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IN
THIS ISSUE
Welcome
Friends and Supporters
A look back at 2007 and a look forward to 2008.
Field
Operations
Field Staff Updates
Say farewell to Alexis, Casey, and Pam and meet the 2008
staff.
MYO Youth Education and Development Facility
We've broken ground -- read all about it!
Funding Campaign
MYO is ready to take off but we need your help!
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Welcome
Friends and Supporters |
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Friends...
 As
remarkable as it seems, we are down to the final few days
of our fourth full year of operation. It seems like only
yesterday that Beverly, Alta and I were planning what
great things we would accomplish. Reflecting back now, I
feel that we have much to be proud of. Some of our kids
have been with us since the very beginning and there is no
question they are benefiting greatly from the additional
time and attention. We have developed a reputation for
quality, comprehensive programming, and as an organization
that is not afraid to tackle the difficult problems of
poverty with the commitment that comes from knowing we can
do something meaningful if we just put our hearts and
minds to the task. We have shown that we are not afraid to
take a chance on those kids who otherwise would have
little hope of a life outside of poverty—and the kids are
responding to our efforts. It seems impossible to describe
the pride and sense of accomplishment that comes when I
meet with our now young adults in grade 7 and 8, or with
their mothers who are so very proud of their
accomplishments in school or on the tennis court.
Thanks
to our incredible 2007 staff, we added a chess program and
significantly expanded our music and life-skills programs
this year, while continuing to deliver excellent English,
Math and Reading classes and tennis lessons to over 100
children. The challenges this year cannot be overstated.
We were operating with only one medium sized classroom and
one small classroom for the entire year. We have only the
single van to transport over 100 kids to the municipal
tennis courts and to their homes, a small kitchen to feed
them, and the ever-present challenge of finding more
books, more school supplies, and enough money to keep the
programs running.
In
early 2008, we will re-organize the MYO Board of Directors
and implement new governance procedures in an effort to
re-invigorate the board to provide the guidance and
oversight we will need to ensure our long-term viability.
In addition, we will be expanding our volunteer
back-office staff to do a much better job of delegating
responsibilities and distributing the work load of daily
operations, fundraising, and long-term planning among a
dedicated team of professionals. As always, these are
volunteer positions, so that every dime of money donated
to MYO goes to Namibia to service our programs and
directly support our efforts to help our children.
 The
most exciting news of all is that MYO has finally broken
ground on our own youth education and development
facility. This exciting and highly emotional time comes
after four years of dreaming and planning to have our own
home centrally located in the township of Mondesa. When
completed in mid-2008, our new facility will accommodate
up to 300 children for academic, music, sport and computer
training and is designed to last at least 25 years.
As
always, great challenges lie ahead of us. But I know we
can continue to meet each obstacle with stubborn
persistence and bring forth a solution, as we have always
done. I am encouraged by a new group of volunteers in the
US and Canada who have committed to re-energizing our team
here. In Namibia, Vera, Uschi and Clifford continue to
expand our influence and bring new supporters to our
efforts. Our outgoing staff are a group of the most
dedicated, professional, committed teachers I have had the
privilege to work with. Our incoming staff are just as
committed and will take us to a whole new level of
organization and professionalism in 2008.
I hope
you will all take a moment to read the articles below and
re-familiarize yourself with MYO, see some photos and
artist concepts of our new facility and get to know our
staff.
We have
a great need for new sponsors for operating funds and
donors to help us complete construction. There has never
been a time we our need has been greater, so please
consider joining our efforts by
clicking on this link
and making a donation.
We
consider it a great privilege to be involved with MYO and
are thankful every day for the opportunity to be of
assistance in the fight against poverty.
PEACE – Rob |
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Field Operations |
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Field Staff Updates: Hello to Some
and Goodbye to Others
Alexis, Casey and Pam are
moving on from MYO—Casey back to Australia and to
university and Alexis to Canada for the same. Pam will be
teaching music in New York City. They will all be terribly
missed by the children of MYO, and by the MYO staff and
supporters.
