First workshop: Seke

Time is well and truly flying - it has already been 4 weeks! And in the meantime, I have been to my first workshop!

In Seke Teachers College - Chitungwiza, the student teachers are given preparation before they go out on teaching practice (internships of 5 terms). They are prepared with Life Skills, basic life skills on how to deal with difficulties that can be faced in the new environment and within the schools. We were there to experience how these workshops happen, to experience what it really is that VVOB does and has achieved. The workshop happens in two parts: the first is training peer educators, a small group who will then train their peers in the second step.

Saturday started with the first part, and though time management was not very successful the continuation was interesting. Sunday would be the challenge of rounding up all that needs to be done before day’s end. In different activities we learnt to find out what is important to us, how HIV affects our lives, why it is we (the student teachers in this case, but we joined the activity) want to do community service and lastly solving specific cases of problems or situations that can occur on teaching practice. To me it was very interesting, especially since I, after all, have a very different view on issues such as HIV/AIDS. It is the main topic and a great concern to the average Zimbabwean, even though infection rates are going down steadily (ten years ago it was 25%, now it’s around 14% - still too high). On questions such as “how does HIV affect your life” and “are you at risk to HIV” my answers were very different, just because it’s not such a pressing issue in Belgium. On several occasions I was asked to share my answers, I assume because they expected that indeed my answers would be quite a bit different to the general average. The activities around HIV have really opened my eyes, it is the first thing people consider when choosing a partner, or the first thing they think about when thinking of hospitals, the main cause of orphanage and one of the main reasons why children don’t attend school or have low grades. Basically, it is the main theme around the Vulnerability issue within the programme of VVOB (Quality Education and Vulnerability). A story was shared about the pupils (Grade 0’s, 5-6 years old) saying people don’t die in accidents, they die from AIDS. They might not know much about it yet, but they know the main message that is shared everywhere: AIDS kills.

Besides all this, what was also interesting and what I really enjoyed was that people were discussing in Shona over the whole day, apparently they realized quickly that I understood and so there was no need to adjust for my sake. Not that I well and truly understood everything:) but I’m learning..

Despite that I still had the “so, do you like Sadza? It’s our staple food here”-talk. I have to tell you, whether you know beforehand or not, after three weeks in Zimbabwe, it’s not difficult to figure out just how much Zimbabweans LOVE their sadza! Luckily I’m starting to join that group, it’d be pretty hard otherwise!

As we were driving out of Chitungwiza (in small streets of the little village) kids came running after the car screaming “murungu murungu murungu” (whitey). I felt like just dropping down in my chair, but instead Mike opened my window, so I said hi to the kids in Shona. After a short puzzled look they decided: “haasi murungu, ari albino!”. So now, because I spoke Shona I became an albino. I guess they still need to enter the wider world.

Sunday workshop was slightly less interesting - less interesting facts to comment on. One thing that was remarkable was how “vulnerable children” were defined. Orphans, children affected or infected by HIV/AIDS and child-headed families. Whereas for me, the first thing that came to mind was disabilities. A discussion occurred about whether a child is an orphan if one parent is deceased and yet it’s becoming normal for mothers to start one-parent families. Different opinions and views on the same item.

The workshop didn’t finish too late so I managed to be home on time to enjoy some daylight, which is always a nice extra! To ‘celebrate’ mummy’s birthday from a distance:)

On Monday the workshop continued, but with a different system, this time the students that had come over the weekend were teaching/educating their peers. Usually they present the same as what they saw, receive input from their colleagues and the lecturers help them out, and exercise authority when needed. It was interesting to see the difference in impact. Only in some classes this happened, in others the teacher was not present and we noticed a clear lack of rich information, compared to the weekend sessions. This was partly what we were there for: to observe where VVOB needed to add extra support, so I guess that part was successful!

I also learnt/ practiced a lot of Shona, because for these students speaking English seemed to be an extra challenge. I didn’t manage to follow everything, but practice makes perfect they say.

As we headed home we got some sugar cane from Mike and my teeth suffered trying to enjoy a piece, but I managed and it tasted really really good afterwards!

Tuesday was more of the same, the last day of the workshop, rounded off successfully, and after four days of hard work tomorrow will be back to the office for daily business!

