Here for you my last blog from Botswana. My placement at DITSHWANELO is ending Friday April 9, 2010, which is exactly in two weeks.

The last event in which I am currently involved with is DITSHWANELO’s 10th annual Human Rights Film Festival. It is part of DITSHWANELO’s awareness-raising and education activities about human rights, and it is one of the Organization’s biggest yearly events.

The Festival is held from 18 to 31 March 2010, at the A.V. Centre of Maru-a-Pula School. Are presented a total of 15 documentaries all related to human rights issues, and followed by focus discussions with the audience. As a volunteer, I contributed to the logistics for the venue, the ticket selling, and I still provide technical assistance during the projections. Therefore, I have the chance to see every movie.

The film selection is absolutely amazing and DITSHWANELO’s Director Alice Mogwe usually does it. The themes covered by the films this year are: Climate Change, Zimbabwe, Children and Youth in South Africa, Land Rights of Indigenous People in Kenya, Poverty and Development in Kenya, Life Experiences of the Palestinian People, The International Criminal Court (ICC), The Criminal Justice in the United-States and the Story of the Political Activist and Former Black Panther member Mumia Abu-Jamal, Female Genital Cutting in Mali, Rape as a Weapon of War in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gay and Lesbian Rights and the Church during Apartheid.

Special speakers are invited to conduct the discussions after the films. Were invited: the Attorney General Dr. Molokomme, a representative from the General Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ), and a representative of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LeGaBiBo) and South African Director, Mark Kaplan. Also, Minister P.H.K Kedikilwe, Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources officially opened the Festival.

For me, as a Masters student in International Development, this event represents a great opportunity to increase my awareness about important human rights issues taking place both in African countries and worldwide. Genuinely speaking, participating to this Festival makes me feel like a teenager again because it revives the fire of activism in me. I guess it sounds “cheesy” but it is sincere. How can you not feel concerned about people suffering next to your door?

Here are some of my thoughts triggered by the Festival. First, I realized how lucky some of us are, to live in safe and wealthy countries where basic human rights are respected and usually taken for granted. The right to work, the right to shelter, the right to food and to clean water, the right to education, the right to self-expression, the right to vote, the right to culture… the list goes on and on.

Second, some of the movies have pushed my reflection deeper regarding the real nature and role of the State. In Western countries, people debate on the relevance and the efficiency of the Governments in place, and tend to loudly criticise laws, policies, and institutional reforms, which I consider essential in the exercise of democracy. In the academia, when pushing the reflection further, some of us even challenge the necessity of States because of important problems related to corruption and power abuses. For instance, I did. But, when watching some of the films, I could hardly believe how much a society can become chaotic when there is a lack of institutional structure, legal authority, and social support. Thus, I figured that even if many institutions remain imperfect in peaceful countries such as Canada, we still have the luxury to improve them, and they still establish important rules of conducts and behaviours which create a significant level of order.

Finally, watching quality documentaries on current international events made me realize how media easily fall into extreme sensationalism and transforms realities. Mainstream media may be important to get daily news but they should not be one’s only source of information. Thus, this week I challenge you to grab any piece of independent/sideline/underground newspaper or magazine for the pleasure of getting a new perspective on political issues.

Thanks to all of you for your comments and interest in this adventure. It has been a great learning experience and I hope my writings brought relevant perspectives both on Botswana and international development work.

All the best!!

Gosiame.

Here for you a second round of fresh updates from Gaborone, Botswana. But, before going any further, let me thank you all for your supportive comments and your interest in this adventure. I appreciate that you are taking the time to write and really enjoy reading your lines.

I have now been living in Gaborone for almost 2 months, and my internship at DITSHWANELO – The Botswana Centre for Human Rights continues to be a significant experience. Lately, I have spent my time both in the office and out in the field with children. Let me present to you one of the projects to which I am currently participating, and which addresses the hardships of the children from Zimbabwe.

Before gaining its independence, Zimbabwe formed the ancient Rhodesia. Geographically, it is sharing a segment of its Southern border with Botswana. Zimbabwe has been under the presidency of Mugabe’s government since the 80s, which is currently accused of violating the Zimbabwean population’s human rights. Since 2000, DITSHWANELO has actively promoted the defence of human rights in Zimbabwe. For instance, the Organization has offered debriefing seminars addressed to the Zimbabwean Diaspora and to the people of Botswana. DITSHWANELO also works at influencing Botswana’s government views and actions towards the political situation of its neighbour. Currently, DITSHWANELO assists the Zimbabwean people living in Botswana so that they can participate in the Constitutional Review Process in their country.
In order to escape political instability and persecutions, adults and children of Zimbabwe have taken refuge in bordering countries such as Botswana and South Africa. For instance, many Zimbabwean children ran away to South Africa and found shelter at the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg. DITSHWANELO has produced in partnership a Children’s Rights Exhibition honouring these refugee-children. Indeed, some members of the Organization have travelled to South Africa in order to interview them and record their stories.

