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Nawa 17 |
May 15 2003 |
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ONGWEDIVA MULTI-PURPOSE CENTER OPENED BY PRESIDENT NUJOMA
 On April 11, the Ongwediva community celebrated the launch of a new community development project, aimed at improving the quality of life of people in that area. The new multi-purpose center (MPC), dedicated to President Sam Nujoma for his commitment to the development of the Namibian people, was officially opened by His Excellency at a special ceremony attended by invited dignitaries, including U.S. Ambassador Kevin McGuire, ministers, regional and local officials, NGO, business, donor and community representatives. President Nujoma emphasized in his speech the importance of the facility to the fight against the spread of HIV, and to support youth development in the region.
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The construction of the MPC was built with funding (totaling US$ 150,000) by the council and two Belgian "sister cities,"Lommel and Aardooie. The project was established to increase access to essential community services and information on HIV/AIDS, education, health and environmental issues. Designed as a center to uplift the local community, the Sam Nujoma MPC will provide a gateway to the Internet and computer services and training (the IT Information Center is equipped with 10 computers accessible by the public), after-school activities for in- and out-of-school youth, support for people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, referrals for counseling services, peer education and outreach to schools and business community, information and education materials, a soup kitchen for orphans and vulnerable children, as well as cultural and recreational activities. The center`s activities are governed by a multi-sectoral steering committee, on which USAID, an instrumental partner in the conceptualization and implementation of the project, is represented. USAID is providing assistance for training and staffing, through its implementing partner Family Health International, and the Peace Corps is providing a volunteer staff member to support community mobilization.
The dedication, held at the MPC premises in Ongwediva, was attended by over 400 people. Ambassador McGuire made the announcement in his speech that the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will provide US$200,000 for an extension to the facility. This was met with a very enthusiastic response. The financial contribution by the DoD will enable the center to expand the HIV/AIDS program to include voluntary counseling and testing program and training facilities. |
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NAMIBIAN EDUCATORS PRESENT RESEARCH AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
 In late March, a panel of Namibian education experts presented findings of studies on the implementation of our country`s education reform policies at the annual conference of the renowned Comparative and International Education Society, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The panel included Ms. Mariana van Graan and Mr. Gerry Tjipuea from the Ministry of Basic Education, Sport and Culture National Institute for Education Development (NIED), as well as Mr. Vincent Matakala, Ms. Tautiko Shikongo, and Dr. Donna Kay LeCzel from the USAID funded Basic Education Support Project, (BES II). The presentation was sponsored by USAID/Namibia.
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The panelists presented their findings from NIED`s national study on lower primary education reform implementation, which included teacher self assessment results from schools throughout Namibia. Those results were compared with the School Self Assessment System results analyzed and presented by the BES II team. The research being conducted in Namibia is important and well regarded in the international education sector because self study as a methodology for monitoring school improvement is an innovative and promising approach. Self study embraces Namibia`s policy of involving all stakeholders, including parents and community members, in the process of monitoring school quality. The method enables parents, teachers, principals and learners to take part in analyzing improvement needs and making informed decisions about their own schools.
The panelists were honored by the presence of the Honorable Minister Nahas Angula at their session during the conference. The Honorable Minister had been invited by the CIES Conference to present Namibia`s progress in education reform since Independence. Namibia was well represented at CIES, and USAID`s education reform efforts were clearly documented and recognized by the conference participants. All Namibians can take pride in the accomplishments of its education leaders, and the teachers, principals, parents and community members who are all working together to ensure quality education for our learners. |
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SHARING CONSTITUENCY OUTREACH PROGRAM SUCCESSES — THE MODEL
 Recently, and after months of information exchange, a three-person delegation flew into Namibia from the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature in South Africa in order to see the Mobile Training Unit that was conceived and brought to life by the Namibian Parliament and NDI. Funded by USAID/EDDI and outfitted by several private sector companies, the MTU travels throughout Namibia to introduce citizens to the Parliament`s interactive website and to encourage their input into the legislative process.
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The visitors comprised a representative from the Legislature; the Managing Director of Comparex, a large IT company operating in the Southern Africa region; and Buscor, a South African Corporation that manufactures buses.
According to the delegation, the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature has been looking for a mechanism to take the institution to the people since independence in 1994. Research conducted had not produced any practical examples of a mobile facility that might fulfill their needs. When they came upon the USAID/Namibia website in October 2002, they found a story about the Namibia MTU and the Parliamentary Constituency Outreach Program, and made contact with Namibian legislators.
Although they had received information and images about the MTU, the Legislature unanimously agreed that this innovative training resource was well worth a visit. As a result, a delegation was dispatched to view the MTU first-hand. They discussed the experiences the Namibian Parliament had with the MTU and were convinced it would be useful in the South African context. Buscor will build the bus, Comparex has been awarded a contract to install computers, and the Legislature will use the MTU for training and outreach activities in the Mpumalanga Province. |
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