Another week has flown by. As you know, I am living at an orphanage near Harare, so I spend a lot of time with the children and staff - playing, tutoring, chatting, and doing just about anything else you can imagine! I am beginning to recognize that there exist some pretty significant differences between myself and them, from the color of our skin, to our religious beliefs, to simply our respective lifestyles and social constructs. However, it is amazing to connect with them and have real conversations that may not bring us to agree on issues, but that bring us to understand each other’s perspectives. I cannot ask for a better way to learn!
Anyway, I have begun to hone in on some of the issues here that are very deeply rooted and in need of serious reformation. One such issue is the use of energy, electricity, and a sustainable source of both. I have become quite interested in the idea of solar panels. Power cuts often strike over 3 times a week throughout the country, sometimes for a period of over 10 hours. This affects studying, cooking, cleaning, drinking, and can spoil the refrigerated food. In addition, electricity is expensive here, and the additional cost of refueling the generator at the orphanage where I live means that it pays over $1000 a month for electricity… This in a country whose GDP per capita is just over $300, and whose sunlight is ever lasting! A reliable source of electricity could really transform the lifestyles of many orphanages around Zimbabwe, enabling the children and staff to read in the evening, eat cooked meals, and also enabling the orphanage to allocate the money saved from their electricity bills towards more important costs such as school fees. It sounds simplistic, but I believe that this would ultimately translate into a better educated, healthier, and happier generation of children. There are some serious drawbacks to weigh against these benefits, so the exploration and learning process continues, but I am excited about this, among other, possibilities.
Another observation I have made over the past two weeks is the gap between the work of small local and large international NGOs. Based on the things that I have learned and observed here, international NGOs spend too much donor money on staff, consultants and personal travel. Many of these NGOs are multilateral, and by the time the funds have trickled down to the locals, there is very little left. On the other hand, local NGOs have a firm grasp on what the people around them need, however they do not have the resources or education to manage reports and finances, to prepare strategies and create project plans. Essentially, the genuine understanding of Zimbabwe’s issues is lacking in large international NGOs, while the financial training in local NGOs is the missing factor, and there is not enough collaboration between the two.
To sum up my week, I have met some fantastic local NGOs, many of whom primarily focus on vocational training for organizations to manage finances, as well as on life skills training for disadvantaged youths. It has been a very busy and informative week, and I cannot wait to continue to delve into these issues in the coming days.
Now back to the children, and onto week three! And when in Zimbabwe, say "we'll make a plan."
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| Children getting ready for bed |
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| Constructing a puzzle in the study room |
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| Gymnastics in the garden! |
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| Watching a soccer match with the children |
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| Solar paneled roof near Mutare |
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