The intellectual road trips learning about Zimbabwean history, some politics, love and life facts will have to do without the scenery of passing rocks, ‘factories’, sculpture set-ups and a more rural setting but will have to continue on the veranda of the office in Avondale!

Communication workshop

Wednesday morning the communication task team organised a workshop for the VVOB team. The aim (or objectives if you want me to be more professional) was to get input from the whole team concerning what communication methods are being used, and as an additional motive, getting them involved and motivated about the analysis we will be putting together.

So we were “facilitating” this workshop, leading them into activities that would give us our desired information. We got positive feedback afterwards: it was creative and participative, and since three out of the four of us had never before facilitated they thought we’d done a good job. To me the whole thing seemed quite chaotic, change in plans, change in time schemes, a lot more information gathered than expected, and a feeling of confusion as to how we will continue from here. BUT apparently chaos and change in scenario is more than normal, and at least, despite slight feelings of horror as to what now, the information is there and the work will definitely keep me busy for a while!

I think my first workshop can be called a success, but the rest of the team definitely was also a great contribution to that achievement. And it was fantastic sitting outside with a very hot sun as opposed to always inside with 3 jumpers!

Tomorrow is national holiday in Belgium, unfortunately this does not mean VVOB offices close their doors, however, it does mean there’s a reception at the consulate for all Belgians! I’ll be doing my best to go there with not too many chocolate-based expectations! I wonder if there’ll be any familiar faces (probably IF there is it’d be more them recognizing me and me taking ten minutes to figure out who it is). Usually I’m not for these events, but for the one time (it’s a short one and it involves some kind of food) I can make an exception.

Over the weekend I’m probably going to a workshop - after the cancellation last weekend I have been actively scouting around! I will probably be going to the same college as was planned last weekend, maybe even the same workshop, in Seke College, Chitungwiza. (45 minute drive out of Harare, so day trips up and down).Or it will be another that is even closer to home, decision still to be made.

Cooking on fire - smoked bolognese

The weekend started fairly relaxed - I had made no plans whatsoever! Saturday morning I woke up, partly out of habit, partly out of going to bed so early, at 8o’clock. And when you wake up that early , the day seems to go on forever! It would result in me going to bed record-time early in the evening! I played soccer with Taku and Tanya, watched some tv over the morning and just as we were going to get breakfast started, the electricity went, and it wouldn’t be back till the evening. So breakfast was fire-made and afterwards I sat in the sun, for once that it was around while I was outdoors. The afternoon was filled mainly with preparing dinner, we took the combi to the closest shops and did the groceries - finding what you can find. The menu for the evening was Maï-based and I’d be making Spaghetti Bolognese. Whether the end product can really be called Bolognese is questionable though, I didn’t add mushrooms, but did add green beans, and some frozen vegetables that included maize - the usual pasta sauce pot was replaced by a can of tomatoes and onions. Despite what it was called, I made my first meal on a fire, and I was determined to try it (and succeed) despite them asking if I was sure I wouldn’t wait till Sunday to see if there was electricity then. MaiTanya was even prepared to call my mum so she could join in the pride of her daughter cooking on fire. What the whole commotion was about, I’m not sure, it took a little longer to cook than it would otherwise but I didn’t get burnt and it tasted great! And this was me cooking for as many as 9 people! I got compliments, so I guess I can keep my weekend evenings free to cook!

Sunday I started the very first part of my internship report, just to have a beginning, and to make sure I wouldn’t be leaving it to the very last minute. Later, we went to church, it was in a small pre-school. Very interesting to see, it started with some bible study, and then preaching and prayer. Some people getting very involved! Apparently it’s normal.. I had to introduce myself as the newbee, obviously I was quite obvious. And then they said they were starting an English service, to which I proudly said: not necessary, thank you, I speak Shona. It was very interesting, with a bit of singing which obviously was also nice!

Over the afternoon I met with Shamiso at Westgate, it looked so familiar, immediately recognizable, almost no changes after 10 years, except that everything was closed (one half, because it was Sunday, the other half because they are permanently closed and empty), including the cinema. A very sad sight to see! (and I’m starting to think Harry Potter in Zimbabwe won’t work for me, in 3D surely not!). So we decided to combi down to Avondale where we knew at least there was the flea market. It was great seeing Shami after so long, catching up on old times! I never thought that would happen! Definitely will be happening again!

