The ups & downs of adjusting

When Peace Corps Volunteers are in training, they spend a lot of time talking to us about “the adjustment”... the daily rollercoaster that we will go through as we get to know our new job, community, housing, neighbors, and ultimately , and yourself your limits. It feels like being on a rollercoaster, that is super old and unstable, yet awesome. You never know when the car is going to fly off the track, but for the most part it's pretty great, and the rush is remains unmatched by any other ride in the theme park that is Peace Corps.

The first week you are super excited! I got to my new house in Rundu, and after traveling all day I was so tired all I wanted to do was sleep... So I moved my bed, washed a few walls (the joys of living in a house that has been occupied by boys for years), hung my mosquito net and went to bed.... I was really hoping to get some Parks and Rec in but, my computer crashed that night... so that didn't happen. I woke up the next morning and went to breakfast with Gio, the best 1-week roommate I have ever had, and I met some PCV's. Meeting PCV's who have been in country a while feels like the first day of school, and I am a freshman all over again... good thing most of the PCV's I have met are really great! Nothing like having to fit into a new social group, especially because for the next 2 years, they are the ones who will help you through the ups and downs, so having them around is really important.

The following week I started work at my new office in the Rundu Youth Center. I was so excited for my posting, I am doing exactly what I have always wanted to do, develop programs for youth, focusing on pressing social issues, unemployment, HIV/AIDS and business training. This is why I moved 9,181 miles away from home, I was stoked! The first morning we had a staff meeting, I introduced myself in my best Rukwangali, remembered no names of my co-workers from the meeting, and then started building relationships with the group of people that will become my closest friends while I am here.

Here's the thing about being a new PCV, we are supposed to spend the first few months at site observing. This is a great structure, and it really is important to learn our new community and places of employment in and out so that we can make as big of an impact over the next 2 years... the downfall... it's boring, really, really, boring. Our first week some volunteers who had been living in Rundu for 2 years took us around to meet important people in our community, and start building relationships with the town council, police commissioner, doctors, etc. in short, I have met a lot of people, it's super overwhelming, but necessary.

My second week my boss told me that we were going to be going on a trip to take a group of youth from the San community called Omega to Windhoek (the capital) and Ondera Farms so that they could see more of Namibia and get some hands on training, so that they could use grant money they received appropriately. Turns out this was a 2 week long lesson is lowering expectations. We were supposed to leave on Sunday, we left the following Thursday, Africa time and June time don't really see eye to eye... this so far is my greatest challenge. We left to Windhoek, which ended up being really fun, I was able to buy a new computer and hang out with other PCV's who happened to be in Windhoek at the same time. Windhoek also had its challenges, mostly organization wise, but everything came together in the end and it was a fun few days.

We left to Ondera Farms Monday, which is in the North, I had no idea how long we were going to stay but flexibility is key around here... I have started doing Yoga to help with this... We got to the farm to find no bedding, which of course, I didn't bring any, no stove, no boss, and no cell phone network... this proved problematic later. Thankfully I brought a big towel, turns out towels can also be pillows... good thing Namibia is hot and I didn't need a blanket. Not having a stove was great because the girls taught me how to build a fire and cook outside, which is great because I didn't posses this skill before this trip. No network... we will talk about that later.

The trip had it's ups and downs, and in order to keep this blog professional I wont get into specific details. The farm had its positive moments, when we were on the farm I saw that they were growing watermelon, while we were in Windhoek the head of the Youth Center there taught the youth a song that involved watermelon, but some of them had never tasted watermelon. I asked the farm supervisor if we could have one to taste after dinner, and he said that was perfectly fine, so we shared a watermelon after dinner. I was able to start connecting to the youth and start talking to them about their community and what they hoped to see it grow into one day.

