Advertisement
Published: August 10th 2007
Edit Blog Post
Hi everyone! Bry has done an excellent job blogging our life here, but now I shall take a turn and try to fill you all in on my life at work. Apologies in advance if this is a bit more boring than Bry's usual entries 😊
I am working at Godisa Technologies Trust (www.godisa.org), a very interesting place indeed. Godisa (it means "to help things grow") is a social enterprise, although that terminology is new and unfamiliar here in Botswana. It is a charitable trust with deaf empowerment as a core value, but we assemble and sell products including hearing aids, batteries, support equipment like audiometers, and Godisa-invented and developed solar powered chargers for the hearing aids & batteries. The solar powered charger is ingenious - often the cost of batteries is as expensive as the hearing aid itself on an annual basis, putting hearing out of reach for low income people. The free power of the sun can correct this! The fact that Godisa is a social enterprise, that must make profitable sales, adds a very interesting and different dimension to the kind of work I have done in the past with nonprofits.
My current challenges are leading
Greenhouses at Camphill
A series of greenhouses and coverings sheltering the various plants, herbs and fruits grown on the grounds. the board through a strategic planning exercise (3-5 year plan) and developing a marketing strategy for the second generation charger that is being developed. The charger (and the rest of Godisa's product line) will be marketed to Botswana and Africa first. We have established sales in Central America, the Middle East, and other countries, but realize we need to focus on Africa. So, my marketing field research will include trips to Kenya, Zambia, Mali and Nigeria if all goes according to plan. This has been an unexpected and fantastic bonus for me, and I am excited to be able to do some additional travelling as part of the assignment.
I am happy to report that the Board has successfully completed "stage 1" of the strategic planning I am working on with them, having arrived at clear, accurate and inspiring mission and vision statements (previously lacking in consistency). Next steps are goal setting and action planning - basically, my assessment was that Godisa had lots of terrific projects on the go, and much energy from the staff and a committed Board, but needed focus and realistic/achievable targets to work towards so progress can be charted & measured. The tricky part
Anj's "Office"
Quite idyllic dont you think? was deciding which of the many initiatives to proceed with, and which to let go (for my non-profit colleagues reading this - imagine how difficult that may be when some of your biggest income generators are not what your core business is supposed to be - classic "mission drift").
OK, so enough of what I am doing, where and with whom am I doing it?! Godisa is currently housed in a charming pink building on the grounds of the Camphill community in Otse. Otse village is about half an hour drive from Gaborone, through gorgeous scenery and set amongst rolling hills. Godisa started as one of the many initiatives run by Camphill for the employment and training of mentally and/or physically disabled people. Due to the unique nature of the types of products Godisa distributes, and the capacity to be financially self-sufficient, Godisa was spun off as an independent organization. But, I still get to come to work in beautiful landscaped grounds (a treat in parched Botswana) surrounded by a nursery and orchards. Also on site is a pottery workshop, furniture workshop, candle making workshop and kitting workshop. All of the work is done by disabled people. Every morning
Otse's Scenery
Mount Otse in the background; its nice to get out of the city each day for the drive to Otse. Don't mind the 30 minutes as it all looks like this. when I arrive at 8, the people that work here gather to sing their way into a new day. It's incredibly peaceful and a HUGE contrast to life in Toronto!
Things I didn't see at work in Toronto:
- A line of ducks noisily walking past the front door, acting like we're in THEIR way
- People taking naps on blankets in the sun
- Raging (amicable) arguments carried on in complete silence due to the magic of sign language (which I am learning - it's very intuitive and fun to learn)
- Donkeys on the road
- Cows on the road
- Goats on the road (better yet - all three!)
- Resident pet German shepherds visiting your desk
- Grey water system for all of the watering needs of the village
- Rickety truck arriving with fresh donuts and bread (so cheap & delicious, my waist expands just thinking about them)
- Dozens of chargers (the size and shape of a palm pilot) basking on rocks in the sun like lizards to fully charge before being sent to customers.
Anyhow, could go on, but that gives a snapshot of my days. I work with three hearing
Cactus and friend
Seen around the grounds of Anj's work people, Modesta (from Zambia, the manager here), Mpho (Motswana admin assistant) and Tendekayi (from Zimbabwe). The assembly of the products is done by six deaf or hard or hearing young people from Bots: Akanyang, Sarah, Clement, Dwililane, Botsile and Thato. They are all keen to teach me sign language, and one of the things that I brought from Canada proved unexpectedly popular - my deck of UNO cards! We play at lunch sometimes.
In other news, Bry and I have joined up with a group that is training to walk across one of the huge salt pans here (150km in 3 days). We are not going on the walk but are enjoying the training for the company & the exercise. We walked for 20km last Sunday in the bush north of Gabs, absolutely beautiful, although the blisters aren't so pretty. I have found a place to do yoga, outside on a big white veranda that is also very attractive to huge bugs (try holding a shoulder stand with one landing on your nose). There is a European film festival being put on by various embassies for free next week, which is great, and Bry has discovered good places to watch the Manchester United games on the big screen. This weekend, there is a delegation of Canadian university presidents/directors coming to see our projects and seek ways to partner with WUSC, so we have a reception & then some game viewing etc. Should be fun, and it will be great to meet such accomplished people! A different pace of life, but a happy life.
Bye for now! "Go siame" (take it easy), Anj xoxo
Advertisement
Tot: 0.101s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 7; qc: 78; dbt: 0.0679s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
daily
non-member comment
Fantastic guys!
I love to hear all your stories!!!! Have fun guys!!! D.