Bread baking sequel

On Tuesday we held another bread baking workshop
(people mixing dough in picture). It was better than
the first one. It rained very hard at one point and we
were all huddled under a leaking zinc roof, it was fun.

It has been a pretty good week, we received a shipment
of diesel for the generator. We were about 2 weeks
struggling without electricity. It cramps any computer
literacy at the school and it just plain makes everything
difficult. When they brought the fuel there was a
little problem with the hookup and we had to wait
another day for someone to come. What it was is
that the diesel has a feed and a return. They crossed
them and it was a mess as tubes flew off and
spewed diesel all over the engine. But I think we
learned something and I did something crazy, I
put a tag on each one. One says feed the other
return, hopefully that will be the last time for that
problem.

We cleaned off the netball court and the girls started
playing again. It gives life to the center of town. They
had stopped playing for over 3 months. This group
is a younger one, mostly teenagers, so hopefully it
will keep a few out of the bars a little more.

We fixed a computer at one of the offices so that it
could burn DVDs. Not a big deal other than the
secretary said that he would burn some DVDs and
charge a little, then use the profits to buy new ink
cartridges for their printer. That's the first time I
every heard of anyone here speaking of anything
remotely related to sustainability. So, got to see
it to believe it.

Last Monday we went to the big city Katima. Our
village is almost exactly in the middle of a game
reserve. So anytime one drives down the road one
never knows what one will see. Last Monday was
an exciting day. About 30 kilometers outside the
village we see a big hyena dead in the road. Even
dead they look a little dangerous.

Better yet was the male elephant on the side of the
road. I guess we kind of came up behind him
(he was on the side of the road) and scared him.
He turned towards us with his ears all out and
chased us for a little ways. It is also cool to hear
the elephant make the trumpeting sound. Just
like in the movies or the animal planet show.

So that's it for this week.

Probably wondering ...

What you are looking at in the picture above.
The look on the faces of the villagers that were
present at today's bread baking workshop said
... what is it.

It is every volunteer's story fodder that we
take with us and always comes back to mind when
someone burns something in the oven.

I am sure by now that everyone can tell that it is a
bread that was exposed to some pretty high
temperature ...

Everything went well for the workshop until we
arrived at the payday, the highly anticipated
moment ... the moment of truth.

So, it was really kind of funny watching the villagers
reaction to the first great appearance of one of the 27
breads that were placed inside the traditional oven.

Should we make excuses first or wait till later
... maybe later.

We used this huge traditional oven which was left from
the time of the occupation by South African troops.
It is about 7ft tall, 6 ft wide and another 7 or so feet
deep. It's impressive and seeing as the South African
military left in something like 1989, it is still in decent
condition.

There were something like 40 people total with about
15 adults and the rest, kids. It was really ok. It was
actually fun. Almost everyone got their hands into making
the dough. They had some ownership in it all.

It could best described as somewhat of a carnival
atmosphere. Adults talking amongst each other, kids playing
games and running around, really just plain, nice.

So it was kind of funny when the first bread came out in
the condition seen in the picture. It is just the plain old typical
project that when things are going too good, it can't be true.

Ok, excuse as to why. It was the first time baking with this
oven. We put in a decent amount of wood seeing as the
oven was fairly big. Sound logic, wouldn't you say?

It was really a surprise that when they opened the oven door
after 10 minutes and saw the bread in that state. It should
have taken something like 30 to 45 minutes so as to cook
well and through. I am not sure but I think we somehow
figured out how to cook faster than a microwave.

It must be said that not all the bread came out in that manner.
After we saw the situation we opened the door and let
it cool some as it baked. Something like half turned out
with what would be 1st degree burns instead of the above
bread's 3rd degree status.

I have been at this a while and for me it is just plain normal to
have something not go well enough to allow the project to
come out without a hitch. Call me pessimistic but I say ...
it just ain't never going to be 'the perfect project'. In
reality, it would be boring if it went just as drawn up.

Oh yeah, despite it's appearance, the bread tasted really
good and the best way to judge the workshop's success
was by the speed with which the bread was consumed.
All 27 were gone in less than 30 minutes and that with 15
big people and 25 small people to make it go away.

We are doing an encore bread making workshop
Tuesday, this time well go light on the wood and it should
come out better. This time we may actually look like we
know what we are doing, where's the story in that?

Update from the bush ...

It is amazing to think that Monday will be the
one year anniversary of our arrival in Namibia,
time is flying by.

In the picture you are looking at what was, the
biggest elephant I've ever seen. In my little book
on the wildlife of the Okavango region it states that
a male can grow to 4 meters tall or a little over 12ft.
and weigh up to 6,000 kg or 13,000 lbs. This one
had to be pretty close to those numbers. It looked
like an old male and must have been a tough life for
this guy, if the tusks are any indication.