As far as the downs...Alcohol tends to be a problem in Namibia, and although it is accepted, it bothers me greatly, but the biggest most upsetting issue that I am dealing with is men treating me like I moved to Namibia for their pleasure. One day on the farm, while dealing with a drunk adult, and another that didn't want to be there I was already reaching my limit, when one of the men who runs the farm approached me, in the dark about coming to Rundu and giving a workshop on farming. During our conversation that morning, the questions got uncomfortable, but I held my friendly demeanor, trying not to assume his intentions. While holding my arm he continued asking me questions that grew more inappropriate with time, like if I have a roommate, where will she stay when he comes, do I share a room with my roommate, then he actually said to me, “I have never had a white woman before...” as most of you can imagine, I damn near lost my mind.

The whole day and stress from the trip continued to build and I found myself sobbing behind the barn, in the dark, unable to call or text anyone. The little things that we think would not affect us, like alcoholism, isolation and jackass men, broke me down... maybe it's because this all took place in one day with a lot of build up, or maybe I just hit my maximum... all I could do was go into the house, write it all in my journal and cry myself to sleep into my towel. I woke up the next morning, and had a wonderful day.... the ups and downs will give you whiplash if you aren't prepared.

The hardest part is the realization and acceptance that this is after all, what I signed up for.

I got pretty lucky with my assignment, my office has wifi and air conditioning, I have a nice two bedroom flat with a great roommate, I have running water and electricity and Rundu is a small town but is has everything that I could ever need. Living in town is often seen as easier because goats don't run through my house, and I can turn my fan on at night making it much easier to sleep, however the downs are things like having to buy electricity, people are always trying to get into my house through my burglar bars, and I get to walk 45 minutes to work everyday. It is not uncommon to feel isolated in a town, because there are so many people, where do you start. But, I have been lucky with great co workers who take me to the river, and church and welcome me into their families. They are so excited that I want to learn Rukwangali that they SMS (text) me all day in the language. They truly care about me and my well-being, I never feel unsafe.

They teach us in training that no matter how happy we are in our new life, there are always little things that happen that make us feel like the car is about to fly off the rails and make you want to give up and go home. I guess without the ups and downs I would come home the same exact person I was when I left home, which is not what I want at all... character building is all part of it, and I am sure that I will change more than I am able to change Namibia, and the ups and downs will happen less and less.... this next two years just wouldn't be the same without the challenges of adjusting.

Other lessons learned:

• Always carry a camera, I missed some beautiful photo opportunities on the farm by not having a camera. That is also why there are no pictures on this blog.
• Always carry a blanket, it probably makes a better pillow than a towel.
• Continue to journal, it's a good outlet.
• Lower expectations, and don't take things so personally. For example: a few of my co-workers were calling me fat, not in a mean way, more in a matter of fact way, after a few days of this I told them that in my culture when you call someone fat you are also saying they are ugly... they were instantly apologetic and reassuring that I am not ugly, and it's not bad that I am not skinny.

Namlish Lesson:

• Footing = Walking ie: did you foot today?
• Having is used differently ie: are you having a pen?
• Now means later, now now means now
• I'm coming, often used in place of I'm going, and when used correctly, it means in about 10 minutes

My new address, the permanent one....

My permanent address for the next two years.... 

June Hiatt 

C/O Peace Corps

PO Box 114

Rundu

Namibia 9000

Send all your love my way...

Things I am  currently missing:

Taco seasoning

Tortillas... The ones in the bag, you could ship those here

Good quality pens

Corn bread mix, jig

A Utah postcard would be pretty sweet

Since my computer crashed I lost lots of pics from home, so send me some good ones in an email so I can have them

That's all for now... 

Xoxoxoxo

Nepemba Is Going North...

On September 20th, I will move north to Rundu where I will spend the next two years of my life working with the Rundu Multi-Purpose Youth Resource Center. The youth center works to provide opportunities for Youth to develop relevant life and work skills, which will help them, become responsible and self-reliant members of society.

My role will be as follows... The volunteer will provide business mentoring and coaching for youth entrepreneurs; train the youth on how to possibly run and manage a business effectively; help set up business clubs for youth entrepreneurs; help source funds for youth entrepreneurship development; provide leadership to youth; as well as provide HIV and AIDS training and counseling.

I will be living in a 2 bedroom flat, with a kitchen, living room and a bathroom. I will have running hot water and electricity… these are rare commodities, and I am thrilled to have them. I also have a lockable fence around my home so I will be safe and secure, which is very comforting as I will be living alone.

