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.

Happy Halloween!

There is no Halloween or change of time in Mozambique!

It is much hotter this trip as the rainy season is beginning. I have not experienced any storms – just humidity. Yesterday was an information gathering day in Mossuril and Meconta Districts. These are west of Nampula City towards the Indian Ocean – 2 ½ hours. The roads are better in this area as many people travel to the Isle Mozambique and seaside homes on the weekend.

The villages where I will be training have similarities to Nametil from my last trip. Small farmers with limited resources and minimal cash crops. In this area, peanuts are again important as well as maize and cashew nuts. Along the road are boys will bowls of cashews for sale; the nuts have been “fried” without oil and are not seasoned. At the first training site, 40+ people greeted us to talk about the content of the training. There are the same issues: how do we talk to bankers? What do they need? How do we make more money and use it? At the second training site, one older lady asked how she can keep her animals from running away. The third site is much closer to Nampula, only 1 hour.

I anticipate a larger percentage of women will be attending the classes in the first two sites as men are the primary fisherman. An additional emphasis of this project is women entrepreneurs. I am hopeful that fourth training site will be in a village known for its baskets.

An interesting analogy to my time in Ghana. When I was in the villages of Ghana I was told of a “banking” activity called “susu”. This was run by the villages. Each week everyone in the Susu group contributes money; the Susu manager holds the money and makes “loans” to one person in the group every month or quarter, depending on the Susu rules. In Mozambique, I am told there is a similar process – called “STIK”. (pronounced sticky). One villager has the key, one keeps the lock box, and one has the records. I will explore this when I am training.

A difference in my Mozambique experience from my year in Ghana is the reaction of young children in the villages. In Ghana, the very young were afraid. In Mozambique, they laugh at me and want to play! It may be a factor of time as my Ghana experience was over 10 years ago.

I have brought English books and pens for the young man in Nametil who was taught English by a Peace Corps volunteer when he was a child. I am hopeful that I will see him or at least get the items to him.

My Mozambique friend, Phil Gray is in Oregon. I will have to eat Chinese food alone.

Election Day

October 28th is National Elections in Mozambique. Voting here is a process that may take hours, waiting in line. Most of the businesses are closed; Sergio, CNFA Country Manager and I went to the CNFA office but the landlord has bolted the business so we are all working at home (or hotel for me).

I will leave tomorrow for Nampula and the north east. I will be working for a new host in several new areas but on the same subject area - helping farmers' associations understand business planning and financial analysis. It is important that farmers are more effective and efficient in production AND that they are better in business also!

Thought for the day: Freedom which is obtained by a people is valued and appreciated. Freedom which is given to people may be taken for granted.

Mozambique Again.

I am leaving early on Sunday the 25th with the same routing - San Diego to Atlanta to JoBurg South Africa and then Beira Mozambique. I will be traveling again to the north east part of the country with assignments in Chocas Mar (close to Mozambique Island) and Namialo (between Nampula and Mozambique Island). I do not know what kind of farmers are in these areas. More news en route.

I am taking books with me for a young man in Nametil who was taught English by a Peace Corps volunteer 10 years before. I was very fortunate to be visiting Shawn Jones and Mark Askew when their local library held a "sale" so I purchased several books for $5 total! I am also taking school supplies for an elementary school in Nampula.

I am thrilled to be returning. Mozambique is filled with wonderful people.

Back to Mozambique but October 25th!

A one week delay in plans. The national elections in Mozambique conflicted with the earlier date. More news as the date approaches!

Back to Mozambique!

I am thrilled to be going back to Mozambique on October 18th. Will return home early in November. More later!!

Still in San Diego

The Angola trip is postponed. My passport is still at the Embassy. Hoping to be gone soon.