Over the evening, ra ra, the electricity left again, luckily food was ready and to kill time we just went for a short walk. Another good weekend passed, and another new week around the corner, which will be starting with me leading the Monday team meeting!

Week 3

Work is getting more and more defined each day. What I am working on now is, with a “task team” for “communication” we will try to analyse where the problems lie. We will gather information about “what” we want to communicate, to then go further and see “how” this is now being done and if this is happening effectively, correctly, uniformly, and probably a couple other factors, depending on whether it is applicable. The first part is “internal communication”. But within that there is a whole lot of (mis)communication going on so feedback on what is going wrong and what is most important needs to be gathered. Every time there is a team meeting with the communications team it seems we achieve so much and discuss so many issues! Figuring out what will go in my attachment report under the topic: “link to the communication course” might get a little tricky. I should’ve brought my courses with me!

That is roughly my main activity during office hours, among other little additional things like updating the content on the website/correcting a text that was pre-written.

This weekend I normally would have had a workshop on Life Skills Teacher Practice in Seke Teacher’s College in Chitungwiza, but unfortunately the workshop got cancelled. It’s quite a pity because I was looking forward to finally finding out what EXACTLY is done in VVOB. They generally “facilitate” (assist) in workshops that discuss or raise awareness on Life Skills, HIV/AIDS awareness, Moving on after HIV/AIDS in the direct community, Gender inequality, Nutrition and a few more. This happens in Teacher Colleges, so, to teacher students and their lecturers to prepare them to build schools that give quality education to all children, including the most vulnerable. Hence the name of the programme: Quality Education and Vulnerability. The idea is to implement these attitude changes into the colleges so that they can be passed on to the schools once the teacher students become teachers.

You can clearly tell I have learnt a little after reviewing the text “what VVOB does”. A more clear picture on how these workshops and facilitation works will have to wait till next time a workshop trip pops up.

Besides working we have also been having more social contacts, some in the freezing cold of the office, others in the sun during lunch time. It’s an amazing difference. How I wish I had one of my warm blankets, a water bottle, a winter scarf and woolen socks here, and how addicted I have become to a hot cup of tea! In the sun the jerseys quickly fly off and everyone becomes hopeful for the rest of the day, big disappointment there! The topic that has often been coming up during lunch is the man-woman relationships. And every time it shocks me how the two cultures differ: men are expected to pay lobola (a fee to the family before the wedding) for their wives, men expect to be the bread winners of the house while the woman cooks and the women highly disagree with this, yet do expect to be “bought”. Men clearly fulfill a hierarchical position, but try not to make it visible and see the woman as “the boss of the house”. Tradition and modern practice have gone over into each other to make a confusing combination. I haven’t quite figured it out. (Don’t worry Frank, I’ll stick to my European views and fend for myself while you cook me delicious dinners ;) ).

ZESA (Zimbabwe Electricity) have NOT been a great friend lately, in the darkness we spend the evenings, cooking happens on a fire, outside and the generator at work runs all day just to provide electricity and internet. If this happened in Belgium, a combination of 15° indoors and a lack of (needed) electricity the schools and offices would have closed down. We would, literally, have holidays almost every day. But people stay motivated and just put on a pair of extra socks and two jerseys.
It's amazing how happy people become when MAGHETSI ADZOKA!! (The electricity is back!)

First downtown experience, First combi trip

Gogo on her birthday, me and Juliet

Little smiley Vheneka

Gogo and Aunty Mary-Anne happily cooking sadza on the BBQ

MaiVee and BaVee

good friends

Uncle Zanda and I

Gogo happily celebrating her bday!

This weekend was once again a busy one. After a week at work, the one day busier than the next, lunch meetings with Juliet, Vheneka and her old and much-loved hand-me-down doll Pippo and receiving results which showed me I successfully finished my bachelor (with only an outstanding internship to complete) it was time for some none-work-related free/celebration time.

