by Tunda Omondi

26 November 2008

Kang, Botswana: Botswana joined the rest of the international community in celebrating United Nations Day on 24 October again this year. The theme was 'Youth Empowerment for Economic Diversification and Partnership', and celebrations were to take place in Kang, the village where I am based as a UNV volunteer Community Capacity Enhancement Facilitator.

As soon as I was informed by UNV and UNDP that the event would take place in Kang, I decided that it was important for UNV to be represented. In consultation with the Programme Officer and other colleagues from the UN organizing committee, I decided to set up a stall showcasing UNV materials and a video highlighting contributions made by volunteers in the country. I set up the stall with my colleague, Masego Ogaketse, who is also a national UNV volunteer. She is based in Hukuntsi, some 108 kilometres further south from Kang.

Several dignitaries visited the stall. Among them were Hon. Phandu Skelemani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Ambassador of Libya to Botswana.

Upon his arriving at the stall, I saw Mr. Skelemani had on his jacket a UNV sticker. I asked him where he had received this sticker from: he said that he had received it from a reliable source whose name couldn’t be revealed. He continued to let me know that he has volunteered all his life, still enjoys volunteering and is passionate about it. He therefore encourages youth to adopt that spirit.

I was humbled and honoured to have met Mr. Skelemani on that day. I was equally proud that he continues to fly the flag of volunteerism high despite his busy schedule and promotes the volunteer spirit at such events.

During the day, the stall was visited by many people, both young and old. The youth that came asked specifically how to become a volunteer, how to apply and asked about our experiences.

I explained to them that volunteering starts at home, by forming youth clubs and groups. I encouraged them to join groups that have already been formed in their communities and share their talents. I was able to recruit several new members to dance and drama groups that I have assisted through my work as a UNV volunteer in Kang. I told them this is the first step to showing how they can be involved in achieving the goals of Vision 2016.

My names are Tunda Mmueledi Omondi from Mosu, a small village around Letlhakane, Orapa, Botswana. I have always appreciated the fruits of volunteerism. Just like the Minster of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mr. P. Skelemani, I started volunteering at an early age and am still volunteering with different organizations and sectors.

I had always dreamt of joining UNV so that I could be of service to communities in Botswana and abroad (talk about dreams coming true!). Here I am now a national UNV volunteer in a programme that drives the Community Capacity Enhancement Process (CCEP) through community conversations ('Kgotla in Setswana'). I am a facilitator, and the village where I am based is in Kgalagadi North, among the beautiful sands of the Kgalagadi (Kalahari) Desert along the Trans-Kgalagadi Highway that joins Botswana and the Republic of Namibia.

As a national UNV volunteer under the CCEP project, we believe that communities have the ability to identify their concerns, find the solutions to HIV/AIDS issues - such as how to reduce its spread with specific focus on cultural beliefs and practices - and come up with workable solutions to their problems.

The main role of the CCEP facilitator is to stir the process of collective community decision-making and implementation for the purposes of sustainability and ownership of projects. The motto of CCEP is: “The answer lies with the community”.

Through the use of CCEP tools, the community was able to form support groups that support and care for people affected by HIV/AIDS; these groups also educate and disseminate basic HIV/AIDS information in the community and visit home-based care patients.

With the assistance of the district HIV/AIDS coordinators and volunteers in the community, I have formed support groups in Phuduhudu and Kang, plus a youth group in Kang, that seek to disseminate information through drama and dance to keep youth and young people out of trouble.

Together we can!!