisations and Katutura Youth Enterprise Centre
conducted a series of Volunteer Management System
(VMS) trainings beginning June to October this year,
reaching around 90 participants from 35 volunteer
involving organisations (VIOs) and government
agencies with home-based care and community-based
rehabilitation programmes in eight regions. These
government staff, volunteer managers and trainers are
working with more than 4,200 community volunteers-each of whom is working with up to 25 people with HIV
& AIDS and/ or disabilities.
As part of VSO Namibias NV objective to strengthen
the volunteer management capacity of volunteer
involving organisations and agencies in the country,
the training enabled the participants to: a) gain a
good understanding of the concepts of volunteering
and volunteer management; b) identify appropriate
tools and procedures for the organisations volunteer

Five VSO volunteers working with Namibian volunteers

in HIV & AIDS and Disability programmes facilitated the
trainings by making use of VSO NV training resources,
adapting them to local context as necessary and
incorporating their own experiences.
The highlights of the training include the formulation,
presentation and review of participants respective VMS
plans for their own organisations. Among the many
realisations of the participants is how having a good
VMS in place can also attract donors in supporting their
volunteer programmes.
Way forward activities from the training involve coaching,
peer learning and monitoring of the participants VMS
plans, as well as exchange visits among the participating
organisations to share good practices in working with
volunteers.

PROMOTING MALE: cont. from page 1

median age of HIV diagnosis is 30 years for women

and 35 years for men. The physiological nature of
women, multiple partner relationships, transactional
and intergenerational sex, and exposure to rape
and violence further exacerbate the vulnerability
of women to HIV infection. Therefore, to have any
impact on reducing infection rates, we must address
issues around vulnerability and gender. VSO Namibia
has therefore integreted gender into the HIV & AIDS
Programme Area, supported by a global VSO strategy
to reduce the burden of care on women.
Most home-based care providers in Namibia are
women as cultural beliefs and
customs state that women have to
take care of the domestic chores,
which include taking care of the
sick and the elderly.

programme; and c) develop and draft basic policies and

procedures for the use of their respective organisations
volunteer management system.

When you talk of gender, many

people think of women. I found it
impossible to get men involved in
HIV & AIDS activities. Women often
have to take care of the house
and at the same time, they are
burdened by taking care of the sick
people in the community, as well as
vulnerable children and the elderly,
Chris Mugerwa, a VSO volunteer
placed with the Kunene Regional
Council, shares his experience in
implementing activities to increase

Volunteers Working for Development

male involvement in home-based care.

Mugerwa initiated a campaign with the traditional leaders
by providing them with information on HIV & AIDS and
building on their role as traditional leaders in mitigating the
impact of HIV & AIDS in communities. Traditional leaders
are highly respected, in both urban and rural areas, and
hold significant influence within a community. Traditional
leaders have played a key role in initiating discussions in
the communities about the negative aspects of cultural
norms, such as the reluctance of men to be involved in
home-based care.
A positive outcome of this initative is
that the Regional Council received an
increased demand for men in homebased care. In community discussions,
challenging questions, such as what and
who defines the role of men and women
and whether roles are defined on the
premise that women are the weaker
sex per se and by their responsibilities,
are also now coming to fore, Mugerwa
adds with hope.

The Caring Namibian Man Photographic Project, organised

last year by VSO-RAISA, OYO and other partners, reveals
a more human, compassionate sensitive Namibian man.
Through photos, it attempts to break gender stereotypes that
trap men and women in sexual roles and gives space for men,
women and children to reflect on notions of masculinity and
femininity in the Namibian context.

December 2007

Programmes

RISING UP: cont. from page 1

response should be on women and girls, men should

be constructively involved in the addressing the gender
inequalities and in meeting the specific needs of men
affected by the epidemic. VSO has committed itself to a
global advocacy strategy that aims to reduce the burden
of HIV & AIDS care on women and girls, and this strategy
intends to achieve the same in Southern Africa.
The Regional Conference is intended to raise awareness
and generate momentum to achieving equality for women
and girls and encourage the realization of commitments
made to reduce the negative impact that the HIV & AIDS
epidemic has on the women and girls in the Southern

Africa region.
RAISA or the Regional AIDS Initiative of Southern
Africa is a VSO initiative that operates in six countries
in the southern African regionMalawi, 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 counselling
and treatment. Special attention is given to reduction
of stigma, gender issues, people living with HIV & AIDS,
and orphans and vulnerable children.

