Challenges...
on Marika VSO-ing in Namibia (Namibia), 08/Aug/2010 21:11, 34 days ago
Time is going faster as I get increasingly busier. The class I teach continue to make my day, especially teaching the girls. They are such a pleasure, and something I’d missed out on in the past few years at home. On the other hand though, I think here the girls are especially lovely compared to UK teenage girls. There do continue to be challenges at Mavuluma, where I’m supposedly spending 40% of my time at. I’ve felt like I’ve spent much time on trying to resuscitate the ‘computer lab’ both with teaching the teachers and working with the learners. I’m beginning to wonder if this is a good use of my time as the teachers request IT training, yet don’t turn up as agreed to times they even sign up to. On the contrary, the learners have showed the most enthusiasm, even if not in large numbers, where they will give up their break times for the opportunity to use a computer for the first time. Again, service delivery seems to be most appreciated by the children and they are what make everything worthwhile after all, sustainable or not.With the help of Scott (Science Advisory Teacher volunteer), we have been trying to introduce educational software into these schools where they are fortunate enough to have computers available, in order to support the teaching in the school. The computer lab at my school has about 10 old computers, 8 of which we have been able to get up and running with basic Microsoft programmes and 3 which I managed to upload Educational software onto (mostly Maths and Science software in addition to typing or mouse-training programmes). The majority are‘client’ computers to a non-functioning server and so cannot have any software uploaded independently. It has taken me about 5 different individuals to visit the school, in order to establish this. There seem to be no individuals competent enough in computers in Katima besides the new JICA volunteers who are bound to their schools and so I’ve ended up spending more time than I’d ever thought on these machines. Luckily, our new volunteer Joseph (Kenya), specialist in IT, arrived last week, a week overdue, due to visa problems, but we are all biting our tongues, giving him time to settle in, before we start spilling out all the things we think he could help us with and continue on after we leave.Sadly, the computer lab at Mavuluma is also functioning as office space for two typically Caprivian, young, unprofessional, and mostly incompetent male teachers. Within the last couple of weeks, I have had to challenge the‘disciplining’ these teachers have recently decided to carry out in my presence and the worst observation is the pleasure they seem to get out of it. I’m not sure how successful I am in my techniques or methods of challenging this illegal and nauseating behaviour even after having discussed this with the Principal for not the first time. I am becoming less convinced over time that anything is actively being done about this and as I feel they overlook it yet again. I am now trying to use the IT service I am providing in this room as a kind of bribe into pressurising the Principal to take more action into this matter. A risky tactic, but can be managed for at least the last couple of weeks until the end of term without depriving the learners of the opportunity as they sit their end of term examinations beginning Monday. This seems typical of what VSO tries to prepare us for in training by reminding us of our ‘realistic expectations’, that we may not be able to change things in our time here, but we can at least challenge, expose and confront issues like this that can be so hindering to development. I must try to remember that I am fortunate not to be in another schoolwhere for example a Peace Corps volunteer was taking learners to the hospital on an almost weekly/fortnightly basis. This is sadly happening a lot more than what we probably are aware of.Transport challenges continue as it has taken all term, several form-filling procedures and visits to the transport office to get a GRN vehicle for just one morning (approx 5 hours). I used the opportunity to get round to 3 out of town schools in that one morning. How efficiently I used this opportunity, I might still question, but these visits to these school should be happening a lot more often. They continue expect improvements despite not providing us with enough means to do our jobs. Transport was even assured in Rani’s job description, yet in reality, what is provided, is not even close to sufficient. It sometimes feels like the only way to overcome this ongoing battle to fork out of our own pockets and buy our own cars for our stay here.At home, I have found myself either withdrawing into my space or getting away on the weekends, staying over at friends’ house. I have spent parts of the last 2 weekends at the Fish Farm just out of town where Jesse and Scott are taking turns to housesit and Kaitlin has recently moved to. Here, also lives a relatively newly arrived, lovely volunteer Katie (US) who works with the WWF alongside the Elephant Energy(www.elephant energy.org) programme Kaitlin has recently joined. An unusually isolated, yet beautiful collection of cottages and trailers just outside town and by the river lived in mostly by white Namibians. Filled with a varied collection of plant life and animal life, including dogs and rescued horses, it proved to be a quaint little place, perfect for a getaway and the best highlight being a floating, rustic deck on the Zambezi with a view both up and down the river– even better than the Zambezi River Lodge view. On the last weekend we also ventured out to Bukalo for one of the festivals that seem to be celebrated around this time of year. A different date for each tribe and usually along the lines of celebrating the tribe's King's/Chief's birthday. It was alovely experience seeing so many people gather, but the speeches went on far too long and were only broken up every hour or so with a few minutes of dancing. It was a shame, as there were so many women dressed up in their colourful peacock-resembling dresses, they barely had the opportunity to dance amongst in the 5 hours of speeches we ended up sitting through.I find myself in old habits counting down to the holidays after increasingly tiring weeks, yet the difference being, this time it is guilt ridden as I’m seeing the expectation around me to work during the next school holidays. In typically Namibian reactionary manner, the teachers, schools and circuit inspector included, are planning holiday classes in order to cram the Grade 10’s before their up and coming October final examinations. This strikes me initially as very dedicated, but after seeing how negligent they spend the rest of the term time, regularly missing lessons etc, I try to strike up the courage to say no to this expectation as I confirm with the Senior Education Officer that I am not obliged to work during this time. I still find it hard to say no and realise that I continue to be concerned about other people’s impressions, but I recognise my need to get away for the whole vacation in order to keep my sanity.For the first time, I have had to work on my birthday (and write my birthdate on the chalkboard), but perhaps a good distraction from thinking about not being in Crete where the rest of my family gather for my grandmother’s one year memorial (αιώνια η μνήμη της!). I enjoyed a lunch of pap and fish at the open market with the JICA volunteers (Chie, Daisuke and Shin) and then a delightful evening round a big warm fire at the Zambezi River Lodge campsite where a bunch of friends (and a lot more than Iexpected) gathered to join me for drinks and nibbles from sunset into the night. A unique birthday that will stand out in my memory thanks to good company. The nights are now noticeably warmer and the days getting hotter. It seems that now we are in ideal temperatures as we sense that summer is approaching and no-one seems to be looking forward to it. The mossies are gradually returning and this week finished reading 'Fasting, feasting' by Anita Desai.