Volunteer Overload!

Last week, 4 extra Peace Corps Volunteers came to Tses! This had two significant outcomes:

1.     Our community was really confused about the number of white people

2.     We had a wonderful week-long business training for the youth/community!

lots of volunteers, all in my living room!

Peace Corps helped me to organize a week training worshop on business development (including what makes a good business, how to register your business, writing a business plan, and making sure your business succeeds). 4 of our business volunteers, Marie (from Aroab), Mayank (from Luderitz), Adam (from Otjiwarango) and Neil (from Okahandja), came to stay with me in Tses for a week to run the workshop.

The workshop was one outcome from our local Youth Development Group – the people here really want help starting their own businesses. Jobs are hard to come by and money is scarce, but they are a hard-working bunch and we really want to get some local businesses going before the big Tses Glass project comes in and starts taking over the village.

Our 4 business volunteers with a few of their trainees at the workshop

I’m really excited that the workshop happened at all, because funding is hard to get for big projects like this, and the group actually had to do some fundraising on its own. But they pulled through and we raised N$1 000 to accompany the N$5 000 provided by the regional council to help us pay for the workshop. 

A local concert for the kids was one way the youth raised funds for the workshop

4 of the volunteers who stay in Tses permanently - we participated in the concert to help fundraise! Let me tell you, learning to play the guitar in a week is a terrible idea.

The volunteers ran sessions from 8-4 every day, including some time for one-on-one meetings with our local business-people-wanna-bes. 

Marie working with Zelda, one of my favorites from the Youth Group 

Neil working with Saartjie (her name sounds exactly like mine but with an "r". Confusing.) 

After the workshop was finished, the feedback I got from our community was that it was “great” and “informative” and “they knew so much!” I think they are really grateful that so many ‘experts’ were willing to come to Tses for a whole week to spend time with them. And even though some of them may have struggled with the English a little bit, I think everyone got something out of it! This will be a great starting point for us to move forwards from.

Proud trainees after finishing the workshop!