Mosquitos are eating me alive

My trip from San Diego was uneventful – just several stops: Atlanta, Joburg South Africa, and Luanda Angola. It poured the night I was in Luanda so I was “room” bound.

Nancy’s Guest House is an interesting place. It is/was a home in a very residential neighborhood. Several small buildings were added which have the rooms – mine is the Wood Room as it is entirely paneled in pine – even the ceiling! Nancy is out of Angola until Thursday. She also runs an English School. There are adults of all ages learning English through the Direct Method.

On Monday I went to the CLUSA office with Luciano, the CNFA Program Manager from Huambo. My project in Benguela is jointly managed by CLUSA and CNFA. I am the first volunteer. The SOW (Scope of Work) was to consult and train with one Cooperative, Twassuka in the areas of Cooperative management, Finance, Leadership, etc. At the first meeting with CLUSA Luciano and I were told that a second Cooperative, Camehe would also be participating. The consulting and training will take place in the CLUSA offices as the two cooperatives are very small with no buildings of their own. We are expecting ~10 people. The room has “school” chairs with a flip up writing surface.

CLUSA’s office is quite large – a two story building in the center of Benguela. There are at least 7 staff members: Director, 2 Program Managers, Office Administrator, Drivers and others. As the building was a home, there is a kitchen which will be used to provide lunch for the participants.

Tuesday November 2nd

This is a national holiday in Angola – Day of the Dead. It is for remembrance of those departed. I did go to a nearby Catholic church which was empty. The beaches however were full. It is hot and humid now in Angola and the general population took the opportunity to enjoy a fine day swimming and partying with friends. I decided that an old large white woman on the beach was not in order!

Dinner was in a nearby outdoor pub – wonderful bean soup, bread and a Cuca (Angolan beer.)

Wednesday November 3rd

My class is 8 farmers from 2 Cooperatives and 3 CLUSA employees. My SOW is very broad – financial management to organizational structure to decision making to team building. Our first day included Mission Statements, Vision Statements, Organizational Structure and Responsibilities, and Bank Loan Request.

Thursday November 4th

We continued today with Business Plans, SWOT Analysis, Ansoff Matrix, and the beginning of Financial Statement. I stress that a Cooperative must be a business, not just a social organization but I am not sure that I am being understood