New Challenge for Mozambique   top
Skillshare Africa is committed to assist the people of Mozambique in meeting their new challenges following the recent floods.
We have been working in Mozambique since 1980 to help tackle the devastating effects of civil war and currently have 13 development workers in the country.

The recent flooding and tropical storms have caused havoc in some areas of the country, setting back long-term development.

Dr Cliff Allum, Director of Skillshare Africa said: "Everyone will no doubt be aware of the floods and the effects of Cyclone Eline in Mozambique.

"The Skillshare Africa programme has been supporting the people of Mozambique in essential development for many years.

"The floods have been a major setback, undoing the efforts of the Mozambican people to rebuild their country. Now, more than ever, we need to help them get back on track.

"Large stretches of road and many bridges have been washed away. Hundreds of people have so far been killed and the government say millions more will be affected.

"Water supplies and sewage systems have been badly damaged and experts are warning that many Mozambicans remain at risk from water-borne disease, malaria and hunger."

Emergency relief agencies, through the Disasters Emergency Committee, have already sent vital support to the region. Both emergency aid and long-term development are essential if Mozambique is to recover.

Dr Allum continues: "Our long-standing involvement and partnerships with the people and Government of Mozambique means that we are well placed to respond to the development and reconstruction needs of the country in the aftermath of the floods.

"In the past support has been essential to the success of our work. We need to find ways to help Mozambique recover from the misfortune of natural disaster and continue her process of development."

Development Worker Comings and Goings   top
Since our last edition of Skillshare Africa News, seven development workers have begun new placements in southern Africa, whilst five have finished work:

Botswana: Chris Buss and Natalie Groom have both become Assistant Forestry Officers with the Regional Forestry Office in Maun and Kanye.

Antonia Forster, also with the regional Forestry Office, has finished her placement in Botswana.

Lesotho: Danny Showell and wife Sara Impeciat-Showell have joined the Scott Hospital in Morija as PHC Medical Coordinator and Nurse In-service Trainer respectively. Michael Rigby has joined Lerotholi Polytechnic as a Lecturer in Entrepreneurial Skills as part of the TVED programme.

Cliff Peskett has finished a two-year placement at the Leloaleng Trades School in Quthing.

Mozambique: Heather Bagely has taken up a position as an MA English Teacher at the Beira Pedagogical University.

Angela Koch has just finished more than three years at the same university as an EFL Teacher and John Harrison has concluded his post as Printed Textiles Lecturer at the School of Visual Arts in Maputo.

South Africa: Barbara and Steve Harvey have finished their placements at the In-Service Training Project in KwaZulu Natal.

Swaziland: Ivan Leth has joined SEBENTA in Swaziland as a Fundraiser Trainer

Geoffrey Bishop has finished his placement after three years as a Land Surveyor and Surveyor General at the Ministry of Works in Mbabane

There have been no incoming or outgoing development workers in Namibia

NASA joins forces with Botswana Programme Partner   top
American Space Agency, NASA, is taking a keen interest in the work of the Khama Rhino Sanctuary Trust and its positive effects on the environment.

The trust, set up to increase the white rhino population in Botswana, has attracted a lot of attention from environmentalists across the globe but surprisingly, not just for their animal conservation work.

Overgrazing is a real problem in Botswana and the controversial decision not to allow cattle to roam within the sanctuary boundaries has allowed the vegetation within the fences to re-establish itself.

Such is the impact on the landscape, that botanists from the University of Botswana have conducted several studies of the dramatic re-growth and the area is being used in international research into the effects of pollution - using imaging technology from NASA.

Sue Bicknell has just returned from Botswana as co-ordinator for the Khama sanctuary. While she was there, she oversaw the advent of eco-tourism at the trust and recently gave a talk on the subject in Leicester on behalf of Skillshare Africa.

"The main aim of the programme was to create a breeding population to try and increase the number of rhino living wild in the region," explained Sue.

"But the knock-on effects of that were tremendous - and quite unexpected - particularly where the environment was concerned.

In order to become self-sustaining the trust used the interest in the breeding programme as a tourism opportunity.

This idea proved to be a good one, not just for Khama but also the surrounding area, as Sue explains:

"Local businesses such as builders, fencers and caterers were benefiting from the trust and the tourism initiative due to the creation of more regular work.

"As more tourists began visiting the trust we raised funds to build a place for them to stay. We also opened a shop which sold essentials such as toothpaste and tourism guides alongside traditional woodcarvings by local people.

"I also raised funds to pay for educational materials and we held special school groups to educate children on conservation and the environment."

The Khama Rhino Trust is still going strong. When Sue left they were virtually self-sustainable and the rhino population had increased by two - an achievement considering the gestation and incubation period is about three years in total.

But what is more encouraging is the long-term effects a small sanctuary in Botswana is having on Africa as a whole.

It is the perfect example of how one small change can have many lasting results.

At the Cutting Edge of Technology   top
Skillshare Africa's new electronic communication system is said to be one of the most advanced of its kind currently being used in the southern African voluntary sector.

