from Matlabe - An African thanks, Pueblo

 The Pueblo Chieftain Sunday, April 10, 2011

 

An African thanks, Pueblo.

 

I am a school principal in a small village in Lesotho. My knowledge of the world was very limited and I knew not what to expect in America, where I came for the first time outside my native southern Africa.

 

As I leave Pueblo and the United States I have a strong desire to speak my gratitude to the people of this community for the wonderful experiences you have given me during two weeks among you.

 

I was astonished sitting in an automobile through an automatic car wash, attending a church service where the songs were projected on a screen, having my teeth examined and cleaned in a dentist's office. I had never imagined these things, and many others.

 

But the most powerful impression is the people. From the very first I was welcomed as a friend and I have not been treated in any other way by anyone during this visit. Your generous hospitality and many courtesies to a foreigner and stranger in your midst speak eloquently of the United States as a nation of kind, caring people.

  

Now Pueblo will be known to the residents of a small African village. Thank you.

 

Matlabe Teba

Ketane, Lesotho, Africa

Please Ignore the Post about UN Funding - It was SPAM!

Please ignore the previous post that supposedly came from me about funding from the UN for $500,000. That was spam. If you got an email from this blog with that message, please delete it and PLEASE DO NOT CLICK ON THE LINKS OR SEND THEM ANY INFORMATION.

A letter from FIPE's Jack Wilson to Matlabe Teba

Dear friend Matlabe,

A famous 19th century Scottish poet, novelist, and essayist Robert Louis Stevenson once wrote, “Life is a series of farewells”. That presumes, of course, that life is also a series of “Hellos”.
Saying “Hello” to you two weeks ago was a pleasure, and your presence in our midst and in my company has been a source of joy the entire time. Many people have told me how favorably they were impressed by your smile, cordial demeanor, and warm personality. You have graced our community and markedly enhanced the favor in which FIPE is held.
You return to your home and your people knowing that some Americans who had never heard of Lesotho now feel they have a friend there. Bettie, Sherrie, and Hamp join me in gratitude for the great gift you have given us. Please know you will remain forever in our hearts and memories.
In gratitude and friendship,

Jack

W. Jackson Wilson


FOUNDATION FOR INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXCHANGE
from the President Emeritus

Re: FW: question about grant-writing training in South Africa

Hi Janissa

This is very encouraging and hope that we can get a contact off the lists she has given you. I will also hold and wait to hear what you finalise with Cecily.

Cheers

Fortunate

 

"Education is the best vaccination for HIV/AIDS"

Part 2 of the report "Treasure of Laptops to Lesotho" written by Nohana Primary School Principal Matlabe Teba:

"Nohana Primary School is engaged in a campaign against HIV and AIDS. Lesotho has infection rate of 23%. In rural and poor societies like in Ketane the case is worse. We have decided to formulate a policy whose main objectives are:

- to reduce stigma
- promote self awareness amongst pupils and community
- encourage the regular use of ARV's.

Our motto is "Education is the best vaccination for HIV/AIDS."

We have more than hundred orphans in our school.  Many of these orphans are infected when some are only affected.  Some are still uner medication.  This is the situation that made us engage serious in campaign against HIV/AIDS."

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Laptops to Lesotho is trying to help Matlabe Teba and the Nohana Primary School combat HIV/AIDS in Ketane by providing educational materials about HIV/AIDS as well as improving the general education of all students in the area.

Treasure of Laptops to Lesotho by Matlabe Teba

Excerpts from a report written by the principal of Nohana Primary School, Matlabe Teba:

Nohana Primary School is situated in Ketane in Mohale's Hoek district of Lesotho. Ketane is one of the most mountainous regions in Lesotho and also in Africa.


Majority of people staying in this region earn their living by working in the fields and by raising animals.

Because of its geographical features, means of communication and transport are very difficult. For instance, more than four-fifths of its villages are not accessible. The whole region is not connected to the internet, except only one government clinic.
In general, this is a technologically underdeveloped place, e.g. there are some villages whereby residents know nothing about cellular phone. Some residents have never seen and watched a television in their life. In some villages, majority of villagers have never seen a car. The same applies to the computers. This is the place where Nohana Primary School is located.
It is really true that these laptops are a treasure to our local community. We give great thanks to everyone who contributed to make this precious project success.
ACHIEVEMENTS

Teachers were equipped with basic computer skills.

Teachers started to train 24 student group leaders.

Teachers mobilised the pupils, community, local stakeholders and educational authorities.

Two teachers went to a one day training at Kliptown Youth Centre and Lilydale Primary School in Soweto.

Project leaders briefed Maseru Rotary Club members about our project.

All Nohana Primary School teachers got a three week school based training. My colleagues highly appreciated it. It encompasses laptop repairing, shelves fixing for computers, wiring and running generator. We got chance for practical activities that served as preliminary implementation of the project.

We formulated the regulations and contracts for teachers and parents. All these people would abide by their terms. This will guide us on how this mega treasure should be handled.

The next quantum leap was to make a work plan and schedule that classes 4, 5, 6, and 7 will be our target. Each class will have practical lesson twice a week. They can feel the presence of this treasure of Laptops to Lesotho, and also promote the sense of ownership.

We registered all 50 of these computers. This helps us to know and trace their movements.

We fixed burglar proofs in three rooms; one for computer lessons, another one for computer storage and charging and the last one for the generator.

To raise funds for the project, we have decided that our school's solar panel be used to charge cell phones and people pay as little as 30 cents per phone. This is used to buy fuel for the generator. We have also planned to have a concert once a session.

