I'm back!!!

Hey everyone, sorry for the lack of updates recently, I’ve just been busy getting things wrapped up. Next week is my last week here, and things are getting really busy. As such, Matt and I have canceled all of our work! Haha, just kidding, but no, we did the remaining six field days that we had scheduled. So, unfortunately, we will not be going out into the field with Meisie or Mildred, but instead, we’ll be in the office getting a lot of work done.

Yesterday, for instance, was a really productive day for us. One of Matt’s and my biggest fears is that, this project we’re working on is huge and could make a world of difference for Ikamva Labantu, and after we leave, we’re afraid that it will get forgotten. If we can show Ikamva that knowing how to properly manage their property portfolio can be a great asset to the company, we think they’ll keep working on it. We decided that the best way to do this is to make them see how important this is, by continually getting into management’s ear about it, and requesting new interns to train before we leave. We really hope to get someone in before we go, because that way we can train them, and ensure that not only does the work continue, but also that it continues correctly.

Sorry, mini-tangent/rant. Anyway, yesterday was especially productive in this avenue, as I created a series of documents to leave behind to the replacements as a way to help them hit the ground running. The biggest obstacle that Matt and I faced is that we didn’t actually get really started on our project until it was nearly half over. If our replacements can come in and be prepared after one week (less than a week ideally), then I think that they can finish collecting all of the data on the crèches, and begin the collection process on the foster homes. Once again, everything we are doing now is to prepare for the next set of people, and also to leave behind some recommendations to Ikamva’s management.

Another interesting development in the past week was the introduction to Simon and Michelle, from Sibane, a development-consulting firm that is actually located across the street. They have a program there called GIS (geographical information systems) that utilizes Google Maps, but already has all of the erf (plot) numbers mapped out, as well as all of the zoning laws pertaining to each site. Not only do they already have the erf numbers on them, but their maps are from 2007, while our maps are from 1981 (see the pictures I posted of our archaic mapping system).

Matt and I see great value (and I mean GREAT) in a partnership between Sibane and Ikamva Labantu. I arranged a meeting between Simon and Michelle, and Helen, Ishrene (CEO), and Karan (communications and overall busy body) tomorrow, along with Matt and I, in the hopes of getting this partnership off the ground. If we can convince the Ikamva management that there is great value in this, I think our project stands a much larger chance of survival after we leave next Friday, July 31st. If it does go well, I think Matt and I will feel confident in having left behind not only our own work, but also a great partnership that will benefit both companies.

Today, I spent the day entering in the data we collected into the Microsoft Access database that David Blake made for us. He got it to us this morning, and I spent the rest of the day using it. This is also something we feel will be of great use to Ikamva, but must make sure they understand its importance, and also how to use it. This job never sleeps…

On a happier note, we gave Helen some of the pictures we’ve been taking of the children and the crèches that we saw while in the field. Helen is sending these to a London-based company who will use the pictures to raise money for Ikamva. I’d be lying if I said Matt and I didn’t pick out a few pictures that featured us in them, haha, but we kept it minimal. What really hit me, however, was when we watched a small slideshow at the end. I always look at these pictures after I upload them, but usually just to see what was blurry and what wasn’t.

Today, however, I actually LOOKED at them, and it really hit me with everything that I’ve seen and done here in the short eight weeks that we’ve been here. It was one of those “wow” moments, something that has been happening to me everyday, and I never really let it hit me. I’m so excited to come home next week, but I’m also so happy that I actually went through with it, despite my fears as Brianna can attest to, and came here. It has really been a life-altering experience for me, and I hope maybe that has come through in these blog and picture updates. Well, I’ll leave it at that. Totsien, my friends.