Friday after work I was picked up by Francy, to then spend the evening with her and the family. We had a pretty relaxed evening and the next day we were going to check out what was happening in town (because of my persistency of definitely wanting to go to town). A lot of Chinese shops, a lot of people and a lot of weave shops. My eagerness to visit town was quickly destroyed after a short encounter with a pickpocketer. Luckily we were aware and had all valuables stacked to the bottom of our bags and someone warned us by shouting at the person in question. No harm done at the end of the day, and I will be careful to always use my pockets and avoid bags of all kind! And avoid town. We did have a fun time after all though, more catching up and shopping around a little.

The evening was spent with Hanne and her kids, playing sword and jumping on the trampoline.

Sunday was an early wake-up, with the combi (commuter omnibus, crowded busses that don’t pay too much attention to the traffic around them) to Juliet’s place. Luckily I got there in one piece, with a little walk since I got off a little too far - these busses don’t follow the same route at all times, they follow the route on which they can pick up the most people - as expected it resulted in mini panic attacks from me! All good at the end. After cooking breakfast at Juliet’s place, feeding the baby and learning her name (Vheneka) means light, we took the car to Ardbennie to celebrate gogo’s (her/my:) grandmum’s) birthday. Because of lack of electricity it became a braai (BBQ) party! With meat and sadza, and a few drinks! Delicious, with great company and many kids running around. Unfortunately there was no music, but then we just made our own music performance, and my phone introduced some Maz-Notic into Ardbennie braai parties! By the time we went home it was only 8 o’clock but I felt almost as if I was coming home after a night out at 4 am! NOT due to alcohol abuse of any kind! That was a very strange feeling, luckily I knew exactly where I was going (from a certain recognition point) so there was no problem getting home.

And then the next week showed up again, and a move to Robert’s place again, back to Mabelreign!

Mavambo Trust

This week I visited a “school”/ learning center where VVOB is working (thinking of placing students for next year). So it was my first experience out of the office, on the field. It was very interesting and a great project started up by a sister ten years ago. It’s a place/school/organization/learning center where certain (disadvantaged - orphans and/or unable to attend school financially) kids aged between 8 and 12 can follow class. So they have a “learning center” where three classes are given: Maths, English and Shona. In each of these classes they incorporate other subjects: like Science, Religion, … The aim is to get the kids out of the learning center and into proper schools after a year (sometimes two), and their mission has been a success.
Apart from giving class they also organize afternoon activities, have social workers, volunteers, former students acting as tutors and a lot more. Outside of their “learning” programme for the 48 children there they also offer financial aid to (many) students and former students and tutor classes to the children that now attend normal schools. So a whole lot of initiatives, I’ve probably missed a bunch.
When we were shown around the classes everyone immediately stood up to say (in perfect unison): GOOD MORNING MISTER AND MISTER AND MISS. Good morning how are you. FINE THANK YOU HOW ARE YOU. Fine thank you, sit down. THANK YOU! That’s something we’ve always had to do here in Zimbabwe but would be totally unthinkable back in Belgium.
Very friendly people, and polite children, very nice little community!

Continued…

To continue my story…

Sunday I went to Lake Chivero. It is actually a national park, and with Jeremy being a tour guide with a passion for wildlife it could not have been a more educational and interesting trip.
The plan was to drive around and hopefully see some animals (and we definitely did!) and then have a braai (BBQ). We had barely entered the park and already we saw a kudu, little did we know it would be one of the less amazing things. A little further down a giraffe was quietly eating his leaves, very close to the car, as it moved further we decided to get out and follow it. We got quite far eventually (the furthest Jeremy had ever gotten to a giraffe, and that’s saying something), but at one point it just walked away. Sorry people, I was savouring the moment and did not have my camera. Later on the afternoon we saw zebra’s, wildebeast, ostriches (and a dead one, unfortunately) and two rhino’s, of which I have beautiful pics!
For lunch we had a braai, which was very delicious, and they had absolutely everything prepared for it! While waiting for the veggies to get ready I got a whole speech about why 1988 was a great year - athletics-wise. So now I’m that much smarter, not that I remember too many details. After the lunch, as we were packing up the same two rhino’s, probably the only two poaching survivors, came up to us quite closely. Once again we saw the animals from close by. Really impressive! Beautiful sight!
On the drive home we saw a sunset, which was a perfect ending to a great day!
At night I slept to the sound of hen’s getting ready for morning (it was 11 o’clock or so..) in the little cottage where I’ll be staying for the rest of the week until Robert is back from his Bulawayo workshop.