To help me learn more about Kavango and start making some connections in the region, I will be introduced to my “foster family” once I arrive. Being that I wont be living with them, they are not technically my host family, but I will go over to their home for dinner a few nights per week and spend time learning and practicing language. It will be nice to have that connection there to use as a support network.

I could not have come up with a better job description myself! I have spent years working hard so that I could love my work and find passion in what I am doing; today when the Peace Corps handed me an envelope with this job description, my dream became a reality. I could not be more excited for what this next two years will bring me!

Rather than just tell us where we are going, our trainers drew a huge map of Namibia in the dirt behind the training hall, blindfolded us, and led us to the region, town/village that we will be working in. They gave us a folder with our job description in it and made us wait until everyone was placed before we were able to open our eyes and see where we were and what we would be doing. As you can see, I am in Rundu and that blue folder holds the best job in the world!

With a population of 60,000, Rundu is the second largest town in Namibia and will most likely become a city in the next few years. We have been told that it is very beautiful with very diverse wildlife, hippos, crocodiles, loads of birds, and stupid, gross snakes... All of us that are going to Rundu, and the Kavango region are bound to have a great time!

The crest of the Namibian Government, also used by my new employer, the Ministry of Youth! YAY!

The important stuff from month 1 in Namibia...

As I couldn't possibly imagine summing up one month in a flowing format, the following post is more by subject; things that I think are important, relevant and more importantly interesting to read about... enjoy!

A “typical” Week….

If there is such a thing as a typical week in Namibia for a PCT (Peace Corps Trainee), I guess this is it… Monday to Friday we have training, which includes language, Tech sessions to go over the skills that we will need to do our jobs, cross cultural sessions, a few health sessions, maybe some safety stuff and most certainly a shot, or two. Every Saturday we have had some type of training, one weekend we went to Windhoek and learned some History, another weekend we took our LPI, Language Proficiency Interview to see how we are progressing in our language training. Sundays are family days, I spend time at home, eat a delicious lunch and then I go play soccer, either with fellow PCT’s or we play against the local team here in Okahandja… There are a few PCT’s who are incredible at soccer, but mostly it’s just for fun. So far we are winning, with one game 2 to 1, and the other a tie… I guess we can’t be that terrible.

As I said in my last post, I go home most nights and I am exhausted. I am always in bed by 9, sometimes sooner. I wake up most mornings by 6 and I lie in bed catching up on news in the US and in Utah, I am one of the lucky volunteers who has wifi at home. I wake up, get ready, which is super easy to do when you don’t do your hair of apply make up, I eat breakfast, take my Malaria meds and head to town.

I guess things were a little hard to adjust to, but now that I has been a month, everything is pretty much the same as home… except for tea breaks, I don’t know how I ever lived without them, and I don’t know how I will go home and not have them. Nothing hits to spot like cookies, or a BP&J with a hot cup of coffee at 10am sharp, every single day of the week.

Taken at Market day... which was the culmination of all of our training events for CED. 

Learning Rukwangali

This might be my greatest challenge yet. Rukwangali is part of the Bantu Languages that exists in Northern Namibia and Southern Angola. Rukwangali is a really old language which means hardly anything translates to English and there are many things that don’t have words in Rukwangali. Learning a new language feels like I am trying to re-wire my brain… it’s pretty tiring, but I scored well on my LPI so something is working out.

My teacher is named Maggie, she is from Rundu which is the town that I will be working in, and she is WONDERFUL! She gave me the nickname Nepemba, which means born in June (which I am not) in Rukwnagali. June is Pembagona, but Nepemba is much cuter so she and the other trainers call me Nepemba all the time now and I love it.

