Presenting ...

The drama group ( in the picture above )that I have
been working with over the last nine months. They
are a great bunch of people and I am really lucky
that they are here.

They are the group that basically writes ( verbally ),
produces, directs and all the other things needed to
make our little videos.

The way it works out here in the bush would drive
a few people crazy ( especially 'A' types ). Of course
it all starts with an idea or story line. Then, it is whomever
is present to begin defining. Then the getting together of
everyone to hammer it out and get ready to go ... well ...
that may take 2 to 3 weeks. It is like ... Andreas went to
Katima Mulilo ( city ). Then Reginah is out in the field.
Or ... Vicky's baby is sick and on and on. But here is
one of the best lessons that I've learned and will take it
with me till the end and that is ... it all gets done.
It is amazing how in the end, it always does and with
the go with the flow way ... there is a lot less stress.

This is one of the main reasons why I pushed for making
videos of the drama group's performances. To get them
together and then go and perform out in a village somewhere
or even in this village is ... again ... more luck than anything
else. So, with the DVD-video, once it's made then it is a
matter of putting it in the player and then the performance
is happening and it doesn't take a logistics specialist to
get everyone together.

We have a new story line that I am looking forward to see
develop in their Namibian cultural way. It is a role reversal
or 'shoe on the other foot' story of how the lady has several
husbands ( they kind of call steady partners of boyfriends/
girlfriends, husbands and wives ). There may even be more
of the old traditional polygamists tone to it. We are working
that angle out. But, it is really about addressing the multiple
partner ( it is a central point in HIV transmission ) issue, be
they legally married or just being boyfriends/girlfriends ( that
really adds up to the same thing as polygamy ) in a way
that promotes some form of dialogue or reflection of the
situation. The only way I know about making behavior
change happen is to start some discussions and open the
subject up to thought and hopefully ... change.

So, all the things that the men do to the women, the woman is
going to do to the man. It should be kind of humorous and
I can't wait to see the look on the village ladies faces' when
they see it for the first time, they should be laughing a bit.

We are hoping that the 'many a truth is said in gest' method of
getting a point across works on this one.