First days of work

Any idealistic visions that I had of working in Africa have definitely flown straight out the door by now. And I don't think I was too idealistic about it in the beginning. Upon walking into Mt. Sinai Centre for the first time I see that they have next to nothing. The building is brand new and beautiful, and relatively empty. The City of Windhoek donated the property to Mt. Sinai Centre and apparently the site was previously a toxic dumping ground. I'm sure that toxic chemicals are superb for women's immune systems that are compromised by HIV. My boss' office isn't really an office. There is no desk, no computer, files are strewn about the floor, as are supplies. The main room in which she is working right now has a small table with one working computer and projects laying around. The other computer that was meant for this room was stolen by the man she thought was going to fix it. The bathroom does have soap which I find miraculous-not many of the bathrooms which I have seen so far have soap. I should also explain (Mom and Dad, please skip over this next sentence) that the grounds are surrounded by barbed wire fence and patrolled by a young man who stays awake all night to watch the building. He works for free but is happy to because he feels that my boss, Christa, provides things for him that he does not have in his tin shed that sits on the edge of the Mount Sinai Centre property - i.e. a toilet, electricity, water. When Christa can, she throws him $300 namibian dollars which is approximately $40 american dollars a month.

I begin my work on Monday with a briefing from Christa. She tells me all about the history of Mt. Sinai Centre, current projects, partnerships, threats, and challenges. I listened intently, trying to really hear what she was saying. I even start to think to myself about the theory and program development skills that I learned at school. It actually applies!! But, when we get to talking about the centre's threats and challenges Christa gets quite upset. She feels that funders (i.e. USAID and Global Fund) are trying to "push her down" and make her organization's work their own work. Part of me thinks, "yeah, this is the way donors work-they have a lot of stipulations," but at the same time I am trying to listen to her (legitimate) concerns. She also feels like she is being deceived-a local organization who has something to do with USAID wants her to lie and say that the centre has a kids club. The first lady of Namibia has also used information from Mt. Sinai Centre's projects in a brochure without crediting the organization. The first lady of Namibia is also the patron of Mt. Sinai Centre, meaning Christa has to proceed carefully in handling this matter. Christa is trying to be straightforward and I believe, just wants credit where credit is due. However, I am noticing a distinct cultural difference in how organizations operate and how they perceive funding from Western organizations. I am not sure how to proceed, especially when she needs a steady source of funding (if there is such a thing).

In the meantime I am working on some logistics for the centre. They do not have a clear mission statement, vision, or measurable objectives. I am trying to set the centre up when they apply for funding in the future. I am also trying to give them some legitimate ways in which to measure the success of the centre. An evaluation of their work will be critical for potential funders and current funders. At the same time, I am amazed at the record keeping and detail that Christa has gone through. She keeps a file of everything-any letter of appreciation, receipt, referral, etc. She is very thorough.

Tomorrow a woman is coming to teach some of the mothers at the centre sewing skills. Christa is working to give the mothers some skills that will make them more employable, self-reliant, and confident. We are also in the beginning stages of starting a garden that will be used to grow vegetables. This garden will not only provide nutrition for the mothers and their children but it also serves a money-making opportunity. In the coming weeks Christa also wants me to go the hospital where she used to be a nurse to see how hospitals are working with HIV/AIDS patients. I am very interested to see alternative perspectives of the issue-there are clearly a lot of people and organizations working on this issue. And I can't yet tell how much cooperation there is amongst them.

My brain is done churning for now.