Imagine that you wake up every morning wondering if you will get to eat that day. Imagine that your mother passes out food to your father and siblings, leaving none for herself because there just isn’t enough. Imagine that you get sick in the bush where you live with your tribe and cannot get to a clinic because it is over a day’s walk away. Imagine that this is how over half of your country lives on a consistent basis. These situations are a little difficult to imagine as an American citizen because a lot of these issues have already been dealt with in one way or another for the vast amount of the American population. For the Namibian people though, these are daily realities.

The health care system in Namibia has the unique challenge of supporting a small population spread over a large area. There are about 2.3 million Namibian citizens living over an area just 1.18 times the size of Texas. The state-run clinics are free to the public but are mostly in populated areas such as towns and cities. Rural clinics and mobile clinics can be found but they are few and far between, with a varying quality of care. Private clinics exist either as expensive health care centers where the wealthy can get state-of-the-art care for a large fee or as charity clinics that cater to certain cultural groups such as the Bushmen. A huge portion of the population, however, is not able to access healthcare on a regular basis and thus many diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV spread continuously with little hope of decreasing prevalence or eradication in the near future.

Malnutrition is another huge health concern, especially in the indigenous tribal groups, because of their traditional diets and lack of food variety. The San bushmen females, for example, are very malnourished because of the traditional diet of maize-based foods and game meat and also because of the tradition of feeding the men of the family first, then the children, and then the mother if there is anything left. This cycle of malnutrition is passed on to the children as the mother’s bodies do not have the nutrition to give the babies sufficient prenatal nutrients for complete development. Also, after birth, infants are breastfed for one to two years with milk that is low in nutritional value, and then are weaned onto a maize and water diet for another year or two. There are very few sources of micronutrients in this diet that consists largely of starch and protein.

Food security and extreme poverty are the two largest contributors to all these issues, and are concerns Namibia is currently working to correct. The country is only 24 years into their independence though and has a lot of growing still to do. In light of all that we have learned on this study abroad trip, Namibia does have a bright future, especially in the areas of food security, health care, and nutrition.

 

Howdy from the Zambezi River! As our journey comes to a close, I am reflecting on some of the amazing experiences I have had while studying abroad in Namibia. Some of my most profound moments have been when I realized how my perspectives have evolved during this trip.

Before coming to Namibia, I made assumptions about many things pertaining to Namibian culture. I had conducted some research prior to my departure about communal farming vs. commercial farming. Based on what I read, I concluded that commercial farming was superior to communal farming. This is an assumption that I actually kept throughout the majority of this trip. It wasn’t until the second half of the trip that I began to change my perspective on this topic.

Our group had the pleasure of visiting the Topnaar village just outside of the Gobabeb Research Center. While there, we met Oma and Opa, an elderly couple living in the Topnaar village. The Topnaar people farm communally as their means of survival. Oma did most of the talking and answered almost all of our questions.

She told us what an average day looks like for her and her husband. In the morning, she wakes up, makes breakfast, tends to her garden, prepares meals, sews dresses, minds the goats, does the wash, and household cleaning. To add to this long list, she has recently started to craft as a potential source of income.

For a couple like Oma and Opa, transitioning to commercial producers would be a bad idea. Communal livestock production only contributes 5% of the total agricultural output in Namibia. If Oma and Opa decided to go commercial with their goats, they would not be able to sustain. Even if they could sustain themselves, there is still little to no infrastructure that could support a physical move to market.

For the Topnaar community, communal farming is a key aspect of their culture. They are family oriented and hardworking. They help each other because they are not threatened by one another. If the Topnaar community all decided to go commercial, it would skew their cultural norms in a negative way.

When a fellow student asked if Oma and Opa were happy with the way they lived, Opa spoke up for the first time. He answered in such a way that speaks volumes to the Topnaar community’s way of life. He said, “What more could I want? I have my goats.”

In some cases, Americans have a tendency to be influenced by the ideology of the “American Dream”. Many feel that working hard and making money is what makes a person’s livelihood. I will admit that I used to be of the same school of thought. However, as I look at people like Oma and Opa, I realize that their livelihood comes from their ability to do what they value as important.

