2010 Namibia Yearbook

Lucky you.In your hands now, rests a special edition copy of the WorldTeach Namibia Yearbook. Congratulations!Like all great pieces of art, there is an equally worthy back-story to the creation, development, and publication of thisyearbook. Lives were never in danger, secret double-agents were not involved, nor was there a legal battle to decideownership. The story is simple. The story is uncomplicated. The story is Namibian.The year was 2010, nearing the conclusion of the Aughts, and an assembly was called in the town of Tsumeb, Namibia. Abold, idealistic, and inventive woman who partners herself with the Ministry of Education was the force behind the meet-ing. Her name: Jocie Jungers. Her decree: an Assembly of Minds. Only the best and brightest need appear. Withoutcoincidence, a troop of a near twenty WorldTeach volunteers began to converge in Tsumeb. The best and brightest hadheeded the call.After warm embraces and firm handshakes, story swapping, and the general merriment and excitement in being with thecompany at hand, the meeting was ready to commence. The group gathered in Tsumeb had gradually built an intimaterelationship over the course of a year. The strengths of each individual were many, the weaknesses few. Like an intri-cately designed pocket watch, the collective parts of the WorldTeach volunteers were meant to work together.

Once gathered and seated in the sacred hall of Martin‘s Backpackers, the Assembly of Minds was underway.

Namibianprocedures were followed. An opening song, prayer, and singing of the National Anthem initiated the meeting. This wasfollowed by a reading of the agenda and opening the floor for apologies and additional topics for consideration. With thatfinished, the agenda was closed and nothing further could be discussed besides the agreed upon topics.On this memorable day, Ms. Jungers was having only a few words to say.

―Hello, WorldTeachers.

I am having only a few

words to say,‖ she began.

―Today is the day we are having a meeting.

I would like to thank everyone for coming and I

am hoping everyone finds the weather condition to be fine.‖

With her opening remarks completed, Jocie moved on to theheart of the matter.

―This year I would like to form a yearbook for incoming volunteers to read in order to understand

more about the country and their potential experience before embarking to Namibia. Would anyone like to second that

motion?‖

It was seconded.

―Now, are there any volunteers to form the Yearbook Committee?‖

Abruptly, those gathered turned their attention to an eagerly finger-snapping young lady in the back of the room. Confus-ing her enthusiasm to speak with a need for a committee member, Jocie hastily thanked her for volunteering.

―Wait,‖

she piped up.

―We can‘t just have a committee to create the yearbook.

We need to have a committee to decide the

Yearbook Committee.‖

The room silently nodded in agreement. Committees are indeed vital for all decision makingprocesses. Quickly a motion was proposed and seconded to form a Committee to Decide the Yearbook Committee. Quietsatisfaction fell over the hall, a near catastrophe had been averted. And the rest, they say, is history.The story was simple. The story was uncomplicated. The story was Namibian. The story was also entirely fictional. In aweak attempt to portray the value committees hold in the Namibian workforce as humorous, a similar committee formingscenario very well could take place at your school one day. There will be a committee for anything and everything. So

don‘t be surprised when you find yourself volunteering for the Classroom Chair Counting Committee, the Tree Trimming

Committee, or even the Ideas Committee. Me, I have personally been a member of two of the mentioned commit-tees. And

that

is not fictional.

The Birth of the Yearbook

By Kyle O‟Neill