First day in the office

Wednesday 10th June

First day in the office.

We arrived whilst the employer was having a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and someone from Finance along with the Board Members NWEFOR (North West Farmers organizations) is a co-operative group representing 11 Farmers Unions from across the North West Region. They were expecting us so at an approrpiate time they broke off the meeting and it was introductions all round. Later that afternoon Ibrahim arrived and together with the employers discussed our remit.

What are we here to do? Well it is around VSO helping with building capacity through organizational development. They have developed an explicit process which they want to review. Keri the other short term volunteer from Wales will be looking at the process as applied to NWFOR and another group of ornganizations and I have been asked to look at it in relation to its transferability and application to small community based organizations, such as the NWEFOR Unions and making recommendations. Ibrahim would like the focus to be health, hence us being matched to NWEFOR, that links with the Gender programme, HIV and Malaria.

Tomorrow we have to prepare the work plan for the next few weeks before Ibrahim goes back so that he can see it before he goes off to Canada on Friday. Ibrahim is a great support . Each day he greets you, shakes hands and says hello people, I wish you a happy new day. The way he works and his approach is impressive. He thinks strategically but in a way that he gets across where he wants go from VSO perspective but invites views and asks what people want and how do they want to arrange things. He is also looking out for us, making sure we are ok. So we will be moving rooms. We are across the road in very basic rooms and when the water pressure drops, each morning, there is no water) Power cuts are regular event so nothing new there. Also we are to take taxis not go on motor bikes. That is something that normally would not faze me but hey you see the roads and also how they drive, ride motor bikes. Scary and that’s just in relation to crossing the road!!

Hector, the long term VSO volunteer took us to a small café across the road and I had white beans for lunch, yes we have lunch. . Delicious, we thought it would just be plate of beans but it came with cabbage, carrots and beans, mixed and a piece of fish and meat. They do add both to the dishes. So I am not going out for a meal this evening, an early night is required. The world erupted at 5.30 or earlier today and the dogs had a howling session during the night. We are situated near a busy roundabout and the traffic is so noisy. I am woken up by the sound of lorries, car bikes, hooting and revving plus people shouting, chatting and I think ‘Goodness me Africa is so noisy!! '

What’s it like here? Looking back generally I would say fascinating. I have mostly enjoyed the in country training, learning pidgin was fun, health and security a bit scary. It will also get better once we move across to the main Baptist Mission site.

There is more to add internet access, power supply permitting and me balancing keeping a reflective diary, sending emails and all the other things that one does. So I will update again soon. Meanwhile I have taken some photos of the NWFOR office, the entrance, an arial view and have included the mode of transport they have purchased for staff to use, which are kept in the offce. Some of the farms and villages are extremely difficult to acces by car or it takes a long time.