The Children’s Rights Exhibition is mostly hosted in schools and aims at educating young people about their rights, and at raising their empathy towards the hardships of Zimbabwean children. During the last few weeks, DITSHWANELO has presented the Exhibition in Secondary Schools located in and around Gaborone. The students were invited to first visit the Exhibition during which they could listen to the interviews recorded on mp3 players, and could write their thoughts and hopes in little note books which will be later given back to the interviewees. Photographs of Amnesty International taken in Zimbabwe were also presented. Then students were invited to participate to group discussions in order to talk about their rights and to share emotions, concerns, and views about the situation of the children in Zimbabwe. Finally, a Theatre Workshop was also offered for students to experience the suffering of the Zimbabwean refugee-children. The whole event was a great success as it was inspiring to assist more privileged kids at raising their awareness and at developing a sincere will to support disadvantaged ones.

In terms of leisure (because it is not all about work), I have also started to travel a bit around the country. A couple of friends and I flew up to Kasane which is a town close to the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Like most of my WUSC colleagues, we went to Chobe Reserve and experienced a short safari: absolutely amazing! You would have once told me that I would see female lions at less than four meters, herds of wild buffalos, hippos and elephants, baby baboons climbing the trees, gigantic flying scarabs, 2 meters long crocodiles, and dozens of bird species all at once, I would have laughed of incredulity. But now, both my mind and laptop are full of incredible images. I do love nature and simply find it magical.

The bad news is that I am still struggling to resize my pictures so I am still not able to share them with you. I guess that if I can not make it before I come back, I will need to invite you all at a big “ Brai “ and organize a slide show. A “Brai “in Setswana is a BBQ. Usually, when you invite people to a Brai you cover all their food, mostly meat, and also welcome all the friends they bring over. It seems costly I agree. But Botswana is an important beef producer so that you can buy good quality red meat for a very reasonable price.

Alright everyone, enough said and congratulations if you have made it till the end! I will give you more fresh news in about a month or so. Until then, all the best!

Gosiame.

With English, Setswana is the official language of Botswana.

It has been near three weeks since I have arrived in Gaborone, the capital city of the country. Locals also calls it « Gabs », which makes it kind of « homey ».

After two days of flight between Ottawa, London, and Johannesbourg, I finally landed in Gabs. It is my first time on the African continent and I need to admit that I am very excited to be here.

Before officially starting our respective placements, we (all the WUSC interns) attended two full days of workshops on cultural costums, history, and on the most important caracteristics of the country. Professors of the Universtity of Botswana made some lectures, and representatives of local organizations and of government departments came to present their respective programmes and activities. Even if very intense, these orientation days were very useful as they providied us with a background on local facts and behaviours.

We also had basic Setswana courses which showed us how crucial greetings are in Botswana. Indeed, they are the starting point for any encounters, conversations, and relationships with the people. I also enjoyed our first rides in Kombis (mnin vans standing for buses) so as our climb up the Kgale Hill at 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning.

Kgale Hill is near the city. For those who live or know the city of Montreal, we could compare it to the « Mont-Royal », with the major difference of having baboons dominating the cliffs instead of squarrels. Local people simply go there to have a good work out.

I have officially started my placement last week at the local NGO named Ditshwanelo, which means « rights » in Setswana. Ditshwanelo is an advocacy organization working for the rights of minorities and marginilized individuals such as children, gays and lesbians, and the San peoples, who may be equally considered as the indigenous peoples in Canada.

I will be working for the Children’s Rights Program, which I am sure will be very interesting! I am currently writing a Project Proposal to be submitted to one of Ditshwanelo’s donors. I have never accomplished this task before so I feel very lucky to already start with something challenging.

I am also happy for already becoming a useful resource for my co-workers. At first, I wondered to which extent I would be able contribute to the organization since three months is a short period of time for making any significant difference. However, it seems that the wheel does not necessiraly need to be reinvented. For instance, giving a hand to a co-worker facing computer issues can make a huge difference. This makes me realize how your contribution as a volunteer may occur in the least expected areas.

Write to you in a couple of weeks.

Gosiame !