Photo Gallery |
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Economic Empowerment
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![Ndapewa Namene](images/so113.jpg)
Ndapewa Namene’s face is beaming with hope as he holds a ball of cotton from his mother’s field. Through the USAID-funded Global Technology Network project, a US$6 million deal was recently signed between a Namibian and a U.S. company to establish Namibia`s first cotton ginning operation. The gin will produce high quality cotton lint for export as well as cottonseed that will be sold back to farmers for planting the next season. The gin will allow Namibian farmers to sell their cotton and buy their seed in Namibia rather than South Africa, enabling Namibia to reap the benefits of the value added.
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Keeping in line with the Namibian government`s strategy to broaden the manufacturing base of the country`s economy, USAID has been supporting these Namibian entrepreneurs to increase production of soaps and detergents, and thereby lessen Namibia`s dependency on imported products. Through the technical assistance provided by the International Executive Service Corps, Jesco Namibia managed to expand its production line and won tenders to supply soap and detergents to Namibia Wildlife Resorts and municipalities in the Khomas region and to schools, clinics and hospitals in the Khomas, Erongo and Kunene regions. In the process, 15 additional staff were employed. Additional jobs are created when casual labor is also contracted at peak periods. |
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Quality Primary Education
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USAID`s program in Namibia helps teachers develop strategies to make lessons more interactive. Teacher aids, often made with locally available materials, help to encourage classroom discussion and stimulate the creativity of both teachers and learners. |
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The main objective of USAID`s support to Education in Namibia is to enhance the school environment for learning and to help young people to meet the future with confidence. The introduction of interactive learning methodologies provides an engaging environment even in difficult settings, as seen by the smiles on the faces of these grade 4 learners. |
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![Teachers learning new methods of how to incorporate games into lesson plans](images/so231.jpg)
"WOW! Using games as a learning tool can be fun for both learners and teachers,"exclaims Ester Kamanya, a grade three teacher from Oneheke Primary School. Using games as a teaching tool helps to build capacity for teachers in the Basic Education Support II project, implemented through the Academy for Educational Development. Activity based learning is recognized as a key factor in all the research on learner centered education. |
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The School Improvement Program (SIP) Resource Teacher in Okahao Circuit in Ondangwa West helps parents and teachers work through the strengths and weaknesses they see in their school program as part of the process that will lead to a collaborative plan for implementing site based activities related to improving learning. Already 28 schools have received grants for collaboratively developed school improvement activities, such as HIV/AIDS awareness centers, environment clubs and libraries. |
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A ’tate’ (daddy) is using an illustration from a book in the newly organized school library in a school in Ondangwa East to tell a story to grade two learners. Under the apartheid system, parents had little input into their children’s education. Now, parental involvement is encouraged and parents are considered a resource.
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![Shy woman leading presentation and discussion](images/PRA2.jpg)
Exercises in participatory rural appraisal (PRA) at the Nyae Nyae conservancy. Community members identify locations of roads, villages, resources and needs. Because most people at this conservancy are illiterate, the facilitators have devised simple illustrations to convey concepts.
In the second picture, a conservancy committee member is reporting the outcome of the PRA to the entire group. She is guiding the process whereby ideas are further defined and is allowing for other views to be clarified or added. Women do not usually speak before mixed groups, however this rather shy woman was encouraged by her colleagues to lead the presentation and discussion. |
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Accountability of Parliament
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Ensuring sustainability - Publications are one of the most effective and economical means to sustain best practices and promote the idea of good governance. In conjunction with Namibian consultants, partner organizations and academics, the National Democratic Institute has authored and produced over 20 publications in eight Namibian languages on a wide range of topics from budget analysis to women`s empowerment. These publications are in great demand and are used by government agencies, parastatals and the media as well as NGOs. |
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With a grant from USAID, the Namibia Institute for Democracy is helping civil society organizations develop advocacy skills. These young men and women, whose organizations are promoting conservation and lobbying for increased small and medium enterprise development, received training in advocacy skills and training in NGO management. Already, one group has been successful in establishing youth groups throughout the Otjikoto region, which meet regularly with the Chambers of Commerce to be informed about employment possibilities. They have established themselves as first point of contact when jobs become available. |
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![Inside the mobile training unit](images/so423.jpg)
U.S. Congressman John Lewis once said that, "Democracy is a journey, not a destination."This mobile training unit makes that statement a literal truth. Set up and operated through a collaborative effort between NDI, the Parliament and the Ministry of Local Government, it is equipped through donations by Compaq and Microsoft and funded by EDDI. It provides training in civic education and accessing the Parliament`s interactive website, http://www.parliament.gov.na to over 1500 local and regional officials and civil society representatives and thousands of students across Namibia.
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Cooperation, consultation and coordination describe the relationship that has been established between the Namibian Parliament, the National Democratic Institute and USAID. Mutual respect and trust facilitates a free exchange of ideas creating a programming environment where Parliament has become more efficient, effective and democratic in fulfilling its legislative, representative and oversight roles. |
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Participants at this "Youth Against Crime"workshop, conducted with a grant provided by a local NGO, the Namibia Institute for Democracy, through the Civil Society Development Program, learn the importance of improved community/police relations. Members of the group are now liaising between business stakeholders and the police force in order to improve the levels of safety and security in their communities. (Photo courtesy of "The Namibian") |
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Risk of HIV/AIDS Transmission
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Over 2,000 orphans and other vulnerable children are getting a fresh start to the new school year with brand-new uniforms, shoes, and school supplies - thanks to the generosity of the Firelight Foundation, USAID through a cooperative agreement with Family Health International, and individual donors. For many of these children, who are among the most needy in the country this is also the first new clothes they have had in years. "They walk into school with their heads held high,"says the Catholic Aids Action Coordinator. "They carry big smiles on their faces, feeling proud and happy. Best of all, they feel included — not stigmatized — and this is a good way to start the school year." |
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A picture that needs no words |
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Teens gather at the Walvis Bay Multi-Purpose Center (MPC) to learn more about HIV and AIDS and how to reduce their personal risk of getting infected. Delaying sexual activities is the primary message for this age group. |
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![OVC with snake in jar](images/OVC2.jpg)
Orphans and vulnerable children from the Khomas Region visiting the Namibian Raptor Rehabilitation Center, an environmental education center outside Windhoek. Catholic AIDS Action sponsored several OVC groups to attend a holiday camp at the Center. |
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Kuisebmond orphans and vulnerable children waiting in line at the Walvis Bay Multi-purpose Centre (WBMPC), where twice a week they receive a meal donated by the local business community. The WBMPC was opened in Kuisebmond in Walvis Bay in May 2001 and as of July 2002 had served over 17,000 clients. The WBMPC is a joint effort between three U.S. Government Agencies and local government authorities: the Walvis Bay Municipality donated the land, the U.S Department of Defense built the facility, USAID, through its implementing partner, Family Health International, provides the technical and human resource support, and Peace Corps provides a volunteer. In addition to the soup kitchen, it facilitates a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS, legal assistance for those infected and affected by the disease, home-based care and awareness building activities.
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![Participants in Community outreach for condom education and distribution](images/so551.jpg) |
The young woman on the bicycle works for Hope Humana — a local NGO that provides community outreach in the far northern regions of Namibia. The bicycle was procured under a small grants program funded by USAID through its implementing partner, Family Health International. This enables Hope Humana staff to pedal through the rural areas to conduct HIV prevention sessions with the villagers and to distribute educational materials and condoms. |
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