Author: karlgoestonamibia

Training done!

Well! What a brilliant training session. I learned so much about Namibia itself, as well as the dos and don’ts around political, religious and historical etiquette.

5 weeks today I shall fly out, hoping to have ticked everything off my, yet to be compiled, checklist. Some excellent pointers in that direction from yesterday’s training.

A good, fun session with my colleague, John Humphries, who is heading to Uganda a week before my departure; good luck, mate. It sounds like I have a better accommodation deal than you, but you’ll be getting the whole experience.

Tick, tock, tick, tock…

Jabberwonky

No, that’s not a misspelling in the title. I had my Hepatitis A, tetanus, diphtheria, polio and typhoid vaccinations today, ready for my trip in 37 days time.

I know I don’t like needles, but crikey did I feel very light headed for a long time afterwards. I’m only just starting to feel less so, some 5 hours afterwards.

Couldn’t drive back home immediately so enjoyed an impromptu breakfast date with my beloved, who came out to keep me company.

I’m glad the innoculations are over with. Big day tomorrow, a full briefing and training day ready for my assignment. #gettingexcited

Naming names and clearing the path

Today I have received several updates and confirmations, so I thought it might be an idea to update anyone reading this.

Firstly, I received confirmation of my Foreign and Commonwealth Office duty travel clearance and insurance. That was an ordeal. You answer a medical questionnaire truthfully and it opens a supermarket shelf full of cans of worms. I’m only a depressive Aspie with high blood pressure, surely nothing serious?!

Next, the pre-visit training is being set up for sometime around New Year. This will be a full briefing ahead of departure. Being Aspie I appreciate knowing as much as possible as soon as possible ahead of setting off.

Then the participant handbook arrived, answering many of the questions I’ve been pursuing over the last few weeks.

I also found out today the 2 people I shall be working directly with at UNAM. I shan’t post their names here until I have their permission to do so, but suffice to say, being able to be in direct, electronic conversation with them is a huge benefit.

Confirmed jabs etc. Booked for 5th January are Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Rabies, Malaria and Tetanus.

In case I’m not back on here beforehand I wish any readers a merry and peaceful Christmas.

It’s getting serious!

I had an appointment yesterday with the practice nurse to discuss what inoculations are needed and when. Remember, this is a guy who has a real phobia of needles; yes I am trypanophobic.

So, a list of inoculations required:

– Tetanus top up. OK I’ve had a few of these and only passed out on a couple of occasions.

– Hepatitis A. Nasty big needle that requires a second jab between 6-12 months later to clear me for 25 years (won’t I be dead by then?).

– Typhoid. What? Are they making these up now to wind me up?

– I was advised by the project team that I don’t need rabies jabs, but the practice nurse painted such a Hellish scenario that I need to decide whether or not to have them. Yes, I said “them”; 3 of the buggers within a month.

– oh, and if I want to travel north of Windhoek (who wouldn’t want to see Victoria Falls, Twyfelfontain, the Skeleton Coast and Etosha National Park?) I need a course of Malaria tablets, which are prone to cause nausea.

At least I now know that I absolutely want to go!

Bring on 3rd January when I get the first course of all.of these.

INTRODUCTION

So, you found me! Probably because I sent you a link. Why am  blogging? Because I am about to undertake an amazing adventure; 8 weeks in Namibia, sub-Saharan Africa, volunteering to try to help the University of Namibia (UNAM) have a better chance than they are giving themselves at the moment to win grant funding for the research work they do.

Anyone who knows me knows that I am what I would term a socialist with a small ‘s’. To be clear, what I mean by that is not deeply rooted in politics, it is merely that I feel that every person on the planet should be helped to give the best that they can in a fair environment, and to try to bring a fairness to how others treat them and are treated by them.

The Welsh Government, of which I am proud to be part, runs the Wales for Africa programme, which has many strands to it, which you can read here

Within that programme there was a call for volunteers to help with specific projects. I saw 2 opportunities that I thought I could help with and so applied. I have been successful and have also managed to shape those opportunities into a wider, more beneficial package of assistance because of the skills, experience and expertise I have. In short, what I shall be aiming to do in the 8 weeks that I am there is:

  • Acclimatise with the environment and team of people at UNAM that I will be working with. This includes an appreciation of the make-up of the personnel, the culture that is in place and an initial building of relationships to gain and encourage trust.
  • Design and deliver a workshop around general project and programme management, drawing out people’s thoughts about what the crucial elements are in each and exploring how we can design something for generic use across UNAM, no matter what area of project delivery is being considered.
  • Coach the design and delivery of a Programme Management Office for UNAM that could hold and promote a framework of tools for effective project and programme management.
  • Design and deliver a workshop around better business case writing on the back of effective project management regimes put in place.
  • Coach UNAM staff through writing live business cases for grant applications, sharing the best approach to ensure maximising the chance of success.

It’s going to be an exciting adventure and one I am really looking forward to. The provisional date for departure is 18th February 2019, but this may be brought forward by a week. I plan to use this blog to describe the build up to departure and then to record the experience whilst I am out there, and continue on after my return to Wales to describe the benefits to all, including myself. It will also serve to keep friends and family up-to-date with my health and wellbeing.

Yes, this is a serious chapter in my life, but I promise you I shall inject my humour into my submissions to the blog and welcome any feedback and comments you may wish to post.

Enda po nawa.