Does my changed perspective mean that I no longer value making money? No, that would not be the best mindset to have for my life goals. What my changed perspective means is this: as I strive to accomplish my goals in life, I will always remember that my living and my livelihood are two different things. My living is what keeps me alive and my livelihood is what keeps me happy.

Studying abroad in Namibia has truly been life changing. As this experience comes to an end, I am exceedingly grateful to those who facilitated this amazing journey. Thank you Dr. Jones, for pushing me to empathize with others and their culture. Dr. Wingenbach, I am so grateful to you for pushing me out of my comfort zone and helping me to grow as a person. Thank you, Professor Redwine, for providing me with a new set of skills to tell my story and cultivate my voice. Lastly, Dr. Rutherford, thank you for challenging me to step out from behind my camera and to actually look at Oma and Opa. My eyes have been opened and my heart has been filled to its measure. Thank you.

Just now on the Zambezi,
Sarah-Hope Nail

Namibia is a country that has a variety of cultures, landscapes, and wildlife. Since Namibia is a young country, there are still many issues that need to be resolved. Cultural pluralism is a concept wherein each culture seeks to respect others’ traditions, which may provide understanding as to why each culture acts in a certain way. If Namibia takes advantage of its diversities, it can become a powerful nation with plenty of employment and decent wages.

The beauty of Namibia is that it accepts all cultures as they exist, rather than trying to assimilate them to one culture. It is an extraordinary country that is proud of its diverse makeup. It is amazing to travel from one region to another, seeing different sceneries, agricultural techniques, and cultures. The problem hindering Namibia from moving forward is an undeveloped infrastructure. It is a country with plenty of resources, a small population to land ratio, and a variety of employment, which could potentially improve Namibia’s economy.

According to a working paper published by First Capital Research in Windhoek, rapid growth rates in youth population, education, and a rise in female labor participation contributed to high unemployment rates in 2008. In an interview with Mr. Bernd Schneider, Managing Director of Natural Destinations Tourism Co., he mentioned that from an employer’s view, there are three reasons for unemployment. The first is lack of adequate education, which makes people unemployable. Second was the quality of work, since most people were untrained for their jobs. Employers are hesitant to hire untrained people because of employers’ past experiences. Such as when employers train employees, who then quit their jobs, and work for someone who pays more. And third, the greatest reason mentioned for unemployment was the government. Since the government tends to offer work to international workers instead of employing local Namibians.

Mr. Bernd Schneider also mentioned that there is really no reason for high unemployment rates. Since almost every region in Namibia has some sort of employment opportunity. In the north, Namibia has fertile soil, rainfall, water availability, and perfect weather conditions for crop farming. The south has mining and the coastal region has fishing. Other employment opportunities are available through tourism of cultural diversities, landscapes, research, and wildlife.

A problem that hinders more people from working in agriculture is the lack of title deeds. If title deeds were offered it would help generate jobs and sustainability opportunities. By doing so people could obtain bank loans to buy needed equipment to farm. Another option would be to sell their land or start a tourism business. Therefore, people could invest more in their land and receive profit.

Unemployment has lead many people to become criminals out of desperation, hunger, and spite. Currently the Namibian government is not implementing policies that can help people who are temporarily unemployed. Even when work is available it can be “disguised employment.” Meaning employers due not have enough work to keep their workers on a full-time status. Therefore, many people end up working less than 40 hours a week. However the greatest repercussion is that most Namibian families only have one or two people working in a large family, thus their salaries are not enough to buy the necessary foods for a healthy balanced meal.

Having traveled through several regions of Namibia, I was able to see how Namibians yearn for a better life. Ben Affleck stated in a hearing in Washington D.C. on behalf of the Republic of the Congo, “Assisting people in developing countries is not a charity it is good business.” His statement relates to people in developing countries simply asking for a lending hand. Someone who will give them the necessary tools to help generate income which will uplift their economy.

Growing up in a small rural community and having both parents involved in our school system has given me a keen interest in education. While preparing for this trip I couldn’t wait to see what 24-year-old Namibia was doing with their public educational system. The facts and figures are not as impressive as one would hope. According to Education for All, which is the government’s plan of action for their public education system, only 838 of Namibia’s 18,117 teachers are actually trained to teach. HIV/AIDS is causing a major teacher shortage and causing many children to become orphans, which leads to them having to drop out to take care of themselves.

