A Completely New Experience In The Northwest…
Oshangu lays barely 20km south of Eenhana town, about 80 – 100 km south of the Angolan border. On a cloudy windy day, under a shed provided by a small tree, a local community awaits to listen to the long awaited team from LifeLine/Childline Namibia. Their work is supported by Brot für die Welt in Germany, and capacity support from French Cooperation and USAID from the President's Emergency HIV/AIDS Plan.
On our way, I had noticed a slow but steady disappearance of the MTC (cell phone) network signal. That was not all, there were no roads, and we kept making our own roads through the bushes, thanks to the ability of the 4x4! We had met with two guys smoothly riding on horses, we admired. Little did we know that we were into a place with the poorest of the poor, and in for the biggest surprises and yes the biggest achievement ever! To reach where no one has ever.
A lady had offered to take us and show us the way. She was on board. We nevertheless got lost twice until she confessed that the all time she went to and from town, she was footing… so it was difficult for her to get the way right in a car. It's been her very first time to use a car back home!
I had barely thought that much of the awareness work on HIV/AIDS remained for follow-ups in addressing stigma associated with the epidemic. Only this day did I find a group that had “heard of something to do with a disease that killed many people…” we had a task to begin from scratch! All the hearsay was on radio; no physical contact had been in this single place whatsoever.
Tate Nghikombe Josef is the headman of Oshangu, with a big local homestead in which a tree with yellow – good smelling flowers stands, green ready to host under its shed those that will attend the meeting to be addressed by LifeLine/Childline. Three chairs lay before a set of dry tree stumps that locals will sit to listen to the message.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2pm, its now 3pm but no one is really in a hurry to start. The headman sends out one, Philips Matteus (one like a page) to invite us in the guest room. Nervously, he requests us to carry with our chairs, not willing as a matter of protocol to tell us why we are being invited in.
Dancing right to his tunes, the chairs and us were swiftly on our way to the guest room.. it struck my mind that this would involve some cultural rituals. Sure that my poor pronunciation of Oshiwambo words would lead me into yet another discussion off our mission, I steadily rehearse the greeting otherwise the debate of my origin ensues! Wow, this I succeeded and well done boy, I was taken to be an Ndonga !.
Before him laid a small guard of about 2ltrs of Omahongo - a local drink that no one has risked to tell me the percentage alcohol content. My colleagues had forethought the contents of the next session, partaking of “something” before business begins and that is what is called integration. The headman and his page took equal sips on each of the two wooden cups in a glass like shape in which the drink is served.
As if very used to the system, I took the drink from the headman's hand – who serves men first- sipped once and again. I was glad I had no question to answer otherwise my language skills would report me. It's not bad to be known as from another country – are you thinking so? – No but it causes unnecessary sessions aware of the time constraint and before you know it, it may stretch so long against one's initial aim. As if guided by the spirit we all simultaneously signaled to each other to cut short this “initiation” lest we get drunk or forsake our mission.
Under the tree, 17 adults had gathered. They had heard of our coming over the local radio, from the agents of the local headman, and as we drove in, our car mobilized a few more.
The headman flagged off the meeting, first by lowering his hut and assuming a tree stump in front of the group next to a breast-feeding mother... and this was the wife.
Filipina starts the session by saying “… we will start with issues on HIV/AIDS…”. One elderly man gets off his seat, moves forward in a half a meters length, and holds another's arm telling him to listen attentively. – this was his son. Hilma held all eyes on her as she described the facts in the local language. This later attracted a number of questions but worries too. Remember it was the first physical interaction with any body on any of the se issues that you could be very used to.
This went on and on, with describing LifeLine/Childline and the Counselling service, and talks on other STIs. I could see intervals of two elderly participants dozing off and at once switching on again to listening. Meanwhile the group had grown big to now 35 people. This was the situation for a while until I over heard a question, “… if I found out that I heard HIV what should I do as I know for sure my parents wont accept me again…” went the worry of a middle age participant.
Every body's eyes kept on the charts that were displayed. Their questions came from not only what they heard but what they saw as well. The point of pleasure is not all the points that describe the kind of village Oshangu is but: That in our very limited resources and abilities we were able to tress and reach where no one else had reached and above all deliver a message that was badly needed!
In the mean time, Selma, Rauha, Teopolina, Kristofina and Ngeendina were doing it to launch the counseling service at Onankali Community trust. Well folks, you did a great job that day. Am glad we all realized the importance of rehearsing our field activities before hand. This well attended launch started a moment after we had bid good-bye to Amanda, our Director from Windhoek who had just paid us a short visit.
Trefina, Loide and Fiina joined the training team in Tsumeb for the O &L awareness programme for two days. Do you remember how the session at Pick and Pay went? Oh God, you are stars! I admired your language skills and drama.
Lately Jutite, Ferbian and Joey from the Childline Schools Programme team were in town. We dearly thank you especially for joining us at our first ever OVC day camp. Thank you that you took the volunteers with you to the schools, and for mixing well with all those that turned up for the camp. Its now vivid that almost every one is on board we are moving ahead in the Northwest…are you?
Tony Muganza
VSO Volunteer from UgandaLifeLine/Childline Northwest Namibia