My Host Family

A big part of the Peace Corps immersion program is to place all volunteers with a host family for the length of training. I was lucky enough to be placed with the Strydom family! They live here in town, Okahandja, so I am able to walk to and from training, which, as turns out, is quite a luxury. I live with my Otate, who is a teacher, my Onane who works in Windhoek my Uncle, Adlrin who works for FNB, a Bank in Namibia and my two adorable siblings, Wailyn, age 5 and Gabi who is almost two. Gabi has finally decided that we are best pals, I think that’s pretty great and Wailyn and I have been pals from day one. It’s pretty great having them around since I have always wanted little siblings and it just so happens that these two are pretty freakin wonderful.

My host family has hosted many American Volunteers before me so they are used to having me around. They think it’s strange that I don’t like sugar in my coffee, and that I don’t eat very much meat, but they still like me, I think.

Gabi and Wailyn... I sure do love these two! I think I will officially adopt them and be their Auntie forever!

My Birthday

My Onane is an amazing baker, much like my own mother! She made me two cakes for my birthday and the whole family wished me a Happy Birthday with many more blessed years to come. The first person to wish me a happy birthday was my little brother who started singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to me the minute I walked out of my room, not going to lie, it was pretty wonderful.

The PCT’s got together for some Language training, and soccer that afternoon, which is always a blast and I was able to call home and talk to Mom, which was wonderful! A little bit of a homesick meltdown took place that evening but it was quickly cured with a good cry and a hug from onane. All it all, it was a pretty great way to ring in my 25^th year.

Adla Ningira

The CED program focuses on areas of Youth and Adult financial literacy, small business development, entrepreneurship development and HIV/AIDS. Part of my training for the CED (Community Economic Development), Program is being partnered with a Local IGA (Income Generating Activity) owner. IGA’s are small businesses here in Namibia that are informal in their structure and generate low levels of income for the owner. Most of these are road side businesses where the owners sell fruits and vegetables, Braai meat (BBQ), Fat Cakes (delicious), Tuck Shops, that are little shops that sell small items like flour, sugar, malty meal, and toiletries, and other things that one might buy… on the side of the road. Other IGA’s could be small catering companies where the person cooks out of their home, or another small service that is offered outside of someone’s house. Rarely will an IGA have a separate storefront.

My business partner is name Adla and she is hoping to get her catering company up and running again. She has been running her own day care for a while, but it isn’t where her heart is at so we are going to work on getting her catering & take away business back running. She cooks traditional Namibian food, which is sooooo delicious. It is going to take a lot of work and time, but I know that she can do it! I am so excited that I have been placed with her, and I get to help her with this goal. She and I clicked from day one, she like my mother is a single mom, she loves with all of her heart, and she is committed to making sure that her son has a great life. I can’t wait to see what the future brings to her. 

Enoch, Adla's helper and Adla's son... working really hard at Market Day

For Market day we decided to make personal pizza's on Roasted Bread, which is made on the Braai (BBQ). They were delicious and she is back in business. I am so excited for her!

A Brief History of Namibia

Namibia has a pretty rough history for such a young country, I recommend looking into it if you have some free time. In the early part of the 1900’s Namibia, South West Africa (at the time) was colonized by the Germans, who unleashed their second Reich on the tribes of Namibia; their target, the Herero people. the Germans, in an attempt to colonize Namibia systematically killed off thousands of Herero peoples, and forced their tribes out of their lands. Years later Europe decided that Germany need not worry about Namibia, rather, allow South Africa to keep an eye on the country. This decision spread apartheid into Namibia, which created the wounds that young Namibians are now working to heal.

Namibia is only 23 years old, it is now very peaceful but the problems that Namibia faces persist. The main problem would be skyrocketing unemployment. Last year unemployment was reported at 50% and this year it is around 27%... however unreliable statistics can be, those are shocking numbers regardless. Alongside troubling HIV rates, Namibia has a very large problem with alcoholism. Apartheid was also responsible for the creation of less than poor education system leaving a percentage of Namibians with a less than 6^th grade education, while the youngest generation is changing that, most Namibians have very low levels of education. Namibia has a very painful history, and it is still so young, and fresh in the hearts and minds of the people.

This last weekend we celebrated Hero’s Day, which is celebrated to commemorate those who lost their lives in the genocide. The Herero people gathered in Okahandja and celebrated for days, followed by a parade on Sunday where they marched to the graveyard where the Herero Chiefs are buried, so that they could pay their respects to their ancestors.