But what needs to be understood is that Namibia is trying. They are still a developing country, and while the statistics may not be bright, they have a plan and it is slowly working. The national annual growth rate of attendance in primary school education is 1.8%. In a country where many children are required to assist on their farms daily and nomadic people still live, this is progress.

We went and visited a couple of Aggie Peace Corps volunteers that worked at the Mayara School in northern Namibia. With only a few buildings, they taught grades 1 through 10, and had about 450 students. One of the volunteers, Tim, said that a major problem within the education system is that it’s almost an unwritten rule that if a student fails a grade twice, they are automatically passed on to the next grade. This is causing even more problems, because students can’t be expected to understand higher education when they didn’t even comprehend the grade before. To combat this, Namibia has been trying to better their teacher training and give incentives for teachers to stay in Namibia and not move to other countries.

There are many challenges that Namibia has to face. When taking into consideration that they are still a young country, the triumphs are amazing. The Namibian Education System by Friedrich Ebert Stiflung says that the passing rate of 5^th grade children has increased from 75% in 1991 to 94% today. Their literacy rate has increased to 93%. Even with daunting challenges, Namibia is making headway to having a successful and prosperous educational system.

Wildlife and tourism are the most common source of income here in Namibia. In America, the closest things to seeing wildlife animals are in zoos. Unlike America, Namibia has more than three big national parks full of wildlife or as they like to call it “Game.” Throughout this study abroad experience, we have traveled all over Namibia to see different tourist sites such as farm tours, wildlife game tours, different restaurants, the living desert tour, Sossusveli sand dune also know as “Big Daddy,” and many other lovely attractions. Tourism is very important to this country, especially for rural areas. We saw different animals such as: oryx, kudu, springbok, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, lions, and etc. Wildlife animals in Namibia are endangered because of the lack of resources and hunting.

Namibia’s tourism industry contributes a lot to wildlife conservancies and biodiversity protection, poverty, and also creating different projects for unemployed persons. Namibia Vision 2030 states, “Through the CBNRM (community based natural resource management) program, communities in communal areas invest in wildlife and benefit from the resulting tourism development opportunities.” The CBNRM helps people to develop ideas for tourist attraction.

Namibia declared their independence 24 years ago; since then, tourism has grown tremendously.  According to the World Tourism Organization, the number of international tourist arrivals worldwide grew by 2.7% in 2002, after a decrease of 0.5% in 2001. Tourism has increased annually. World Tourism Organization also indicates that, “ by 2010, Africa’s share of international tourists will have more than doubled, taking 1995 as the base year. Globally, tourism accounts for one in every 12 jobs.”

In conclusion, if Namibia continues to grow and use the CBNRM resources, there will be more jobs and generated sources of income.

 

Today is a blessing and tomorrow is no more than wishful thinking. We are not granted the joys of another day by default. Our life is a gift that must be cherished, and enjoyed.  Think about what you have on a day to day basis.  I think of my vehicle for transportation, internet to stay connected to the world, good food available for me at a moments notice, or even the luxury of a hot shower. Now think of what you need in day to day life.  I’m not talking about the need to call your friends because you want to know whats happening in town later. Think of things that impact your health and well being everyday, but are often looked over due to their ease of access. When thinking of these everyday luxuries try and remember when you last experienced the crippling sensation of hunger.  A hunger so fierce the craving for nourishment pushed you to steal what was not given, or scavenge through anything to find the smallest of crumbs to silence the pain.   imagine water being so scarce it might as well be a fragment of your imagination. Now think of the world and realize that there are individuals without the luxuries we depend on so much.

Access to clean water is something that can easily be taken for granted. It’s not wrong to take hour-long showers, or forget to be conscious about how much water we use in a day. It’s not something that occurs to you if it is always readily available. I ask though for you to try and think of those who must consider where, when, and how they will come across clean water. Most of the moisture in Namibia comes from the Indian Ocean, and spreads from the northeastern region of Namibia to the southwestern portions of the country. Those who live in the southern Regions of Namibia can experience droughts that last over 2 years. With droughts such as these, constant pressure is placed on the Namibian farmers. Without adequate access to water commercial and communal farmers have harder and harder times using irrigation methods. There are four perennial  rivers in Namibia. perennial rivers are rivers that are constantly flowing during both the dry and wet seasons.