TWIIZULENI: cont. from page 1

CBR volunteer and Twiizuleni Constitution

co-author reads the Constitution together
with other Twiizuleni members during the
December 3, 2006 celebration.

Patricia has worked with hundreds of

community volunteers who deliver vital
community-based rehabilitation (CBR)
services in remote communities across
Namibia to come together and strengthen
their capacity to advocate for and promote
the rights of people with disabilities.
These volunteers are providing a service
under the Ministry of Health and Social
Services national CBR programme. There
are over 85,000 people with disabilities in
Namibia, but few who need rehabilitation have access to it and the majority of children do not receive adequate
schooling; those living in rural areas have even less access to public services.
The community-based rehabilitation offered by these volunteers provides many people with disabilities with
their only route to participating in their community. Tuulikki Nekundi, coordinator of ERC, explains, Communitybased rehabilitation is a priority in such a young country as Namibia, which cannot afford to provide expensive
institutional services that would reach everyone. With institutional rehabilitation you only serve a few, but through
community-based rehabilitation you can reach the majority in a short while. It is easy for people to participate as
they do not have to travel to access it.
A year ago, through Patricia and VSO Namibias Support to National Volunteering initiative, ERC helped a group
of community volunteers to launch Twiizuleni (meaning lets rehabilitate ourselves), an organisation for volunteers
working in community-based rehabilitation. This December, this flourishing organisation that represents the
voice of over 350 CBR volunteers, each of whom is working with up to 25 people with disabilities, will be
commemorating its first anniversary through a three-day assembly of its board, elected officers and members.
This is also their way of commemorating the International Day of People with Disability (3rd Dec.) and International
Day of Volunteers (5th Dec.).
Tuulikki remarks, Twiizuleni was created to empower these volunteers. They can become independent and
strengthen their unit on their own. They need to supervise themselves and feel what they are doing is on behalf
of their own people and learn from one another. Tuulikki Nekundi is a powerful force in Namibias disability
movement. Blind herself, she brings a unique perspective to the organisation she leads and the government
departments she advises. For the past 17 years she has led ELCIN, an organisation that undertakes training,
awareness raising and advocacy work on behalf of people with disabilities in northern Namibia.

December 2007

Volunteers Working for Development

STEPS AHEAD

Volunteers are NOT employees

n partnership with the Namibia NGO Forum (NANGOF), VSO Namibia is spearheading an advocacy
concerning the welfare of volunteers in relation to the recently-passed Labour Act, wherein volunteers
are regarded as employees. This means that volunteers are entitled to employment rights, which is a
concern among organisations and agencies working with community volunteers because they cannot afford
it. On the other hands, this also undermines the community volunteers motivation of offering their time,
knowledge and skills to make a positive change in their communities, while building their own capacities.
This undertaking entails an information campaign and series of consultations among stakeholders. With
the assistance of a legal adviser, the aims of this advocacy include: 1) to create and agree on standard
Minimum Terms and Conditions of Engagement of Volunteers and Volunteering in Namibia, which are
not covered by the Namibian Labour Laws; 2) to agree to conditions pertaining to utilisation of volunteers
due to the fact that Part V of the Labour Act is not conducive to regulating the employment of volunteers
or volunteering; 3) to support the Application for Exemption from Part V of the Labour Act, 1992 in terms
of Section 114 of the Labour Act, 1992, or as amended; 4) to apply to the Labour Act Commissioner to
register this agreement as collective agreement envisaged in Section 68 to codify the minimum employment
conditions pertaining to volunteers; and 5) to request the Labour Commissioner to publish this agreement
in the Government Gazette as envisaged in Section 68 (6) of the Labour Act, 1992.
From the organisations point of view, the application for exemption brought a whole new set of corporate
issues, legal compliance and risk management. However, the process represented a series of proactive
steps to limit the probability of liabilities arising out of the existing and forthcoming labour legislation and
was, therefore, worth pursuing. Participants in the consultations agreed on the need to go through the draft
Minimum Terms and Conditions once more to ensure a balance between the volunteers and the volunteer
involving organisations rights and obligations. Nonetheless, the conducted consultations have already led to
the finalisation and approval of the NANGOF Code of Practice for Civil Society Organisations Working with
Namibian Volunteers. Another significant outcome of the consultations is the realization on the importance
of having appropriate volunteer management system in place when working with volunteers.
Volunteers are not employees, but the same as employees, they deserve proper support and supervision to
sustain their volunteering commitment.

