The third month of my volunteer service was marked by growing independence and the further development of my own projects.
While in the first months I mainly found my feet and got my bearings, I was now able to put more of my own ideas into practice while also supporting existing projects. Sustainability and local value creation were at the centre of my work.
At the beginning of the month I ran two workshops on agave fibres. The aim was to show villagers how to extract the fibres from agave leaves sustainably and process them further. During the workshops I explained the whole fibre extraction process and covered the safety precautions needed when handling the caustic plant sap.
To show the practical possibilities, I made a rope from agave fibres in front of the participants. I also showed pictures of products from Mexico, where agave fibres are traditionally used to make carpets, furniture and other everyday items. It was interesting to see how much interest there was in this simple, locally available resource.
In between, I helped my friend and fellow volunteer Radik in the computer lab. Together we tried once again to get the computers working by resetting the operating systems. Unfortunately the results fell short of our expectations, as the technical problems went deeper than we had first thought.
Besides work, there were plenty of opportunities to get to know the area better.
Between hikes in the mountains and visits to Maseru, I came up with the idea of starting a bee project in the Malealea Valley. The inspiration comes from my family.
My grandfather has been a beekeeper for decades and has taught me a lot about keeping bees over the years.
After several conversations with him I decided to pursue the project. I then contacted a supplier of beehives and the necessary equipment. The aim is to make the first purchases soon and test whether the project is feasible here.
At the same time I continued helping to process agave leaves, whose fibres are later used as filling for the Africa’s Gift eco cookbags. It motivates me to see that what started as a small idea has become a concrete contribution to an existing project.
We were particularly pleased about Peter’s visit; together we visited the BBCDC in Bethel. The centre seemed like a little oasis in the middle of the dry valley.
There we met Ivan, who over more than forty years has built numerous schools, training centres, raised beds and permaculture projects. Meeting someone who has done sustainable development work for such a long time was impressive and inspiring.
At the end of the month Ken Dunn and I held another workshop on agave fibres. This time the focus was on encouraging the community to extract the fibres themselves and so create an additional source of income.
In everyday life I now feel much more confident and independent than at the beginning of my volunteer service. Many routines that were unfamiliar at first have become normal. They still require adaptability, but they now feel completely ordinary to me.
My relationships with the people here have also grown deeper.
The regular exchange with the MDT and its project manager Khotso was especially important to me. Working closely together over the past months has built a relationship of trust. His support and genuine interest in our projects have played a big part in making me feel more and more at home in the valley.
All in all, I no longer feel like just a guest in the Malealea Valley, but increasingly like part of the community. The past months have strengthened my self-confidence and shown me how much responsibility you can take on if you are willing to embrace new situations. I am looking forward to developing the projects I have started over the coming months and gaining more experience.
Looking back, this month was an important step towards more independence for me. I am particularly proud that I not only developed my own ideas but also took the first concrete steps to put them into practice. The workshops, the agave project and the plans for the bee project have shown me that even small initiatives can make a lasting contribution to the community.
At the same time I have learned that successful project work takes patience. Not every idea can be implemented straight away, and not every technical or organisational challenge can be solved immediately. Still, I have the impression that perseverance and initiative pay off.