The first of these rivers is the Kunene River that flows in the northwestern region of the country. Next is the Kavango River which flows in the northeastern region along with the third, the Zambezi River. Lastly there is the Orange River which is in the southern region of the country. These rivers are essential to life for the inhabitants surrounding the river. For those without access to perineal rivers they must rely on alternative methods to gain access to water. One such method is the drilling of boreholes. Boreholes are drilled deep enough into the ground to reach water. Being conscious of how much water is available, and being used, is not an uncommon mindset here in Namibia. Lives are changed significantly each and every day by the challenges presented from not having access to clean water. When there is little water to drink there are few crops to be grown. When there are few crops to be grown there are more people without food.

Understanding the issues people in Namibia face regarding natural resources, is key to finding solutions for them. During my stay here in Namibia I often wondered how I could make a positive impact on some of the issues that plague this country. I don’t have the resources to make a significant change but one day I hope to be in a position where I can. For now I have my camera, and my blog. I will tell the story of the Namibian people as best as I can, and increase awareness in hopes that one day others along with myself can come together and make a difference. Today is a blessing, and my wish for tomorrow is the ability to bless someone else.

Namibia is the first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution, some 14% of the land is protected (www.cia.gov/namibia.com). It is no surprise to me that 66% of their National GDP is gained from tourism. In 1999 there were around 30,000 tourist visiting campsites/lodges, in 2004 they approximated that it tripled to 90,000 (www.met.gov.na). One of my favorite lodges we stayed during the trip was Sossuvlei Lodge. The view from the back patio was incredible and the lodge is conveniently located at the Sesriem gate, sanctuary to the highest sand dunes in the oldest desert.

Another top attraction that draws people to Namibia is the conservancies. There are 79 conservancies in Namibia, for a total of 19% of the total land area. We were fortunate enough to venture into Etosha National Park for four days. Here we saw elephants, lions, giraffes, zebra, springbok, impala, kudu, birds, and many other animals. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism overlooks the production of these programs. Since 1999, 10,023 heads of game have been relocated to other countries and other conservancies (www.met.gov.na). This allows for more breeding and an increase in population. We also visited Mahangu National Park were we saw sable and hippos.

The coast of Namibia also is a protected strip of land. While in Swakopmund we visited Doro National Park. Here we were lead by a guide, Chris, on the living desert tour. Chris exuded passion for the conservation of the national park. When four-wheelers were introduced to the park, there were tire marks everywhere. You could see these pathways from space (www.boycottnamibia.com). It would take months and months for these tracks to disappear. In creating the Boycott Namibia website, Chris was able to get the Namibian government attention. Four-wheelers or “four-by-fours” are now only allowed to follow certain pathways through the sand dunes.

Ecotourism is a huge part of Namibia’s economy and way of life. They are paving the way for more and more countries to protect their natural resources and wildlife. When you protect the land and animals, people will flock to partake in the beauty the country holds. Through ecotourism Namibia is able to pour more money into the conservancies and natural resource management programs.

Sometimes the most impactful cultural experiences come at the most unexpected times. Our group was on the way to Popa Falls, driving just north of the red line, when out of nowhere, there was a loud bang. The bus began to swerve, tires screeching across the road. I looked up alarmed, heart pounding. That sound came from under the bus. We hit something. We hit a goat.

My first thought when crossing the Red Line: why are there animals running all over the road? Northern Namibia has very few fences for the animals, especially north of the red line. Not only does most of Namibians population reside here, but the majority of citizens live in communal farms. Driving through this region we saw multiple herds of cattle, goats, and pigs; most of which just roamed loose on the road. Communal farmers in Namibia value their animals more than we value money. Because their animals are their money; how many cattle, sheep, or other animals they have determine one’s wealth. Although you would think people would steal them for this very reason, it’s just not how it works. People recognize their livestock, similar to how we would recognize how personal assets back home.