Small Grants @ VSO

SO partners and volunteers may secure

small-scale funding for projects or activities
from VSO Namibia through the following small
grant funding schemes. Read on to know how and
apply now!

1. RAISA

The VSO-RAISA Small Grant Fund is an important

part of the overall RAISA Programme to support work
in HIV & AIDS prevention, care and stigma reduction.
It has been instrumental in providing financial
support for capacity building and mainstreaming
of HIV & AIDS by supporting innovative projects.
It allows community groups, CBOs, NGOs and
government institutions to apply for funding to
support activities within their programmes. The
priority areas for funding are activities or projects
focusing on Vulnerable Children, Youth, Gender and
People living with HIV. The maximum amount one

Volunteers Working for Development

can apply for is N$15.000.

Contact the RAISA Country Coordinator at VSO Namibia
office, for more information and for application form.

2. Liliane Foundation
The Liliane Foundation aims to provide children and
youngsters with disabilities, up to 25 years old, in
developing countries, access to medical and social
rehabilitation. One characteristic of this support is
that it is provided in collaboration with local contact
persons through direct, small-scaled and tailor-made
assistance, supporting the childrens personal growth
and furthering the childrens integration in society. This
involves (para)medical treatment, surgery, appliances,
(special) education, vocational training and income
generating projects. Different types of support may be
availed through three types of applications:

December 2007

steps ahead

A
O
R
E
H
P ON T

CES

ince the CommunityBased Natural Resource

Management
(CBNRM)
Enterprise Project or CESP kicked off this April, Project
Coordinator Sonja Pollers team has expanded to
include two VSO volunteers-- Mark Holler and Pratap
Sinha.
Mark is based in Windhoek, but is sharing his
business and management skills with various NGOs
and conservancies across Namibia, including the
Kunene, Erongo, Hardap, Karas and Otjozondjupa
regions. Pratap, on the other hand, will be based in
either Khorixas or Uis.
The CESP team has been on the road recently,
mainly to the Kunene region, to advertise the activities
of project.
When the Nyae-Nyae Development
Foundation heard about the project, they, along with
Rssing Foundation, approached the team to seek
assistance in reviving the craft trade in the Tsumkwe
West area. This was once a thriving business, but due
to various factors, production is now dwindling and
thus many households have little or no income at all.

One major problem is the supply of ostrich eggshells

to produce necklaces, bangles, as well as the Kalahari
pearls-- a high-quality product which includes beads
made from ostrich eggshells and glass beads.
Hopefully, the supply problem will be resolved before
the end of the year to allow Rssing Foundation and the
Nyae Nyae Development Foundation to conduct quality
training sessions in most villages in the conservancy,
and also to utilise the expertise of a technical assistant
to develop new craft products. The Ju/hoansi San
in the area also produce other crafts (as seen in the
pictures).
What has become clear from the regional visits by the
team is that support needed by some conservancies
and NGOs is varied. CESP offers assistance in drafting
and implementing business plans, revising contracts
with the private sector, developing new crafts and
natural products, as well as trainings on basic business
skills on how to make a CBNRM activity a success.
There are several interesting and challenging projects
in the pipeline and these will be discussed in the next
CESP update.

At a quick glance, the carved tortoise

looks just like its live counterparts.
The ingenuity in producing their own tools
to carve, hack, saw and sand, is remarkable.

SMALL GRANTS : cont. from page 4

-
-

Individual Assistance
Constructing of basic facilities (e.g., increase
accessibility of buildings for children with
disabilities, e.g., through grab rails, ramps,
adjusted toilets)
Income Generating Projects (increase the
income of either a young adult with a disability
or parents of a multi disabled child that will
always have to rely on help from parent/s).

Contact Brigithe Oases at VSO Namibia office, for more

information and for application form.

