ANSA International Program Blog

It is hard to believe, but I am finally packing my bags and business cards and heading out on the first official trip of the ANSA International Program.  I will be in Cape Town, South Africa for just over three weeks and Windhoek, Namibia for five days.  I am incredibly excited and admittedly a little nervous - as they say, we only get one chance to make a good first impression.

The preparations for this trip have been extensive and at times quite complicated (read: frustrating).  ANSA can now offer technical assistance on maneuvering through the tedious wonderland of international cell phone service and travel insurance.  After countless irritating conversations with phone services representatives, it was an odd relief to hear the plethora of scary accident and kidnapping scenarios recapped by chipper insurance brokers. 

The preparations for the international site visits have been exciting and so very different than how I would have prepared for a visit to somewhere in the states.  In establishing criteria for our potential partner sites, there are many factors that affect the design and success of a program overseas that we don't usually have to think about in developed countries.  For example, 66% percent of Namibians and 34% of South Africans have no electricity.  Literacy rates, child-led households, how safely women and children can be cared for, technological capabilities, potable water (and simply access to water), storage capacity...all factors affecting how and where we will work.  Some of these challenges actually make good opportunities for us, as certain obstacles create the perfect opportunity to link with a business or organization who can help us, thereby increasing the partnership network and increasing potential for sustainability. 

I am looking forward to talking for the first time about our program to people who are doing HIV/AIDS work in Southern Africa.  Between the profound poverty that creates an equally profound need for food and the anti-drug messages touting the right food as a cure for AIDS, "nutrition" is a hot and often very charged topic.  I have a tough challenge in messaging our intentions and capabilities just right.  In addition, I am eager to learn what other local and international organizations are doing and assessing where our programs can be integrated with other services.  It will be a fascinating puzzle to put together.

This morning I received word that another ANSA agency has signed on to become a Global Member Agency, bringing our total number of participating agencies to eight.  This is tremendous news on the day of my departure!!  It is hard to believe, but we are now nearly at estimated capacity for the number of agencies we can bring on board in our first year.  Unbelievable!

As I have gotten all the pieces together for this first trip, I have taken copious notes in order to put together a meaningful information packet for GMA representatives who will be traveling to the international sites.  They will hopefully be set with all the information they need on things like currency, weather, prophylactic medications, flights, local culture, and of course cell phones and insurance and much more.  My goal is to make this as easy as possible for all the people who will help ANSA be a success.

I am off to take my puppy to doggie daycare now.  My out of office messages are on, my laptop and cell phones are fully charged, and the taxi is due at 6:15.  I can't wait to see how the next few weeks unfold!!  Peace to all...Mary