The following are photos of Herero women and men waiting to pray to the chiefs. 

Other pictures capturing things that have been happened... 

This is Hope... she is from Illinois. She is my person & neighbor in Okahandja, we will also be in the Kavango region together. We do laundry together, walk to training together, study language together, basically everything together... most days you could go as far to say that she is my wife... 

Hope and I made Mexican food for our families... they kinda liked it... 

My family and Hope's family eating dinner... 

Sunday Brunch at the Reit Club in Okahandja, it was wonderful! Just like a mini vacation...

Happy Birthday Otate Bill! 

Enjoying a leisurely Sunday at the stables of the Reit Club... it is a beautiful place.

Love, love, love these two!

I spent the first week in Namibia rooming with these beautiful women, I love them all so much! (Me, Hope, Rouchelle, Lacy, Shannon and in front is the beautiful Ali)

My two favorite gents... Eugene, looking thoughtful as always... and Derrek... photo-bombing us... good thing I love him a ton!

The Community Economic Development group with our Program Director, Linda (right of the photo) and some members of the Okahandja town council. We are a pretty fantastic group if I do say so myself. This photo was taken at the 2nd annual OSMEC (Okahandja Small Medium Enterprise Club) Market Day. They are an amazing club in Okahandja helping to promote small businesses, it was an honor to be a part of this event. 

I ate this little guy... tasted like a dirt flavored Cheeto... they are a staple in the diet in the Kavango region... good thing I didn't hate it... 

I also had my hair done... I loved it, but it was heavy and kind of itchy... so it lasted for about two weeks, but it was great while it lasted. 

Welp, that's all for now folks. 

xoxoxox

Living the Dream

“Living the dream”

It has always been my dream to move to Africa and work with people; I guess I can officially say that I am living my dream. This hit me today as we were driving through Windhoek, it was the first time that I have actually been able to turn my brain off and just be, in Africa, surrounded by incredible people.

Getting here was half the battle. The 15-hour flight from JFK to Johannesburg was quite the challenge and my ankles were swollen for two days after we landed, it was quite miserable. We landed and boarded a bus to Okahandja, a town about .5 hours north of Windhoek, where we would spend the next 2 months in training. During our drive we saw some great wildlife; warthogs, monkeys, amazing birds and some giraffes… by we I mean everyone else, as I was passed out from not sleeping on our long flight. When we arrived at the Kukuri hostel in Okahandja our trainers greeted us with song, it was a moment I will never forget. Following a long, much needed shower, I went straight to bed; the morning would bring my first day of work.

Staying at Kukuri was a great way for our group to bond and get to know each other, and I tell you what, I am here with an INCREDBILE group of people. Everyone is so diverse and amazing, and we all bring such great skills and knowledge with us; it’s amazing that we are all here together. We spent our night’s together, playing cards, listening to music, dancing and sharing our stories of how we got here.

Friday we had “job interviews”. My program director is named Linda, she is so amazing, I already know that I am going to love working with her! We spoke about what I wanted to do and what my ideal assignment would be based off of a list of options that she had put together for the CED (Community Economic Development) Group. Financial literacy is a huge problem in Namibia, so I told her that I would love to work with youth financial literacy and I would also like to work with HIV projects. It will be another 6 weeks until I find out where I will be working, but I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Our first week was short, being that we arrived on Wednesday, but Monday would bring a whole new set of excitement; Language assignments. I will be learning Rukwangali, which is spoken in the Kavango Region of Namibia. This means a few different things. First I will live in Kavango, which is lush and green and full of wildlife, like crocodiles, hippos, elephants, and it is also close to the Etosha Game Reserve so I can visit there multiple times….  However, this also means that I will live in a malaria hot zone, so malaria meds are a must.

A standard greeting in Rukwangali:

            A: Morokeni – hello/morning

            B; Morokeni None- hello, how are you?

            A: Ngapi Nawa – good, you?