3. British High Commission

through a grantfrom the Bilateral Fund. This year the

grant is worth about N$220,000. The grant is used
to support small-scale projects facilitated by VSO
volunteers and should be in support of one of VSO
programme areas.Specific forms have been designed
to facilitate the provision of funds to projects. The VSO
volunteers are always responsible for the application
and reporting process. While there is no limit set to
the amount that can be requested, projects of less
than N$10,000 are normally prioritised due to the high
number of applications received and the limited size of
the grant.
Contact the VSO volunteer within your organisation or
office for more information.

The British High Commission in Namibia supports VSO

December 2007

Volunteers Working for Development

NEWS & TALES

Getting Plastered in Omusati

Im not sure that it is on tight
enough. Should we do it
once more then? Maybe
What do you think? Ill go
with that. We do it once
more. That seems better.
(To client) Nawa?
Client shrugs shoulders. Yes.
I think that should do. Client
moves. Plaster cracks

As for me, Padelia has been left to her own devices again
in Okahao and I have moved up to Outapi to start on more
regional work for my second year. I will still be heading back
to Okahao to continue supervision and monitoring, but it feels
like a good step of progress. I am just a bit nervous about
potentially having to plaster someone elses leg all by myself!

It is probably not word-forword accurate, but this is a

transcript of a conversation
Antony Duttine is a VSO volunteer between myself and the
serving
as
CBR
regional Medical
Rehabilitation
physiotherapist at the MoHSS
Worker, Padelia. We were
Omusati since September 2006.
trying to plaster a womans
leg my first time since being a student and Padelias first in
a long time. We did it much better second time around.

hen I was at university in the 1970s, there was

a poster up on the wall inviting new graduates
to volunteer through VSO. I can still see it in
my minds eye. However, my immediate post graduate
life was being a full-time mother. When my youngest
child went to school, I went to work and started to
build my career. Now, finally, I have got more space in
my life so I began to think of all the things I want to do
before I die, and decided I had better get a move on
and do them. So here I am in Namibia.

You probably would have noticed in the transcript that I have

not specified which part was me and which was Padelia.
To be honest, I cannot really remember, and that has been
one of the great achievements I feel I have made since
becoming Physiotherapist for Omusati Region beginning
September 2006. I have worked hard to change the way I
am perceived from an expert with all the answers to an
advisor who (at times) can help prompt a solution. It has
been in some ways a very easy thing to do and in some
ways very challenging. Yet, at this point as I write, I feel there
have been successes. Padelia is now more likely to come
up to me and say something like Im thinking of doing
as opposed to What should I do? or Is it OK if I go on to
the ward? instead of waiting for me to start off our daily
actions.
The role I undertake for the Ministry of Health and Social
Services (MoHSS) in Omusati region is much broader than
the classic role of a physiotherapist you may know from home
or may have experienced yourselves. Anything involving
disability or rehabilitation is covered, which means visual or
hearing problems, mental health issues, social implications
of disability, orthopaedic equipment (wheelchairs crutches
and the like), as well as more classic rehabilitation services
may be part of the agenda on any given day. Much of this
is relatively new to me and, even if it was not, is dramatically
different to everyday rehabilitation issues encountered with
the National Health Service in the UK. It is wholly fair to
say, therefore, that without the knowledge and advice of
Namibian colleagues, my time here would have been much
more difficult.
There are many issues surrounding disability and rehabilitation
services in Namibia. Attitudes towards disability are varied
and negative stigmas still prevail. Furthermore, addressing
disability issues can be low on the priority list for government
ministries and other organisations already burdened with
unenviable arrays of social, economic, health and logistic
issues. VSO is one of the main development organisations
in the country that target disability.

Many challenges clearly lie ahead of all of us working to

promote disability in Namibia. However, there are some
signs of encouragement and pockets of excellent work to
promoting disability and rehabilitation through Namibia. An
excellent example of this is sports for people with disability
which Im beginning to get involved. Oshakati has a well
established sports club, Oshana Heroes, and judging by the
athletics event they hosted in July, many other areas have
clubs also. Omusati region has a little way to go, but we are
beginning to work on it.

