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| These beautiful youngsters in Namibia are orphans of parents who died from AIDs. |
Nine
years ago, while I worked in Namibia in southern Africa, I met a middle-aged
guy from Iowa named Rob Myres. He was a computer whiz who had chucked the good
life in California and had decided to take a right turn in his life to do some
good for some of the indescribably poor children in Swakopmund, a lovely town
on the western edge of Namibia. Swakopmund was a very German town, with many of
the streets being named with Teutonic precision like Kaiser Wilhelmstrasse. It
used to be a nasty little gathering point for the defeated and escaping Nazis
of the Third Reich as they came down the African coast and waited for their
ship to take them across the South Atlantic to Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
I
remember stumbling into an antique store in Swakopmund and it was filled with
Nazi memorabilia - Mausers, swastikas, German iron crosses. I even was told
there was a time in the not-too-distant past that the white folks would gather
on the anniversary of Hitler’s birthday. They would hoist the swastika on the
flagpole while they sang the Reich’s national anthem. Ah, those were the days
mein freund!
But I
digress. I met Rob Myres for dinner one night and we chatted about his dream.
He was buying metal containers from ships and would convert them into
classrooms and office space. His dream was to encourage fourth graders to come
to his Mondesa Youth Organisation where he would teach them fun things like
tennis and would encourage them to read, read and then read some more.
I admired
his single-minded dream, though I thought it would crash on the rocks because
it is unbelievably hard to fight the bureaucracy in a developing country. The
new keepers of the power don’t want a white man coming in to mess with their
kids. So I thought Rob would probably throw in the towel after a few more
months.
He asked
me to edit a book he had written about his adventures and I remember being
pretty critical about his story-telling efforts. And then we parted and I lost
touch with him.
Imagine
my delight this week when I received a note from his, along with this video
link:
“In December 2003, I opened a bank account at
Standard Bank, Swakopmund Branch, in the name of Mondesa Youth Opportunities.
The following month Alta implemented our first programming with 15 grade 4
students. The next year we grew to 25 students and implemented academic
enrichment programming.
“And so began the evolution of MYO into what we believe is now the premier youth development program in Namibia. As these things go, it has been more complicated and difficult than I originally envisioned, but it has also been extremely humbling and satisfying. I feel blessed when I get the chance to visit the talented and energetic staff and students of MYO. MYO today serves 110 students in grades 4 - 8.
“Each year, a growing number of MYO graduates are accepted into one of the very best high schools in the country. This is just one of the many examples of our success. Next year Vera intends to implement a pre-school program that will broaden our reach and better prepare our grade 4 students for the rigors of our academic program.
“My original vision of MYO was to design and implement a model of education-based youth development programs that incorporated Education Enrichment, Sport, Life-Skills & Extracurricular Activities. The overall objective was to elevate academic capability in a community marginalized by poverty to a level relatively proportional to what a child might receive in a more privileged environment. Life Skills are necessary to help children address the multitude of obstacles they encounter in a community of systemic poverty--obstacles which are barriers to the education process (as well as barriers to happiness and peace). Sport and Extracurricular activities provide motivation for attendance and participation and facilitate development of the Whole Healthy Child.
“After 10 years of MYO, here is what I know to be true.
“And so began the evolution of MYO into what we believe is now the premier youth development program in Namibia. As these things go, it has been more complicated and difficult than I originally envisioned, but it has also been extremely humbling and satisfying. I feel blessed when I get the chance to visit the talented and energetic staff and students of MYO. MYO today serves 110 students in grades 4 - 8.
“Each year, a growing number of MYO graduates are accepted into one of the very best high schools in the country. This is just one of the many examples of our success. Next year Vera intends to implement a pre-school program that will broaden our reach and better prepare our grade 4 students for the rigors of our academic program.
“My original vision of MYO was to design and implement a model of education-based youth development programs that incorporated Education Enrichment, Sport, Life-Skills & Extracurricular Activities. The overall objective was to elevate academic capability in a community marginalized by poverty to a level relatively proportional to what a child might receive in a more privileged environment. Life Skills are necessary to help children address the multitude of obstacles they encounter in a community of systemic poverty--obstacles which are barriers to the education process (as well as barriers to happiness and peace). Sport and Extracurricular activities provide motivation for attendance and participation and facilitate development of the Whole Healthy Child.
“After 10 years of MYO, here is what I know to be true.
·
Without Vera Leech, MYO would have ceased to exist some years ago. Her stubborn refusal to fail and relentless pursuit of perfection is the primary reason MYO has reached the level of success that we have
Without Vera Leech, MYO would have ceased to exist some years ago. Her stubborn refusal to fail and relentless pursuit of perfection is the primary reason MYO has reached the level of success that we have
·
Our fundamental approach of education enrichment with supporting extracurricular activities is a powerful change agent; when programming is implemented properly using this model, positive change is inevitable
Our fundamental approach of education enrichment with supporting extracurricular activities is a powerful change agent; when programming is implemented properly using this model, positive change is inevitable
·
There are no shortcuts in this work. It is challenging, complicated work that must be done every single day.
Consistency and continuity are critical factors
There are no shortcuts in this work. It is challenging, complicated work that must be done every single day.
Consistency and continuity are critical factors
·
“Our successes are astounding. Ester recently
returned from South Africa where she showcased her award winning science fair
project. Frieda is class leader at one of the best high schools in the country.
Paulina, a former top 10 Namibian tennis player remains one of the top students
in her class--in spite of a brave and difficult battle with cancer. There are
of course many more examples of results of positive intervention--much better
known and told by MYO staff.
“Overall, MYO remains extremely healthy and for this we are grateful. To all of you who have supported our efforts--please know you are loved and appreciated. To anyone who would like to join us--please contact me anytime and I would be happy to discuss how you can support MYO.
“I would ask that you please forward this note to anyone who may be interested in our work. Or better yet, forward it to everyone. The videos are a good reminder of why we are here.
“PEACE – Rob"
“Overall, MYO remains extremely healthy and for this we are grateful. To all of you who have supported our efforts--please know you are loved and appreciated. To anyone who would like to join us--please contact me anytime and I would be happy to discuss how you can support MYO.
“I would ask that you please forward this note to anyone who may be interested in our work. Or better yet, forward it to everyone. The videos are a good reminder of why we are here.
“PEACE – Rob"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZANHOk88yM
I think you’ll be inspired and encouraged that all is not hopeless in our world.
I think you’ll be inspired and encouraged that all is not hopeless in our world.
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