The good news is that Julian,
Beau, Ilanda, Paulina, Herman, Reggie, Martha, Laidlaw and
Lindsay will all be returning next year. They will be
joined by MYO newcomers Jeremy, John, Donna, Engelhardt,
Naethra and Aislinn. Jeremy has been living and teaching
in Namibia all year and Naethra spent 3 months in
Swakopmund last year. John and Donna are retired (lawyer
and teacher respectively) and bring a tremendous amount of
experience, enthusiasm, focus and energy to MYO.
Englehardt is a highly respected music teacher who will
manage the MYO music program as well as assist with the
world renowned Moscato Youth Choir. Aislinn is choosing to
spend her gap year at MYO before starting university.
Back Row: Beau, Ilanda, Julian,
Herman, Reggie, Lindsay
Front Row: Alexis, Casey, Pam
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Field Operations |
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MYO Youth Education
and Development Facility
 Finally, after
so many years of planning, begging, scheming and dreaming, we
have begun construction on our very own facility. This year has
been a roller-coaster ride of highs and lows, tears and joys, a
few steps forward and a few more back. But thanks to the
diligence of Sandra, Vera, Beau, Clifford, Doug and Uschi, as
well as a few behind the scenes supporters in the community, we
have our little piece of land in Mondesa and have building
materials on the ground. While there are of course so many
people who have helped to bring us this far, I must say thanks
again to Sandra van der Ploeg for leading us through the murky
waters of construction permits, planning and zoning challenges,
and land leases.
 I
also want to thank David Williams and Maersk Namibia for
their very generous donation of 12 shipping containers which
will form the framework and infrastructure for our buildings.
Rossing Uranium, The Rotary Club of Swakopmund and The Rossing
Foundation have all provided assistance in one form or another,
so again, we want to take the time to say thanks for your
support.
Next year will
bring great challenges as we attempt to raise the money to
complete our facility and put it into use, but I know we have
the right staff and determination to make it happen.
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Field Operations |
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Funding Campaign
Since our
inception in December 2003, MYO has been fortunate enough to
enjoy moderate funding from a committed group of a few dozen
supporters and significant funding from two larger trust
organizations. But as our programs have expanded, and the number
of participants has grown by more than 5 times, and now, as we
enter that very important phase where we will complete
construction on our own facility, it is more important than ever
that MYO identify new supporters.
 We feel very
strongly that we have a compelling message and a unique
operating model that will resonate well with those who would
like to contribute to the effort to eradicate severe poverty.
MYO is the only organization that I know of that commits 100% of
donated funds to goods and services that directly impact the
children in our program. All of our back-office and
infrastructure positions are staffed by volunteers who pay their
own expenses, including flying to Namibia when necessary. This
means that when people donate to MYO, they can have complete
confidence that their donation is not being used for airfare for
a Director to go visit Namibia, or for car rental for a teacher,
or for an administration building in the US, or to pay a
professional fundraiser. The money is being spent on school
supplies, food, fuel for our combi so we can pick up and drop
off our kids, housing for our volunteer teachers, Namibian
support staff to help feed the kids and implement our programs.
And now, we need to raise an additional $100,000 in the next 12
months to build our own facility and solidify our future in
Mondesa.
In addition to
the unique financial model of our organization, MYO has a
breadth of services that sets us apart from other organizations.
The limitations of an impoverished community do not stop with
academic needs. Life-Skills, arts and music, organized sports
training, and critical thinking development programs are areas
that must be addressed to give these children the best possible
opportunity to bring themselves up from the depths of poverty.
MYO is well
known for our ability to execute our operating plan with
efficiency and effectiveness. We are exceptionally focused on
doing the hard work of youth development every day. We do not
waste any effort that cannot be directly attributed to our core
objectives of using education, sport and performing arts, and
life-skills training as a means of equipping our children with
the resources they need to succeed in life.
Now more than
ever, we need to spread our wings and expand our horizons. 2008
will be a pivotal year for MYO. We must raise enough money to
complete our facility while maintaining operating capital to run
our programs.
Please help
spread our message, consider
making a new donation, or putting
us in touch with any individual or organization you feel may
have an interest in our work.
As much as we
would like to get Oprah’s support, she so far has not been
forthcoming. So I guess it is up to us.
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