I took this picture as part of an excursion we had
with the winners of the Miss Valentine's day contest
that the youth leadership group facilitated. It was the
group's first attempt at any form of activity. I am
giving them an -A. They had some difficulties but we
sat together and worked them out. It wasn't perfect
but it was the proverbial 'great learning experience'.
It is about empowering the youth and prepare them
to lead when their time comes.

Part of the prize for winning was a trip to the game park.
There were four winners and five from the youth group
leadership board, me and one of the Romanian guys.
We took the Romanian's microbus and off we went.
We were incredibly lucky because as soon as we entered
we came across the huge male elephant, zebras, impala,
vultures and what I think is a Tawny Eagle.

And that was it, not another animal in sight. Of course we
went at about the worst time of the day due to having to
wait for the girls to arrive. But all was not lost because I
brought my little camera and we took a total of 119 pictures.
With about 10 of them with animals in them and the rest ...
well ... best described ... they loved hamming it up for
the camera. But it was a good, reason being, they had
fun.

I am thinking that for all of them, it was the first time at
the game park, so. It was a new experience for them.

On the movie scene, we are in the process of hashing out
a new story line about teenage pregnancy. It is going
a little slow but I am actually happy with the process.
It is going slow because we are still discussing the
way the message, in it's best form, can be delivered through
the drama. I am feeling that with the daily discussions
and the 'think tank' ten minutes, that they are
learning to not just rush anything out there but to think
about what is the goal of actually making these movies.
And that is to deliver a convincing message that will
in the end, alter behavior for the good.

Tomorrow we are going to have a little bread making
workshop. When the military was here they had this
huge traditional oven and it has been just sitting there
for quite a while. The oven was used by a bread
making group but went the typical way that the groups
seem to always arrive to ... out of business. Standard
cookie cutter reason, too much credit, too much
eating the goods and last but not least, too many
hands in the profit jar.

So, the Romanian girl is a fantastic cook and she decided
to try the workshop. Truth be told on this one, if a few
come, then, it will be a success. Also, the goal of this
one isn't for income generating. It is for the attainment
of knowledge and hopefully, baking of bread for their
families. It seems that all the time a workshop or
something similar is talked of, it is always, how much
money can be made. I think that this one is better
if it is ... how much bread can you eat.

Later, if they are interested in going into a business, then
they will have the skill to venture out on their own and
it is in their hands. The old teach a man how to fish thing.
But only this time ... teach a person how to make bread.
We are not even concerned about if it will be a success
through a tremendous turnout. Worst thing that happens,
we eat nice hot bread for lunch. To me if that happens,
heck, I'll give it the big thumbs up seal of approval.

The young San cultural group is really improving. They
need some props like, a traditional bow and arrow,
some type of mask and skin to emulate a lion or an
animal for their hunting song. A few little axes and
things like that. So we are working on acquiring
some of those items. I am donating on this one, those
kids are really into it, they enjoy it and again, are
pretty good. I feel they deserve a little support.

The guys were actually playing soccer and it is a good
thing for them and the village. The work is to try and
waken up the place, get a better energetic life style
going and in the end, it fits in the goal of changing
the behavior from one of alcohol as a first option
in the fight against boredom.

It has been a steady week or so since the last blog
entry. Despite the fact that I may be a little delusional
about the next statement ... we are making some
progress ... there is a long way to go.

All we can do is keep at it.

Chaka

That's how it feels after struggling with an idea
or project and then see it come to fruition.
Especially when it is a sort of pilot project,
never been tried (in the village).By the way,
chaka means good in the San (Khwedam)
language.

I am referring to the health videos we've been
working on. After the mired in super glue state
we were in, it's been a total one eighty.

This morning upon arriving at the clinic, I was
met by three excited health workers. What
happened yesterday was that the TB counselor's
boss arrived for a visit. The TB counselor
(Regina) showed the DVD we made concerning
TB. Her boss was excited and impressed and
told her that she was doing a great job. She
also said that it was tremendous that it was in
a local language and that everyone could
understand the message.

So, Regina is really animated about participating
in other movies.

But the best part is that she had 7 people in the
last two weeks just come in for TB tests. She's
been counseling in this village for about 9
months and she told me that it was the first
time that people came in voluntarily to be tested.
Usually people are referred to her for testing.

It isn't the end of the world and it isn't the cure for
cancer but, it is a small victory that keeps us
motivated and wanting to do more.

From my side of it, I am happy as heck. It was
one of those days that nothing could affect
the good feeling.

It was funny that Regina's boss said: "How did
you guys do it. What equipment did you use, it
came out pretty clear"?

The best part ... it was with my tiny Canon A570IS
camera, Windows Movie Maker and someone
else's disk burner. The total cost was ... about .66 cents
USD. Just the price of the blank DVD.