The new Lotus Notes package, expected to be in full use by mid April, allows all seven countries to communicate more efficiently than ever before.

Information Technology Support Officer, Vince Warrington, explains: "All staff members now have desk-to-desk email and Internet connectivity improving communications and efficiency between offices and also internally.

"The move to new technology is part of Skillshare Africa's Corporate Strategy which states that during the next five years we will continue to develop our systems and ways of working, resulting in an improved service.

"This will ultimately benefit of our partners and further improve relationships with development workers and other stakeholders."

Installation and staff training in the new systems began in February with Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland and the UK all going online in the first phase of introduction.

The final phase for Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa begins late March.

Metalwork First for Assumption   top
Assumption High School in Lesotho will be the first educational establishment in the country to offer metalwork as a recognised examination.

The school in Teyateyaneng (TY) and Skillshare Africa have a long-standing relationship, having worked together for over a decade.

On a recent visit to Assumption by Director, Cliff Allum, development worker John Earl explained how the purchase of textbooks and a new turning lathe has enabled them to offer metalworking at high school level.

John has also been in meetings with the Technical and Vocational Education Department (TVED) of the Lesotho government (with whom Skillshare Africa also has a partnership), to get the metalwork course approved.

He has agreed to extend his time in Lesotho by another two years to ensure the course is well established.

Elias Tso'sane, Lesotho Programme Officer said: "The beneficiaries of John's work are primarily the students.

"Recent pass rates for the school were among the best in the country. This has made many students interested in doing technical subjects."

Lesotho ranks 137th out of 174 countries in terms of per capita gross domestic product. It is rated as a 'low-income' country and in response, the government has made a genuine commitment to develop vocational training.

It is hoped that this, together with entrepreneurial skills training, will help encourage the growth of businesses in the country and stem the tide of migrant labour which is currently a major factor in the Lesotho economy.

Chissano Continues as Mozambican President   top
Joaquim Chissano was sworn into office on January 15 for a further five-year term as President of Mozambique following the December elections.

In a ceremony, held in Maputo's Independence Square, President Chissano committed himself to "… dedicating all my efforts to the defence, promotion and consolidation of national unity, and to the well-being of the Mozambican."

He said the priority for the next five years would be "… to eradicate absolute poverty, to overcome misery, hunger and illiteracy in Mozambique."

His first task, however, became the request for aid following the adverse weather conditions suffered by Mozambique in February and March, with flooding and cyclones raging through the country causing widespread devastation.

Mozambique now begins the long task of rebuilding itself following the floods and dealing with the after effects of such a disaster - disease and homelessness to name but two.

Ironically, as President Chissano was sworn into office back in January, the skies opened and rain poured down. He took this as a good omen, describing the heavy shower as 'drops of divine blessing'.

The government's plans to gradually combat the regional imbalances in development have been set back dramatically by the flooding which caused multiple deaths and affected millions of people.

When the emergency situation is over, Skillshare Africa will be responding to the needs of Mozambique in their efforts to rise above the effects of the floods and tropical storms. You can help by joining our appeal.

It has not been the start of the new millennium that the country had hoped for and any progress made with the decision of many countries to ease the debts of Mozambique has now been all but cancelled out by the immediate exigence of the nation.

Minister Visits UK Office   top
In December, the UK office played host to Mr George Foulkes MP, Under-secretary of State for International Development.

The visit was part of a series being made by the Department for International Development (DFID) ministerial team throughout the United Kingdom.

Mr Foulkes met the Skillshare Africa staff who took the opportunity to discuss our work in southern Africa.

He said: "DFID have a long standing relationship with Skillshare Africa and I am delighted to have been invited to Leicester to learn more about their work.

"It was interesting to see the processes used in recruiting development workers and also how they intend to bring their Corporate Strategy into fruition.

"DFID is committed to ensuring continued international development through charities like Skillshare Africa and I would like to congratulate them on the progress they made towards development in southern Africa."

Skillshare Africa's Regional Office has moved   top
The new address is:

Skillshare Africa South Africa
PO Box 57350
Arcadia 0007
Pretoria
South Africa

Tel: 00 27 12 341 1282/3
Fax: 00 27 12 341 1292
email: regional@skillshare.org

Staff arrivals and departures.   top
Congratulations go to Rachel Haynes and her husband John on the birth of their third daughter Lindsey.
Rachel is currently on maternity leave from the UK office and will return in July.
Taking over the position of projects officer in her absence is Elaine Stephenson. Before she joined Skillshare Africa, Elaine was a freelance trainer with VSO running pre-departure courses.
Before that she was a volunteer with VSO in Indonesia as well as a programme officer and acting country director.
In South Africa, Nikki Davies has joined Skillshare Africa as Administration Officer in the Regional Office and in Swaziland, Country Programme Officer, Gcinekile Dlamini, is now Country Co-ordinator.

Skillshare Africa say goodbye to Mira Veijalainen Country Programme Officer for Namibia. Mira has joined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO)
And in Botswana, Francina Makaki has finished her time as temporary Administration Assistant.