Friday 30 October 2020

The importance of understanding and addressing Needs in Community Development

 


When I learned about these different types of needs, I understood to a certain extent the resistance my father faced in his community development endeavors.

As much as I understand it, I am still puzzled as to why killing my dad and my brothers was the only cause of action for my community. I thank God for the protection He gave us. God knows I struggle to forgive as it is, I would've become a murderous maniac, had they succeeded to kill my family back then.
As much as we had fun with our youth groups doing beauty contests, ballroom dancing, sarafina, drummies,... At the back of our minds we were fully aware of the dangers and who were the instigators behind the scenes and their true motives, which haven't changed by the way.
I am not so naive to believe that the people who wanted us dead in 1995 suddenly inquire about my little brother's comings and goings for the fun of it. And if someone who hardly ever speaks to him, suddenly wants to know when he will be coming home, to the point of asking 2 different people, it looks suspicious. A red flag has been raised for me! 🚩
I digress.

In community development, you are only as successful as the happiness level of your targeted beneficiaries. Unfortunately the number of schools, preschools, clinics, etc. you build is immaterial if the intended beneficiary doesn't want them.
That's why you find the community members vandalizing buildings, roadside trees and water taps. They feel no need for these and therefore they see no value in them, which makes destroying them easy.
"Nothing about us without us" is a concept that should help community development professionals and communities to work well together, but does it really work?

My Favorite Professors


 These were my favorite professors at UNP. The then Dr Dean Goldring now Prof always used to come to lectures with jokes on sticky notes and I'd start laughing the moment he would reach for his sticky notes πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚

Prof Theresa Coetzee was very serious and strict, she looked super cute pregnant and the fact that she was married to this goofball (Dr Goldring) made her my people. She made you feel welcome to come talk to her in her office.
Other lecturers (who shall remain nameless) couldn't stand black students. The Biochemistry department was so friendly and welcoming. Prof Dennison was a jovial character as well.
These people made the walk from 69 Pine Street (Pmb) every day on an empty stomach worth it. Leaving the house at 6am & walking back home in the evenings meant that I was exposed to many dangerous situations but by the grace of God I made it through! Temptations to end it all were there but I didn't.

I lost a bunch of weight and when my sister M-Jay had insisted that I move to Scottsville, she blessed me with some new clothes and shoes, and I looked decent again.
I knew I had a solid friendship with Luh, when I was at my lowest but she stuck by me and helped me through it.
Low points will show you who's a real friend and who's a frenemy.

This was supposed to be an appreciation post for the hubby and wifey team of Biochemistry. Dr G always used to say: "it's not my turn to watch her" whenever I would go ask him where his wife was.
Wishing blessings in abundance to themπŸ™Œ

Finding yourself or getting back to yourself


 It's not that I have forgotten, but I am no longer 
that person and I desperately want to go back to being her but it wasn't ideal.

Without the hard exterior, abantu bajwayelana kabi (people take advantage).
The other day my brother was narrating a story and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that one of the people who used to make my life hell died years back. Had I been a tough cookie back then, he wouldn't have dared to mess with me. Glad he's dead.

Back to my point, I want to be a pure & kind hearted, soft spoken person again but being timid, naive and trusting is gone. Perhaps I am the person I need to be. Perhaps the trials and tribulations were necessary to get me to this point.
Trying to find a silver lining in every situation is what I need to focus on.
I am committing to the examen prayer before bed every night. Why did I stop doing it vele?
#prayerworks #healing #restoration #gettingbacktoself

Gender Based Violence

 What it boils down to for me is that people will lie to women to get consent, just so they can say they didn't rape them. If you knowingly profess love (but you don't mean it) and proceed to use a woman sexually, you are no different to a rapist. Consent based on lies and deceit is no consent at all.

We have fathers abandoning their children because they never wanted them to begin with and they feel no guilt about neglecting their flesh and blood because our society has normalized men using and abusing women.
It's even worse when this is done to young, innocent and naive girls who have no clue what to do in relationships.
The way 'Christians' shy away from teaching and mentoring young people about courtship and relationships results in all these unhealthy situationships and children are judged for mistakes that could have been avoided.
I don't need anyone to agree with me on this, my conviction is sufficient and if the shoe fits ladies and gentlemen, go ahead and wear it!
NamasteπŸ™
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#StopGBV #stophumantrafficking #stoprape #stopkillingwomen #coercionisnotconsent #coercionisrape