            B: Ihn Nawa, One? – I’m good

            A: Nawa  - Good

A few things to know about Namibian languages: there are no Rosetta Stone programs for them, and even if you are dying in a ditch, when someone asks you how you are, you say “fine”.

Monday night we also met our host families. My family is wonderful! They are very gracious to open their home to volunteers, and they hosted about 6 volunteers before me. My Tate (father) is a teacher and my Nane (mother) works as a supervisor for a financial institution, my uncle also lives here and he works for a large bank in Namibia, he might be my favorite. They have two children, a boy who is 5 and a girl who is almost two. The live in Okahandja, about 10 minutes from the training center, so I get to walk everyday, which is nice.

The first week and a half here has been filled with so much training and information, my brain is going a million miles an hour. With language training, safety training, cultural training, shots every other day and tea breaks filled with fat cakes and information processing, I get back to my host family’s home at 5:30pm and I am ready for bed.

All in all things are pretty great here in Namibia, I am sure that there is much more to come but, one day at a time seems to be the Namibian way…. When in Namibia… 

It Chose Me.

People have asked me why I decided to join the Peace Corps, my response… “it chose me”.

I was introduced to the Peace Corps about 7 years ago when I was in highschool. We were talking about international service options in one of my classes and someone brought up the Peace Corps, I was hooked. I knew that once I graduated from college that I was going to join the Peace Corps, move to Africa and work with HIV, mind you, it had been a dream of mine since I was a young child to work with HIV. Once I started college I became very involved in local community service and community development. After 5 years of working on a community level I had been drawn away from the international service idea, and decided to stay and work locally.

Upon graduation in 2011 job prospects were pretty bleak. I worked at a grocery store, then at ITT Technical Institute, which just didn’t work out. I felt trapped. I continued to work on local issues in my spare time, and I even worked on a campaign for my State House Representative, but I still wasn’t happy with the life options that post college existence offered me. I took the first opportunity to leave ITT that I could, I went to work at a law firm for an independent attorney that I knew through the work I had done with the democratic party here in Salt Lake. A short three months later this plan began to fall through.

One day he had asked me to go to lunch with him, he wanted to give me a performance review, he had also asked the other legal assistant to lunch as well. Over lunch after reviewing my performance, he began speaking to me about what I was hoping to do with my life, and how he felt that being a legal assistant wasn’t really my passion…. stating the obvious. But, at this point in time I was just happy to have a job that didn’t make me miserable. I wanted passion and direction back in my life, at this time I thought a career in law was that path.

After lunch I had a feeling that I might be let go… something wasn't settling quite right. When we got back to the office I pulled the other legal assistant to the back room and asked her if she felt the same way, she agreed… one of us wasn’t going to make the cut.

I got home that night, unclear on what my future held. I am the kind of person who always has a plan, and for that plan exists a back up plan, this is the first time in my life that I felt lost, empty if you will. I was flipping through the mail as I spoke with my mother about my day and current frustrations. I saw a postcard from the Peace Corps, inviting my to a get together with returned volunteers who live in my neighborhood. This is the first piece of literature that I received in quite some time; in fact, the notion that I had ever wanted to join had almost slipped my mind.

She told me that I should just apply, after all “what’s the worst that could happen? They say no… then you just figure out another plan”. So that is exactly what I did. That weekend I went to the Peace Corps website, when I logged on I was informed that if I applied then, I could leave Summer 2013.

I applied, interviewed, and on December 20^th, I got the call that I had been nominated to work in Community and Economic Development. I filed out some paperwork, and waited. On March 26^th I got the email that the 16-year-old girl had been waiting years to get. I was officially invited to work in the Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) Program with the Peace Corps in Namibia.

As I said, the Peace Corps chose me; life had a bigger plan for me than Salt Lake City, I just wasn’t ready to see it. It is safe to say that my eyes are wide open to this new chapter in my life.  While I know that it will not be an easy adventure, I am confident that it will be worth it, and in 2.5 years when I return home, 16-year-old June will be really proud.