Instead of driving on, ignoring the dead goat in the road. We did the right thing, we stopped at the village. You have to remember, these animals are their livelihood. Could you imagine if we had just driven away? It would have been like stealing their money that blew across the road. It would it be insensitive and rude, and also disrespectful of their culture. We went into their village and offered to pay for the goat. The man standing over his dead goat said “200,” which is $20 US. We paid the man, gave our apologies and then continued our journey to Popa Falls. We were extra careful, keeping our eyes peeled for any more animals that may run across the road.

 

You don’t know what you like until you try it. You know, going on this trip abroad I thought, “Man, I am going to starve and lose weight on this trip.” I was terribly wrong; I can barely button my pants! “GAME! What is that,” I thought to myself. Trying new things, let alone different foods, terrify me. “How will I ever survive?” Going on this study abroad trip, I wanted to make a new goal of trying different foods and getting out of my comfort zone.

A few years ago, I had the chance to visit China for Green Team America; while I was there I had the opportunity to try their different cultural food groups. At the time I was not open to trying new food, so I ate rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here in Namibia, it is different, I find myself actually enjoying the variety of Namibian food. Most people think all Africans eat the same food, but that is not true. My college roommates are from Ghana and Liberia. Being an Ethiopian, I noticed that we have different food choices. For example,”FuFu” is a common delicacy for most people in the western region of Africa. So I thought, maybe Namibians eat FuFu too. Here in Namibia, there is a lot of game, including zebra, kudu, ostrich, etc. This trip was my first time trying it all. Wow! It tastes great.

People often ask me, “What exactly do you eat? Are you vegetarian?” I always have a hard time answering these questions because I am unsure of what foods I enjoy. I never know until I try them. Participating in this study abroad program, has given me the opportunity to express to others that trying new food is great. While staying at Neudamm campus in Namibia, I was terrified of eating the food because I wasn’t informed. Before traveling to Namibia, I learned in my “Agriculture cultural pluralism” class that in some cultures, it is offensive to not eat their food. I told myself no matter how hard new food is for me to try, I will do it.  In order to get the best abroad experience being open minded and trying new things is a great idea.

By the first week, we toured the Neudamm campus and had seen the poultry houses. Last week, we witnessed a Himba woman cook a whole chicken, feathers and all, in a boiling pot outside of her hut. My interest was immediately sparked as to what the poultry industry was like here in Namibia. Chicken is produced on a large scale in the United States, but how do you raise enough chicken in the second driest country on the globe?

As we’ve learned, Namibia is a sub-Saharan country, located on the west coast of the continent, northwest of South Africa. The country is a huge net importer of goods and services mainly from South Africa. In response, the government has taken several measures to improve economic conditions and grow the country’s wealth. One of these measures includes limiting the imported poultry products, relying on the few poultry industries in Namibia to meet demands and provide jobs.

Sounds good right? So, what’s the problem? For starters, Namibia’s poultry industry is two years old. Previously, Namibia had been importing its chicken solely from South Africa. It worked out well; Namibia was getting its poultry demand met at a relatively cheap price. However, the Government in Namibia has been hungrily eyeing the idea of complete self-sufficiency. I can’t blame them, what country wants to rely on taxed imported goods?

Last year, the Ministry of Trade and Industry tightened controls on what was imported to Namibia. These controls are known as “Infant Industry Protection.” What used to be unlimited chicken from South Africa was lowered to a certain quota. The Namib Poultry Industry was up to providing the rest to meet Namibia’s demands. By doing this, the meat prices doubled. Chicken remains the meat of choice, but only for those who can afford it. These high prices made it entirely impossible for some to buy local poultry, proving the government’s efforts completely counter-productive.

How can the problem be solved? Poultry is one of the cheapest forms of protein. Ergo, consuming poultry could help solve the issue of global hunger and malnutrition. The problem with the poultry industry everywhere is that the price per head is so insignificant, so the production has to be done in large volumes. If done correctly in this country, it could solve food security for a huge majority of people. To achieve this, however, there has to be a balance between what they can afford, what they can buy, what they can produce themselves, and how many people it will employ. The United States has the manpower to produce poultry on a very large scale, the industry alone is worth $45 billion, and approximately 40 billion pounds is produced annually (See nationalagriculturestatisticsservices.org). Although Namibia only has a population of 2 million, far less than the U.S, the country still has room to grow in the poultry industry.