Volunteers Working for Development

OD in Oshana

And are you making a difference? was the question

I was most commonly asked on a recent visit home
to Scotland, from my placement as an Organisational
Development Adviser at the Directorate of Education
in Oshana Region. It is such a big question, I did not
know where to start in giving a response. What I am
doing is learning about living and working in another
culture, which is what I was seeking when I applied to
VSO.
I was recruited principally to support the roll out of a
nationally designed performance management system
within my region. The timetable for implementing
it has shifted since I arrived and internal facilitators
are currently being trained on a programme lasting
three months. I will support them when their training
is completed. In the meantime, I have been working
with the Directorate exploring leadership styles,
feedback and communications skills to help in getting
people aligned for performance management. I have
also supported the development of a Leadership
Programme for Principals, which I fervently hope
achieves its objectives since the evaluation criteria
include an improvement in exam results.
And am I
making a
difference?
A c t u a l l y,
I do not
think that
is the right
question.
I am more
concerned
w i t h
making sure that what I initiate has internal support,
is meeting the needs agreed with the Directorate, and
is sustainable once I leave. As for the next thing on my
ever expanding list of things to do before I die, I have
not quite decided, but I think I had better include my
long suffering husband, this time.

December 2007

NEWS & TALES

Still Life challenges Stereotypes on Living with HIV

eceiving a positive diagnosis of HIV is devastating and

many people assume that the life of a person living
with HIV must be a miserable one from that moment
onwards. It is true that a large number of people deal with
rejection, discrimination and depression, as well as sickness and
pain, on a daily
basis. However,
as HIV & AIDS
become
better
understood,
treatments
become
more
widely available,
and
support
networks
grow
across
the
country,
many
people in Namibia
succeed in living
their lives more
happily
and
positively.

Photographs
are a powerful
visual tool that
Still Life opens on 05 December
can engage the
viewer
in
an
emotional way, and that express common feelings. Reiterating
the negative facts about diagnosis and living with HIV will not
create opportunities for change, or a reduction in the stigma
surrounding the disease. Still Life is a photographic project
that aims to challenge the view that a diagnosis of HIV means
the end of a happy, loving life. This project works with a group
of Namibians who are living positively with HIV to provide them
with training and support in order for them to portray their lives
as seen by them, and as they wish others to see.
In 2005, VSO-RAISA Namibia and The Ombetja Yehinga

Organisation worked together on an innovative photographic

project titled, The Caring Namibian Man. The aim of the
project was to challenge negative stereotypes surrounding
masculinity in Namibia. Young people across the country
received basic photographic training and the result was a
stunning set of images
of Namibian men as
positive role models.
The exhibition was
officially opened on 20th
November 2005 by
Hon. Richard Kamwi,
Minister of Health
and Social Services,
and was seen by over
4,800 people in the
Khomas,
Kunene,
Erongo,
Oshana,
Kavango and Hardap
regions
throughout
2006. It has also
been well received
in the Netherlands
(HIVOS/Humanitas
exchange
program)
and
in
Canada
2007 at the Europe House.
(The
International
Conference on HIV
& AIDS, Toronto 2006). The exhibition has proved to be a
valuable tool for promoting debates and discussions around
Namibian perceptions of masculinity.
The Ombetja Yehinga Organisation or OYO is a Namibian
Welfare Organisation that works with young people, both
in and out of school, to help them express themselves, and
to provide them with the skills and knowledge they need to
protect themselves from infection with HIV. This year, VSORAISA Namibia and OYO have teamed up once again for Still
Life.

Seeing is Believing:
A Visit to Projects for Children in Namibia

SO Chief Executive Mark Goldring, together with

Dominique and Beatrice Robyns, visits Namibia
on 10th- 15th November, to take a closer at VSOs
work on orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in the
country. During the five-day tour, visits will be made to
two networks of OVC shelters-- the Oununa Vetu Care
and the Mehozetu.

to limited resources, these network shelter members

rely on individual donations from the community and
support from volunteers.
The Namibia Tour came about through VSO supporter
Pierre Rolins StratReal Foundation, which held a
gala evening last March, in order to raise money for
its partner charities, including VSO. One of the ways
it raised money on the night was through an auction.
VSO provided one of the prizes-- a tour of the Namibia
Programme with the VSO Chief Executive. The winners,
Mr Dominique Robyns, and his wife Beatrice, are very
interested in knowing more about the programme with
a view to supporting VSO in the future.

