|
Unlike Botswana and South Africa, there is no organisation devoted specifically to San development in Namibia. To fill the gap, WIMSA has stepped in with its own Namibia Support Unit, which supports and coordinates community-based organisations and grassroots development initiatives across the country. In the near future the Unit is set to become an independent organisation. Programmes:Education, youth and culture: This programme aims to increase access to all levels of education, to provide young people with vocational training and to install pride in San culture. Specific activities include:
- Supporting the establishment and running of community-run Early Childhood Development centres, including the training of caregivers.
- Providing bursaries to San students in tertiary education.
- Producing mother tongue education materials.
- Organising vocational training in communities.
- Supporting San youth groups.
- Documenting and promoting San culture.
Capacity building and income generation: Through this programme, San community-based organisations are being assisted to become more effective in leading grassroots development activities. Activities include: - Supporting and training CBO staff
- Carrying out livelihoods projects relating to craft and tourism, livestock and gardening and community-based natural resource management.
Achievements:San Community-Based Organisations: The support unit has assisted two San communities to set up community-based organisations (CBOs), and is currently helping to create a third: - N‡a Jaqna Conservancy formed in 2003/4 and is now the largest communal conservancy in Namibia, enabling some 4000 residents of Tsumkwe West to benefit financially from community-based natural resource management activities (CBNRM), including tourism, hunting and the collection of commercial bush products.
- Omaheke San Trust was created in 1997 and serves the 8 000 San living in Omaheke, implementing development projects and representing them at the local and national level.
- Hai||om community members from north-central Namibia are being assisted to form ||Nasoneb, which will represent and implement development projects for over 11 000 people.
Extensive support through training and capacity building activities has been provided to these CBOs and others including the Kyaramacan Association and Nyae Nyae Conservancy, helping communities in Bwabwata National Park and Tsumkwe East respectively.
Early Childhood Development: The support unit has assisted early childhood development (ECD) activities in San communities throughout Namibia, through community mobilisation, training of ECD caregivers, construction of buildings, as well as field support and monitoring. In 2008 six community run pre-schools were operational in Ada-Omkhaigu (Outjo), Gobabis, Ada Ma/hao (Oshivelo), Ada Ditsa (Hester Farm), Chetto and Tsintsabis. Tertiary Education: The support unit has provided financial and administrative support to several San students wishing to continue their studies beyond grade 12. Many of these students have become teachers.
Cultural Activities: Every year at least three San youth groups have been supported by WIMSA to attend international cultural festivals.
WIMSA Community Offices: The support unit has set up two community offices based in Outjo and West Caprivi. As well as implementing support unit activities at the local level, these offices serve as community hubs where local people can seek advice and also organise community activities.
|
