It takes more than money…

It takes more than money to pull off a successful development project… That has been my lesson in Lesotho. It takes patience, knowing the right people, understanding the needs and capabilities of a community, and getting the right kind of “buy in” from locals. Luckily, that was exactly the potent combination of circumstance and opportunity that I had by my 9th month in Lesotho.

My parent’s hometown church, New Monmouth Presbyterian Church, was gracious enough to donate $250 to my work in Lesotho early last year. What might seem a meager amount to some people in America has the ability to go a LONG WAY in Lesotho… But I knew that wasn’t enough. So I waited. The money sat in my account for months. I didn’t even tell my Supervisor or Basotho friends… I just waited til the right opportunity presented itself, and eventually it did.

In early August, one of my favorite colleagues, Ntate Masiu, sat down at my desk in the Science lab for a relatively typical Monday morning chat… The hot topic for that morning turned out to be a rant about how the school was usurping use of the Science Lab, by using it as an office space for the copier and computer, rather than a place for Science. As Math and Science teachers, we both agreed that we’d love to convert it into a more useable, student friendly space, but how? The problem wasn’t about physical space (after all, we had a new staffroom full of empty rooms), it was about access to electricity. You see, Linokong High School doesn’t have any. We use a generator to sparingly power the copier and computer, only when needed. Unfortunately, the Science Lab was the only building on campus that was 1) wired for electricity with outlets, and 2) was connected to the generator (in a separate building). So Ntate Masiu and I hatched a plan…

We surmised that IF we could put electricity into the staffroom, we could eventually transfer the school administrative offices/equipment into the staffroom…. Thus leaving the Science Lab free to be used for it’s intended purpose. He had a friend who was an electrician in the neighboring district, who we called, and after a little friendly chit-chat agreed to help us. I knew some local shop owners in the camptown… And we were off!

We gathered multiple supplies quotes within a matter of days, got a quote from the electrician, asked around privately for some bo-Ntate who we knew would be willing to provide free labor, and then I broke the good news… If the School Board would agree to give us about half the funds, I could guarantee the other half of the project funds! It was so exciting to sit down with my Principal and Ntate Masiu, to tell them about the funds… And do it in a way where I KNEW the project could be successful. Ntate Masiu was incredibly hands-on as Project Manager, and we already had everything lined up. All they needed money… And thanks to some incredibly generous people in America, I could provide them with exactly that!

Two weeks later, we’d successfully presented our budget and project proposal to the board, had been approved for the remaining funds, and were buying the supplies! It took 48 hours, 3 incredibly diligent workers, approximately R6000 ($600), and a big pan of brownies… But it was all worth it, when the teachers came back to school on Monday to a staffroom full of electrical outlets, lights, and switches.

 The school’s generator which was being wired to run electricity to the staffroom.

The school staffroom (right) and the generator bldg (left, behind the truck)…

 

Lots of wires = lots of progress!

Ntate Masiu was HARD at work all weekend, but SO excited to be making it happen!

Horray for outlets and light switches! A rare sight in this village!

Our fabulous electrician, who was VERY excited about the prospect of ‘Me Limpho’s brownies!

View from the entrance to the staffroom building. Under construction and looking good!

In retrospect, the entire project was  HUGE lesson to me in timing, and having full support from locals. As anyone who has ever done development work in Africa can tell you, everything turns out to take longer and be more complicated than you could ever imagine… But with the right people and timing, our project was completed in just over one month, and was a great step forward for the school and it’s students.

Rea leboha haholo, batho ba New Monmouth Presbyterian Church!
Thank you so much to the people of New Monmouth Presbyterian Church!

With Love from Lesotho… –Mary E.

What I Love the Most.

Two weeks ago, the Peace Corps Lesotho family welcomed 26 brand new, friendly faces  to our Education program. Last week, while assisting with their training, I had the opportunity to meet them for the first time... They are all amazing people, full of enthusiasm and fresh personalities. Experience tells me that, before long, they'll be permanent members of our tight-knit Peace Corps Lesotho family. And apart from being fun, visiting my old village, Makola, watching them endure tediously long training sessions, and seeing their excitement mingled so intimately with fear and uncertainty, was also an incredibly enlightening experience for me. It reminded me of how far I've come in this journey. It made me thankful to be on the other side of my first year- an inevitable transition period where every day seems to bring some new challenge or roller coaster of emotions. The Lesotho I live in now is vastly different from the one I was thrust into during my own training... And while it was a memorable time in my Peace Corps experience, I wouldn't want to turn back the clock for anything.