It is good that they can see that we can do meaningful
work/projects with the limited resources we have.

Hard to explain that good old feeling of success that
comes from some idea or project going pretty much
right. Especially if it is behavior change based.

So, the 'sometimes it's good' can't last and tomorrow
is another day. But we live in the now ... and now is
pretty darn good.

Be Careful ... Think

That's what the words in the picture mean.
It is from the Thimbukushu language and it
is the name of the movie we made this week.
We went from almost nine months to actually
make the first movie, to being on a schedule of
making bi-weekly productions. It's just how it
goes, to use 'famine to feast', would describe the
direction this is going. But if it follows the basic
pattern ... it will be ... famine ... feast ... disappear.
But until it disappears I am going to enjoy being
a part of it.
The name of the movie really has not much to do
with the story ... it just kind of does ... because it is
almost in everything that we could ... be careful,
think.
The story goes like this ... there is a guy who likes
the women. He has HIV and a little TB thrown in.
They are all in the shebeen (bar) and the wife
sees the girlfriend. There is some drama. They
did a really good job on that scene. Maybe they've
seen something like that before, yup.
Well, both women get TB, one gets HIV (the wife).
The wife does the right thing, gets tested and then
follows the ARV and TB medication schedule. She
goes along fine. The girlfriend has TB only but
doesn't follow the medication schedule. That is
a problem here as some people no matter how
many times they tell them, just don't come regularly.
Of course, the results are that the medication won't
work and she is in trouble.
But the guy who likes the girls, well, he doesn't want
to believe anything about TB or HIV. Doesn't want
to go for testing. Easy to see where he's headed.
He decides (when he is really sick) to go to the
traditional healer.
This was another great scene with a lot of wild action
and chaos. Again, those guys did a great job.
So, the guy gets kind of jived up and stands up and
dances like he got the spirit in him, then drops dead.
The women cry / wail and the wife (who brought him
to the traditional healer) then chases the healer around
with a hoe as the people try and break it up.
I was running the camera and I could see that it was
going to be an interesting scene.
In the end the lessons are ... don't be stupid, get tested,
don't have multiple partners and if you are taking
ARVs or TB medication, do it right.
Another huge part is the the group is growing and it
is a fun way to kill a Friday afternoon.
The next one I am thinking should be about teenage
pregnancy. It is really a problem here and with the
threat of HIV high, I guess that the youth just
aren't getting the message in a way that makes sense
to them.
To change the subject ... the Romanians and the guys
from the village played their soccer game last Thursday.
It was 10 to 8 with the Romanians winning. It was
a great activity for both sides. It helped create a little
connection and familiarity through sports. It also
gave the village youth something to think about. In
this area they are kind of the best. They never practice
and I guess they had the big fish in a small pond
frame of mind.
With the thumping they got, hopefully they will be at the
field a little more. The Romanians had a different style
of play than the village youth. The youth talked about
what they learned, a good thing.
A lot of benefits came out of that game.
Began to teach a young San girl (who is going to teach
some computer classes) some new things. Sustainable
in every way. Like I mentioned before, the only sustainable
thing I know is, knowledge.
Also a few young women are going to organize a valentine's
day event. In my opinion it is a good thing. We are
so far out in the bush and to have some (city type)
activity is well worth the effort.
Here we have some young kids who've gone to school
in cities. When they come back, they are dying of boredom.
So if this will help to keep them active, it is good.
Also, it is the initiate of a few youth, good to see in the
world of development.
Time to end this blog article so best way to end it is ...
with the words ... Tukoneke no Kughayara.

It happened

In the last blog entry I spoke about how
things kind of happened. Also, that one of
the things that maybe/kind of was going to
happen was what could be best described as
a cultural even. The San (Khwe) cultural
group performed for the visiting Romanians.
The picture I posted for this entry is not of
the San dancers but of the Sifwe people members
of the Adventist Church Choir. Sifwe is what
they call a tribe just as the San (Khwe) would
be called a tribe. That's the word they use to
describe their origins, tribe.
It is really an experience to be able to see these
little events.
Overall it went well. It was the first time that the
San group actually performed for strangers while
being in the village. It appeared to be a new
thing for them too. So it actually was more than
a visitor welcome event, it had all the makings of
a great cross cultural activity.
My feeling is that there was a lot more accomplished
than what would have met the eye.
From a development point of view, any action that
can open a mind or bring about tolerance and
acceptance, is a success.
Tomorrow there is a soccer match planned between
the Romanians and some of the village youth.
Like the 'kind of happen' train of thought, it just
ain't sure till it's actually in process. But so far,
we're on a roll with the dance part of the visitor
welcome activities, a done deal.
Another piece of the development puzzle was
put in place today.