VSO through RAISA Namibia has been providing support

to the Oununa Vetu Care Network since 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 others run a day
care programme, where children and youth can come
for different activities. In June 2006, a feasibility study VSO Chief Executive Mark Goldring is also spending
was conducted to assess the setting up of a similar some time with VSO volunteers and partners in different
network in Rundu. The Mehozetu Network was later areas of programme work, while in the country.
formed with 10 day care centres as members. Due

December 2007

Volunteers Working for Development

message from the

country director

he UNDP recently published a new report on the status of

development in Namibia. The report specifically looked
at the human development index and the human poverty
index-- two indicators used extensively in comparing countries
with each other-- but also to make comparisons within
countries between regions and groups of people regarding
levels of poverty, progress made on educational enrollment,
literacy rates, life expectancy and income levels.

The report has some good and some not-so-good news. The
bad news is that Namibias human development index has
deteriorated because of the impact of AIDS. It has to be said
that the figures used for the report are a few years old and
the roll out of anti-retroviral treatment has not yet been fully
incorporated. However, it should still be of great concern to
each and everyone in Namibia that so many people die at such
an early age.

On the positive side, progress has been made since 1991 in the
area of education and incomes. Less people than ever before
are illiterate and enrollment of children in school is encouraging.
However, as more and more children are orphaned, more and
more children will find it more difficult to go to school. Incomes
have increased, but income differences have not come down.
This means that the difference between the haves and the have
nots continues to be enormous.

O NAMIBIA STAFF
NOUNCING NEW VS

AN

e are delighted to have been able to recruit two new

members of staff to replace colleagues who will be leaving
us soon. Penina Ita started her post as RAISA Country
Coordinator on the 1st of October taking over from Annemieke van
Wesemael, who has been acting in this position since the beginning of
the year. Annemieke will be leaving VSO in December, and she is highly
commended and thanked for the contributions she has made to the
VSO programme. Before joining VSO, Penina served as the Director for
AIDS Care Trust. Penina has extensive experience in the area of HIV &
AIDS and will be a great addition to the team.

On the 1st of November, we welcomed Lungi Mareka to VSO Namibia

as HR Solutions Programme Manager taking over this position from
Abby Mercado. In the last year and a half or so, Abbyhas made
considerable contributions tothe establishment of HR Solutions,
including the National Volunteering Support Programme-- an innovative
working strategy at VSO Namibia which supports partners in their
human resources (including both staff and volunteers) development and
management needs. Abby will be returning to the Philippines at the
end of the year and she is greatly thanked for the many contributions
she has made. Lungi will be tasked with the further development of
HR Solutions, ensuring its full integration into all VSOs programmes.
Lungi has an HR background and after working for various companies,
she ventured into management and staff training. We look forward to
working with Lungi in the years ahead.

So what does this all mean for VSO? It means that VSOs
work in areas such as education has contributed to an
improvement in literacy rates. It means that VSOs work in
supporting the Ministry of Health and Social Services in the
roll-out of anti-retroviral treatment is very important. It tells
us that there are still too many people living in poverty who
need to be supported in various ways. This could be through
individual interventions, such as illustrated by Antony Duttine,
or through community volunteers supported by organisations
with good volunteer management systems. It could also be
through tackling some fundamental issues on gender, such as
the attitude towards home-based care by men. All these and
many other interventions make the necessary contributions
for the further development of Namibia, while at the same time
mitigating the effects of diseases, such as AIDS.
Finally, there is something powerful in the person-to-person
skills sharing processes taking place through VSO volunteers.
I am convinced that with the right volunteer in the right
placement and with the right organisation, incredible changes
and mutual learning can occur. Some of those examples are
reflected in this issue of the VSO Newsletter.

Daan Gerretsen, 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 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 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:
Antony Duttine, Daan Gerretsen, Lute Kazambe,
Vicki Masters, Abby Mercado, Brigithe Oases,
Sonja Poller, Catherine Raynor, Annemieke
Wesemael

come and enjoy your next cake and tea party, and a lot more,

at pauls coffee shop at the old breweries complex,

garten st. (next to studio

77),

Where it is the ability that counts, not the disability.

Volunteers Working for Development

Layout & Design:

Samuel Linyondi
The Big Squeeze/ The Big Issue Namibia

December 2007