I am packing for my trip home to the US. I leave today for Beira Mozambique, overnight and then Beira to JoBurg South Africa, Delta from there to Atlanta and San Diego. A long trip,
I walked to the Cathedral on Sunday. As I may have mentioned on the 1st the Cathedral was closed as the priest was out in the countryside. When I arrived on the 8th the Cathedral was overflowing – hundreds of people sitting and standing. There were dozens of priest – some white and some black – in the most beautiful garments. All were white with African embroidery. Obviously a very special Sunday. I walked to the open Sunday market; met with Abdul – my translator of this trip- and then enjoyed the multitude of people and things. I bought fabric ($2US for ~3’ X 8’), some wood objects (mainly black and brown ebony), and a hat for John Rosales of Las Vegas.
Dinner was Lebanese with Bob the US Aid pilot from Beira. He had flown in to pick up some US Aid staff for 3 or 4 days of visiting projects. Monday another volunteer arrived – Bob Rice from PA. He is a soy bean expert. We walked the city, had Chinese lunch and local dinner. He will be here for another week.
A country of wonderful people, unlimited potential, limited resources. I am grateful for this opportunity. This trip I trained more than 165 adults and dozens of children!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Are cashews nut or fruit?
I have finished my training assignment for ADAP and will prepare the report for that organization and CNFA.
Thursday’s village was only 80 km from Nampula. We were met by 40+ adults (and many children) in a very prosperous village. Again, I taught under a large tree. Friday was somewhat different – a smaller group – 24+ - mostly women in a village known for its pottery. In this case, I also focused on production as well as farming. The first question from the female head of the Association was, “How do we prevent having so many babies?” At the end, the women sang and danced in the traditional way. My translator Abdul said they created the song about me! My host purchased a small pottery bowl for me – it is very simple and basic; fired in the style of raku so etched and its cost ~30¢.
Some interesting experiences:
Cashew nuts grow as part of a fruit which looks like a small apple. The fruit is made into juice – and can be fermented into alcohol. I was given a bottle by the women. However, it “exploded” in my hotel room due to excessive “gas”!
Thursday’s village was only 80 km from Nampula. We were met by 40+ adults (and many children) in a very prosperous village. Again, I taught under a large tree. Friday was somewhat different – a smaller group – 24+ - mostly women in a village known for its pottery. In this case, I also focused on production as well as farming. The first question from the female head of the Association was, “How do we prevent having so many babies?” At the end, the women sang and danced in the traditional way. My translator Abdul said they created the song about me! My host purchased a small pottery bowl for me – it is very simple and basic; fired in the style of raku so etched and its cost ~30¢.
Some interesting experiences:
Cashew nuts grow as part of a fruit which looks like a small apple. The fruit is made into juice – and can be fermented into alcohol. I was given a bottle by the women. However, it “exploded” in my hotel room due to excessive “gas”!
There is a central market building where farmers daily bring produce from the countryside. It is a cornucopia of sights, sounds, and smells. In addition, there is the Sunday market which has everything! Shirts, shoes, fabric, baskets, pottery, wood, and ivory. As I mentioned on my last trip, this is very common in Mozambique markets.
BMI Bank has the contract with the Mozambique government for all salary direct deposits. The lines for the bank offices and ATMs are always more than 25 people long. On Fridays, the lines triple. BMI is open on Saturdays but the other banks are not. Bankers’ hours are 9-12; lunch break; 2-4.
Today is Saturday. I am looking for a TV with US channels for football!
Reflection: In Eastern Europe, I looked like the natives but could not communicate without a translator. In Ghana, I did not look like a native Ghanaian but could speak with everyone in English. In Mozambique, I do not look like a native and can not communicate. It is an isolating experience.
BMI Bank has the contract with the Mozambique government for all salary direct deposits. The lines for the bank offices and ATMs are always more than 25 people long. On Fridays, the lines triple. BMI is open on Saturdays but the other banks are not. Bankers’ hours are 9-12; lunch break; 2-4.
Today is Saturday. I am looking for a TV with US channels for football!
Reflection: In Eastern Europe, I looked like the natives but could not communicate without a translator. In Ghana, I did not look like a native Ghanaian but could speak with everyone in English. In Mozambique, I do not look like a native and can not communicate. It is an isolating experience.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A hot shower is a blessing!
I am back in Nampula City after 2 days in the eastern coastal region near Nacala. We left very early on Monday morning to drive 3 hours. Most the drive was on a paved road but the last hour was typical dirt road in the country. Again, I am struck by the very simple lifestyle of the villages – no electricity, no running water, and lots of friendly waves as we pass by.
The Monday training was in Mossuril District. Under a tree, there were more than 60 adults and several dozen children. Their school teacher had told them to come to the “American” class. My translator, Abdul’s family is from this region and some of the farmers knew his late father (a king) and his aunt who still lives nearby. Many of these villages are illiterate and Abdul translated into Macua, the local tribal dialect.
