I work with the Regional Coordinator of one of Swaziland’s Four Regions: Hhohho. The organization I'm working with is working with the UNDP on a project to organize Support Groups into coordinated networks. This is what I’ve been working on.
My work has mostly been in the head office so far. I have visited rural communities, to have exposure to the Support Groups on the ground- but these meetings/events are held in SiSwati (the local language) so its not as productive for the organization to have me there. The actual work has been fairly unexciting. I have helped with writing up progress reports, drafting activity plans, inputting and organizing electronic data. The skill sets of my coworkers vary, but often I am simply helping show them how to structure a formal report, or use certain features on excel, or attach a document to email. At times, there is not a whole lot to do; I usually spend this time brainstorming and writing out what kind of feedback I can give to my coworkers at the end of my placement.
It may sound mundane -its definitely not the picture most people have of what volunteering in Africa looks like. I work in an office, similar to an office you might find in Vancouver.
All said and done, and with the bigger picture in mind, my first month has been full of amazing and reality-grounded learning experiences. Working here has exposed me to many of the aspects of and challenges facing the development community in Swaziland. In addition to the work I’ve been doing in the office, I have had the chance to attend a national forum on Alternative Care for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children, a meeting on HIV-Aids, Gender Equality, and Human Rights, and a week long course on Mainstreaming HIV/Aids.
The real world of development is not about food handouts or building community centres. Its about finding a way, with all the roadblocks and challenges, to empower people to lead healthy and happy lives.
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