I am finishing my assignment in Huambo and will be home on February 1st.
This assignment is a continuation of an assignment which began in December so I will comment on the entire 5+ weeks. CNFA’s (Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs) Farmer to Farmer program has a strategic alliance with CODESPA, a Spanish NGO with an emphasis also on agriculture as well as micro finance to underserved segments of an economy. CODESPA requested a volunteer with a banking and financial analysis background so I was asked to be the first CNFA volunteer to work with them.
What a delight! Gavin Braschi, Irish/Italian, is the Country Director and Alberto Santos, from the Basque region of Spain, is the Program Manager. CODESPA is working with ADRA, a 20+ year Angolan NGO in a variety of programs in Huambo region.
What has transpired: created the financial analysis for a Cooperative seed potato storage building as well as a household-level maize (corn) storage bin; worked with the ADRA microfinance officer; consulted with a Cooperative-level communal bank; trained over 40 ADRA and cooperative Board members in financial management. A variety of interesting activities!
My December trip to Huambo was the LAST time that I stayed at Hotel Nova Estrela which was my home here for the past 2 years. It has gone downhill quickly with hot water only 1 out of 3 days; lack of electricity as the owners would not run the generator; and the final straw was the maid using my personal wash cloth (from home) to clean the shower floor. Fortunately, Gavin and Alberto had used another hotel close by – Sistec. It is wonderful with hot water, electricity, a breakfast, and access to a fitness center. I have walked on the treadmill every morning for 20 minutes (note to Bob of BB&J)
So all is well in my Angolan world. The country continues to change. Traffic is still a nightmare in Luanda (the capital) but the people are still eager to learn and adapt so the future of their children is better.