Yet last week made me ask myself... Why has Lesotho so drastically changed for me? When did living here become "my life" here, and not just some wild adventure I was on temporarily? What makes this suddenly so normal? What has made this place feel like home?The answer came to me when Lisa, one of the new trainees, asked me, "What do you love the most about living in Lesotho?"

The question gave me pause... There are so many things about this country and culture that I love. It seemed difficult to pick just one. But then I thought back to the beginning of August, the first time when I really felt like my life here was my own. When I could honestly say that I didn't feel like a "Peace Corps Volunteer" anymore... I was simply, 'Me Limpho, the funny lekhooa teacher who bakes brownies for staff birthdays at school, loves to work in her garden, and gets frustrated with her Form D class all too often. I felt like me again. Just me in Lesotho. This was home. And suddenly I knew what had changed everything for me...

"The people." I replied, with a knowing smile. "My favourite part of living in Lesotho has been having personal, real relationships with Basotho... They've changed everything for me." And I knew it was true.

I knew that was the key to my being "at home" in Lesotho because...

When I make brownies for "staff birthdays" at school, they aren't just for anyone... Most recently, they were for my friend, Chris, who will randomly start singing an R&B song, and then still pretends to be shocked when I don't know the American artist... Ha! He likes to show up at my desk with a mockingly serious face and exclaim, "Yo! Holla atcha woman!" Which causes us both to erupt into laughter because, aside from his skin color, he could not possibly be further from the African American stereotype he sees on TV and tries to emulate. Despite growing up absolutely impoverished, "a young boy with no shoes" as he puts it, he dreams of getting a PhD in Environmental Studies... I call him "The Professor," and it's a nick-name he wears proudly.

And when I say I love to work in my garden, it's because I never seem to be there alone for long... My boys, Makhoro and Morena, always show up to help me. Their English is fabulous despite only being in Standard 7 in Primary School, and they're both incredibly bright boys. We love to watch movies and eat popcorn on Sunday afternoons... Their favourite Disney movies are always the ones with animals. :) And everywhere Makhoro goes, he takes his 3 year-old little brother, Mohalaka in tow... It's absolutely endearing to see him be so patient and nurturing with his younger siblings (of which there are many!) I know he'll be an amazing and attentive father one day; a true rarity in a culture where child-rearing is a "woman's work."

And when my Form D's get rowdy and loud, I don't even have to turn around to know who the culprit is... "Likhapha! Stop talking!" I shout for the umpteenth time, utterly exasperated. Giggles fill the classroom, as a guilty yet knowing smile creeps across her face. And when we're in Math class, and I ask them to solve for the final numerical solution, I'll hear a steady snapping start... Like rolling thunder, it's quiet at first, until the whole class is snapping in rhythmn. "Human calculator! Human calculator! Human calculator!" they chant, echoing my desire for them to do the multiplication or division in their heads quickly, without a calculator. They are each individuals now... When Limpho got the chicken pox, I noticed her absence. When Thabo got married, I knew. When Thembie lost her father, I mourned with her. I know their families, stories, villages, and dreams.

Coming home to my host family every night, stopping to talk to 'Me Moipone on my way home from the shopong, chatting with the taxi driver, Ntate Sello, about his kids on the way to town, or sending my friend, Phepheng, home with homemade fudge for her grandmother, 'Me Mapuleng, makes my life here richer. It makes me feel connected, settled, and safe. Content in a way that I didn't have last year as a new PCV. Every day isn't exciting and new, but I belong here now. My presence is expected in village, and missed if I'm away.

It's normal, mundane, and predictable... But it's home (for now, at least.) And THAT is what I love most about Lesotho.

With Love from Lesotho... -Mary E.

Spring in Ha Selomo!

Bo-Ntate working together, with rhythmic chanting, to soften a cow hide for leather.

 
I am the luckiest girl ever…
I have the most AMAZING friends and colleagues!
(From L to R): Phepheng, Limpho, Nt. Masiu, Rethabile, Enie, Tseliso, and Mpati


HA! I think Ntate Musi was trying to make them eat MORE meat. :)

Typical outing to Tsehlanyane National Park… Dance, dance, dance!
 
Enie and Rosky :)
 

We are Basotho… We LOVE to dance!

Pepsi is too cute… She found a bunch of Primary School girls and started a dance party! Ha!

Baba milking the new mama cow! Fresh milk! Yum!
 

Pina and baby <3

The peach trees are back in blossom!

Linokong High School’s Class of 2013!
I’m going to miss them so much!

Zoe and I do love ourselves a good hike and a gorgeous view!

With Love from Lesotho… Mary E.