My Program: Small Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Development (SEED)

My Job Title: Small Business Advisor and/or Entrepreneurship Teacher Trainer

Small Enterprise & Entrepreneurship Development (SEED).  Namibia’s SEED program focuses on improving business practices and developing economic capacity in rural and urban communities, and its target groups include entrepreneurs, cooperatives, secondary schools, non- governmental organizations (NGOs), women, and youth. 

As a Small Business Advisor, you will be working with a specific host country partner who supports one or more of these target groups.  Throughout your service, you will also have the opportunity to work with Volunteers in Namibia’s two other programs: Community Health & HIV/AIDS and Education. Your unique skills as a SEED Volunteer will be a great asset to both your community and fellow Volunteers in-country. The SEED program has been very well-received in Namibia and stakeholders express strong interest in its continued success.

When you first arrive, you will work with a training team committed to helping you acquire the language, technical, and cross cultural skills necessary to become a successful Volunteer. As part of your training, to facilitate your language and cultural integration, you will live with a Namibian home-stay family in a community at or near the training site. Following this eight-week Pre-Service Training (PST) period, you will move to your site, where your two- year service begins. A great deal of effort is put into identifying communities throughout Namibia where you will be able to work effectively and live safely.

Why the SEED Program was developed:

On its 22nd anniversary of independence, Namibia is a young country with developed infrastructure, a stable political situation, a strong regulatory and legal environment and great potential for economic growth. In its policy framework document ―Vision 2030, the Government of the Republic of Namibia (GORN) outlines a plan rooted in such principles as good governance, partnership, capacity enhancement, people-centered development and sustainable development.

106 years of colonial rule -- coupled with the apartheid system -- deprived the Namibian people of their traditional way of life, left a tremendous skills deficit and created a highly dualistic society. Therefore, despite Namibia’s classification as a lower middle income economy, huge disparities exist. Namibia has the most unequal income/asset distribution in the world according to both the United Nations (Gini index of 74.3) and the Central Intelligence Agency (Gini index of 70.7).

The GORN cites ―high and persistent unemployment, estimated to be as high as 51.2 percent of the population, as a ―key weakness‖ in the Namibian economy. Limited job opportunities in the formal and/or government sectors coupled with inadequate skills training necessary for self employment have contributed to a perpetual—and even increasing—unemployment rate since 1970. Furthermore, an expanding urban population, primarily youth seeking improved economic opportunities, is expected to rise significantly from 43 percent in 2006 to 75 percent by 2030. This places an incredible strain on urban resources and reinforces the importance of creating diversified economic activities and skills development, especially in rural areas.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic, with a prevalence of 13.2 percent (2011), is exacerbated by and further contributes to poverty in Namibia. In the face of limited opportunity (both perceived and existing), individuals are often obliged to make decisions jeopardizing their health. Additionally, the epidemic is assumed to simultaneously increase expenses (related to medical care) and decrease household income (related to reduced labor capacity).

Peace Corps Namibia’s Small Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) project promotes small scale economic development through the reinforcement of entrepreneurial and business management skills in Namibian communities.

The project: 

Builds on the positive efforts of the GORN in promoting entrepreneurship skills of youth as a mechanism to create future opportunities for self employment in a country where unemployment is increasingly an issue. Targets the most marginalized, vulnerable portion of the population lacking access to other financial and non financial support (potential/emerging entrepreneurs and youth throughout Namibia). 

Technical support to this segment of the population is needed to help overcome the devastating income disparity that currently leaves the majority of Namibians living in poverty. Reinforces the efforts of business development support providers who bring technical support and lack the capacity for ongoing mentorship and decentralized assistance throughout the country. 

Potential for collaboration is great and interest is high. Addresses teachers’ concerns surrounding the implementation of the new entrepreneurship program (that involves a new practical teaching methodology and assessment approach) without sufficient initial and ongoing training and support.

What is the Peace Corps

The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship.

Since that time, 210,000+ Peace Corps Volunteers have served in 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation.

Today's Peace Corps is more vital than ever, working in emerging and essential areas such as information technology and business development, and contributing to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Peace Corps Volunteers continue to help countless individuals who want to build a better life for themselves, their children, and their communities.

The Peace Corps Mission:

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship.

