Supporting San Organisations

WIMSA also works directly with various San communities in the region in order assist them in setting up, managing and reviewing the work of Community Based Organisations (CBOs) and other types of San-owned structures.

This aspect of WIMSA's work is extremely challenging. Very few San have formal work experience outside of farm labouring or domestic work. Office protocol, paperwork, meetings and modern organisational skills are therefore very unfamiliar. Some people feel that it is unwise or unnecessary to encourage the San to embrace westernised ways of working; to teach them organisational skills and to build their capacity in these areas. However, WIMSA believes that such attitudes are misled and somewhat patronising to the San. It is the San themselves who have collectively expressed the desire to form their own organisations because they believe that the only way forward for them in the modern world is to be able to operate on an equal footing with others.

Working to create and support San CBOs does not mean that the San will somehow lose their traditional identity. Rather, WIMSA believes that this kind of initiative will only strengthen pride and the San's ability to protect and defend their culture and traditional practices.

WIMSA Support Unit

WIMSA has always carried out direct support to San communities, but this area of work was formalised in 2004 when the WIMSA Support Unit was established. WIMSA's Support Unit focuses its work specifically on Namibia as South Africa and Botswana already have their own San Support NGOs.

It is hoped that by the end of 2006, a new independent San Support NGO will be set up in Namibia and will take over the support role from WIMSA.

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