How do I explain developing a Business Plan and creating Financial Statements in this environment? I explain that the village will begin learning a new language which is hard. I try to say a few words in Macua and everyone laughs as I tell them it is very hard for me to learn their words. I have created 10 flip charts in English which Abdul has translated below each line. I start with the 6 elements of the Business Plan: Summary (written last); Description of Association/Village – #families, #hectares, equipment, animals, buildings; Description of products sold for cash; Description of customers; Strategy for the future; Financial Statements. I then introduce SWOT Analysis and the Ansoff Matrix. With examples, these concepts are understandable to the farmers. Financial Statements follow: Balance Sheet, Income Statement (P&L), and Operating Cycle with Cash Flow. I diagram the relationship of Supplier, Farmer and Customer with the flows of cash. The last flip chart is the Bank Loan Request. In Mozambique, farmers are just learning that a bank loan is not a gift and must be repaid. So the flip describes amount, purpose, and terms. I diagram several different repayments schedules.
We spent the night in a very very basic home in Chocas. The house had minimal electricity, no running water (so no shower) and a toilet that had to be filled to flush. Sounds just like Nametil. However – the house was facing the Indian Ocean so the horizon was excellent. The sand is very fine and white with very few shells. Dinner was nearby and excellent – grilled fresh calamari, boiled cabbage, carrots and potatoes. Abdul and I ate with Ernesto (ADAP Executive Director) and Almeida Zacarias, a Mozambiquan program director with funding by Denmark and Ireland. This program has provided oxen to several villages – pulling the plows and increasing the amount of hectares that can be cultivated. In the morning, the local guard at the house boiled some of my water – so coffee!! As always, I carry energy bars for most meals.
On Tuesday morning we arrived at the second training site, also in Mossuril District. 40+ adults and again, many children. This was a much more prosperous village which had received donor items – plow, oxen, grinding machine. Back to Nampula City in the afternoon – and a HOT shower!!
I will be meeting with the General Manager of the local Banco Terra branch to talk about bank loans. Most of the loans are “guaranteed” by donor programs.
Thursday and Friday will be back in the bush again. I am especially excited about Friday as the village makes pottery and most of the participants will be women.
The Monday training was in Mossuril District. Under a tree, there were more than 60 adults and several dozen children. Their school teacher had told them to come to the “American” class. My translator, Abdul’s family is from this region and some of the farmers knew his late father (a king) and his aunt who still lives nearby. Many of these villages are illiterate and Abdul translated into Macua, the local tribal dialect.
How do I explain developing a Business Plan and creating Financial Statements in this environment? I explain that the village will begin learning a new language which is hard. I try to say a few words in Macua and everyone laughs as I tell them it is very hard for me to learn their words. I have created 10 flip charts in English which Abdul has translated below each line. I start with the 6 elements of the Business Plan: Summary (written last); Description of Association/Village – #families, #hectares, equipment, animals, buildings; Description of products sold for cash; Description of customers; Strategy for the future; Financial Statements. I then introduce SWOT Analysis and the Ansoff Matrix. With examples, these concepts are understandable to the farmers. Financial Statements follow: Balance Sheet, Income Statement (P&L), and Operating Cycle with Cash Flow. I diagram the relationship of Supplier, Farmer and Customer with the flows of cash. The last flip chart is the Bank Loan Request. In Mozambique, farmers are just learning that a bank loan is not a gift and must be repaid. So the flip describes amount, purpose, and terms. I diagram several different repayments schedules.
We spent the night in a very very basic home in Chocas. The house had minimal electricity, no running water (so no shower) and a toilet that had to be filled to flush. Sounds just like Nametil. However – the house was facing the Indian Ocean so the horizon was excellent. The sand is very fine and white with very few shells. Dinner was nearby and excellent – grilled fresh calamari, boiled cabbage, carrots and potatoes. Abdul and I ate with Ernesto (ADAP Executive Director) and Almeida Zacarias, a Mozambiquan program director with funding by Denmark and Ireland. This program has provided oxen to several villages – pulling the plows and increasing the amount of hectares that can be cultivated. In the morning, the local guard at the house boiled some of my water – so coffee!! As always, I carry energy bars for most meals.
On Tuesday morning we arrived at the second training site, also in Mossuril District. 40+ adults and again, many children. This was a much more prosperous village which had received donor items – plow, oxen, grinding machine. Back to Nampula City in the afternoon – and a HOT shower!!
I will be meeting with the General Manager of the local Banco Terra branch to talk about bank loans. Most of the loans are “guaranteed” by donor programs.
Thursday and Friday will be back in the bush again. I am especially excited about Friday as the village makes pottery and most of the participants will be women.
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