SUCCESS

Our school's roll has increased from 314 to 374 pupils. Implementation of this computer projects has reduced the rate of absenteeism. It has also improved the learners behavior as they now compete to score points about good things they do at school so they can take laptop home. Pupils are excited and motivated. They are grasping very quickly. Some community members have also shown interest in learning. We are trying to fix a plan to accommodate them in the computer reaching learning programme.

THANKS

My school gives great thanks to the people and companies that have been so instrumental from the planning up to the launching of this project.

FW: question about grant-writing training in South Africa

The following is an email conversation I'm having with a representative of a foundation funding our project which wishes to remain anonymous.  The emails are about possible grant-writing training for the teachers at Nohana Primary School.  Right now, we're looking into bringing a trainer to Lesotho so more people can participate in the training.  The foundation rep is interested in having principals at schools in the Mt. Moorosi/Quthing area take the training as well and might be able to help with funding for the training. 

This is all in the early stages of planning.  I just wanted to give you a heads-up of what we're working on.

Janissa

---

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From: Janissa

Sent: 28 March 2011 05:57 PM
To: foundation rep
Subject: question about grant-writing training in South Africa

Hi Cecily,

I have a quick question for you.  We've gotten a grant from the Maseru Rotary Club for M10,000, and the teachers have decided they want to use at least part of it to send two of them to a seminar in grant-writing training.  Do you know any place in South Africa where they could get this kind of training?  I've heard of a woman in Durban who does this, but I've lost her contact information.  Appreciate any help you can give me on this.

All my best,

Janissa

Janissa Balcomb, President

Laptops to Lesotho

janissa@silverstar.com

jbalcomb@laptopstolesotho.org

http://www.laptopstolesotho.org/

From: foundation

Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:05 AM
To: 'Janissa'
Subject: RE: question about grant-writing training in South Africa

Dear Janissa

I will ask around but wonder if your best bet wouldn’t be to get someone to come to Lesotho so that this workshop can benefit more people.

Personally I have found that projects go to grant writing seminars etc and get all excited but it doesn’t produce much. It is – as  you know – a long, patient time consuming slog which requires lots of follow up, nurturing and top class communication skills. Too often people think if they write a few letters they’ll get money and when they get the first batch of rejections they lose hope. Far better to create a supportive team of people in situ than to expend time and energy on one or two.

Anyway, I will get back to you.

Meantime I am off to Lesotho tomorrow – meeting principals in Quthing/Mount Moorosi area. Do you have any idea yet of your dates for a possible next visit?

Best wishes

Cecily

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From: Janissa
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 1:09 PM
To: foundation
Subject: RE: question about grant-writing training in South Africa

Hi Cecily,

That's a good point.  I'll look into having the training at Ketane.  We do plan to offer continued long-term support as they learn how to write grants.  Delia has some experience and has offered to help.  And our treasurer, Andrew Dernovsek, who is currently in graduate school, has taken two courses in grant-writing and fundraising.  He speaks fluent Sesotho and talks to Matlabe on the phone fairly regularly, so he'll be able to offer lots of support.

I am planning to be in Lesotho in November and December again.  We've decided to do another intensive computer training course for the teachers in the 2-3 weeks after school ends. 

After that, I will be going with my aunt to Mozambique to visit my uncle's family, probably the week before Christmas.  I would like to visit the teachers at the eSibonisweni school then, if possible, but don't know about the logistics.  You've lived in that area, haven't you?  Do you have any advice?

Thanks for your help!

Janissa

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From: foundation
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 2:15 AM
To: 'Janissa'
Subject: RE: question about grant-writing training in South Africa

http://www.papillonpress.co.za/copy/index.asp

this is probably the best known training agency for grant making. They have a pretty good reputation but I don’t know what their costs are. I am also checking Durban contacts.

It might be an idea to look at hosting a Grant writing workshop in Lesotho (closer to Ketane – we use Orange River Hotel in Quthing for a lot of our meetings) and, if so, I have a few folk I’d like to send along as well and could consider contributing to the costs.

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From: Janissa
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 1:21 PM
To: 'foundation'
Subject: RE: question about grant-writing training in South Africa

"The more, the merrier."  That would be FANTASTIC!

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From: foundation
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 2:23 AM
To: 'Janissa'
Subject: RE: question about grant-writing training in South Africa

http://www.saifundraising.org.za/consultants&serviceproviders.htm

bombarding you now! This is also a useful link but don’t send your folk to this course in May – it’s for professional fund raisers with solid experience already. What may be useful is the list of people registered with SAIF. I do know of Di Milford in Pietermaritzburg and she may be one person to contact and see is she’s willing/able to help. I could liaise with her on your behalf if you do decide you want to get someone to come to Lesotho instead.

Alternatively if you want her to set up something for your people in PMB you can deal directly with her.

Hold off until I find out more about the Durban service providers as well so you have as wide a choice as possible. I am also getting recommendations from local NGOs who have used consultants themselves. It can be a jolly expensive business.

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From: Janissa
Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 1:21 PM
To: foundation
Subject: RE: question about grant-writing training in South Africa

If you are willing to contact Di Milford to see if she would be willing to go to Lesotho for training, that would be wonderful.  I will hold off contacting anyone until I hear back from you.  

If it would be easier for her, or other trainers, to travel to Maseru, we could hold it there.  It's just as easy for our teachers to travel to Quthing as Maseru.

We do have R10,000 from the Maseru Rotary Club we can use for the training.