The Peace Corps' mission has three simple goals:

1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

What do Volunteers Do? 

Where do Volunteers go? 

to find out more go to www.peacecorps.gov

About Namibia

The dry lands of Namibia were inhabited since early times by Bushmen, Damara, and Namaqua, and since about the 14th century AD by immigrating Bantu who came with the Bantu expansion. It became a German Imperial protectorate in 1884 and remained a German colony until the end of World War I. In 1920, the League of Nations mandated the country to South Africa, which imposed its laws and, from 1948, its apartheid policy.

Uprisings and demands by African leaders led the UN to assume direct responsibility over the territory. It recognized the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO) as the official representative of the Namibian people in 1973. Namibia, however, remained under South African administration during this time as South-West Africa. Following internal violence, South Africa installed an interim administration in Namibia in 1985. Namibia obtained full independence from South Africa in 1990, with the exception of Walvis Bay and the Penguin Islands, which remained under South African control until 1994.

Namibia is a member state of the United Nation, The Southern African Development Community, the African Union and The Commonwealth of Nations.  Namibia has a population of 2.1 million people and a stable multi-party parliamentary democracy. Agriculture, herding, tourism and the mining industry – including mining for gem diamonds, uranium, gold, silver and base metals – form the backbone of Namibia’s economy. Given the presence of the arid Namib Desert, it is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. Approximately half the population live below the international poverty line, and the nation has suffered heavily from the effects of HIV/AIDS, with 15% of the adult population infected with HIV in 2007.

Some basic facts about the country:

• Area: 824,269 km2.

• Population: 2 184 091 people (2011)

• Capital of Namibia: Windhoek

• Official Language: English

• Other Languages: Oshiwambo, Afrikaans, Nama, Damara, Otjiherero, German, Rukwangali, Setswana, and others.

• Major Ethnic Groups: Owanbo, Kwangali, Damara, Herero, Nama, San, Afrikaner, German, and others.

Religion

The Christian community makes up 80%-90% of the population with at least 50% of these being Lutheran. 10%-20% of the population hold indigenous beliefs. Missionary work during the 1800s drew many Namibian to Christianity. While most Namibia Christian are Lutheran there are many other denominations throughout the country. 

Language

Although its official language is English, Namibia is a multilingual country as it is illustrated on these examples in English, German, Afrikaans and Oshiwambo. Until 1990, German and Afrikaans were also official languages. Long before Namibia’s independence from South Africa, SWAPO had decided that the country should become officially monolingual, consciously choosing this approach in contrast to that of its neighbour, which was regarded as “a deliberate policy of ethnolinguistic fragmentation.” Consequently, English became the sole official language of Namibia. Some other languages have received semi-official recognition by being allowed as medium of instruction in primary schools.The northern majority of Namibians speak Oshiwambo as their first language, whereas the most widely understood and spoken language is Afrikaans. Among the younger generation, the most widely understood languages are English and Afrikaans. Both Afrikaans and English are used primarily as a second language reserved for public communication, but small first-language groups exist throughout the country.

Health

Life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 52.2 years in 2012 – among the lowest in the world. The AIDS epidemic is a large problem in Namibia. Though its rate of infection is substantially lower than that of its eastern neighbor, Botswana, approximately 13.1% of the adult population is infected with HIV. In 2001, there were an estimated 210,000 people living with HIV/AIDS, and the estimated death toll in 2003 was 16,000. According to the 2011 UNAIDS Report, the epidemic in Namibia “appears to be leveling off.” As the HIV/AIDS epidemic has reduced the working-aged population, the number of orphans has increased. It falls to the government to provide education, food, shelter and clothing for these orphans.The malaria problem seems to be compounded by the AIDS epidemic. Research has shown that in Namibia the risk of contracting malaria is 14.5% greater if a person is also infected with HIV. The risk of death from malaria is also raised by approximately 50% with a concurrent HIV infection. Given infection rates this large, as well as a looming malaria problem, it may be very difficult for the government to deal with both the medical and economic impacts of this epidemic. The country had only 598 physicians in 2002.