KHOTSO January 2011
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A US Peace Corps - Lesotho Publication KHOTSO January 2011 Message from the Country Director I’ve solicited ideas and spoken to some of you about helping organize our celebra- tion. Ideally everyone (staff and Volun- teers) will be involved in one way or an- other. We’ll also be reaching out to the RPCV community in Lesotho as well as United States Peace Corps other “friends of Peace Corps Lesotho” to PO Box 554 assist with preparations and celebrating 5 Bowker Road with us. Please stay tuned for more infor- Maseru 100, Lesotho mation. Southern Africa Ariel Simons (ED ‘09) and Jessica Langridge (CHED Phone: +266 22313871 ‘09) hip-hopping in Quthing. In other news, we posted on Share Point Fax: +266 22310287 and will send in an email to Volunteers Dear Volunteers, the Executive Summary of the report from the Post Operations Support Team that I hope you all had an enjoyable “festive season” and was here in October. We have begun to that 2011 is filled with good health and success! I implement many of their recommenda- had a great Christmas in Swaziland and relaxing New tions including: looking for a new office, Year’s in Maseru, where apparently you don’t need a closing the transit house part of the Train- In this issue license to shoot off fireworks! ing Center, revising leave and out of site policies (sent in an email and on Share- • PCV News Corner on I know that many of you hosted visitors from the US point), and holding committee meetings Page 3 or went home to visit family over the holidays. If you and workshops outside of Maseru, among have any 3rd Goal stories from these visits that we others. We will try to keep you posted as • Staff, Education & can share with PC/Washington, please let me know. changes that affect Volunteers are made. Health Corners on Page They’re always asking for vignettes to illustrate how Thanks for your patience and understand- 4 Peace Corps’ 3rd Goal is being achieved. ing with these changes. They’re all de- signed with your safety and security in • PCV Life on Page 5 Peace Corps Lesotho staff are looking forward to mind. 2011 with a mix of enthusiasm and trepidation. As • News from around the you likely have heard, we will be looking for a new Finally, in December, I had a chance to Peace Corps World on office, which will take a lot of work. We will also be see all the ED 10 and CHED 10 Volun- Page 8 conducting reviews of both the Education and CHED teers at their ISTs. It was great to hear projects and will involve many of you in that exercise, about (or see) the great work they’ve which should take place in March. Staff are begin- been doing. I also visited Ariel Simons in ning to plan site visits and site identification trips for Quthing with Jim and Michael. She invited the year and will include tentative calendars in the us to the kick-off event for the “Sports Khotso. We’re also planning regional meetings (more and Service Club” that she helped form info to come). And of course, we’ll be back on track with young people from her community. with two PSTs this year. We are excited that we have Apparently, the kids arranged the whole a full staff contingent to take on all of these activi- event, complete with an elaborate pro- ties! gram that included singing, poetry recita- tion, speeches (of course), refreshments As you know, 2011 is also Peace Corps’ 50th anniver- and lots of hip-hop dancing. They sched- sary. Fifty years ago President Kennedy signed an uled the event to coincide with a visit executive order creating the Peace Corps, and the from a friend of Ariel’s from the US who is first group of Volunteers was sent to Ghana in Sep- one of several donors who sent basket- tember of 1961. Each Peace Corps post is encour- ball jerseys to the club for their newly aged (if not required) to organize events to com- formed basketball team. The afternoon memorate this anniversary. Although we’ve been was a lot of fun and very inspiring to see talking about it for quite a while, we have not yet the kids so engaged. Way to go, Ariel! made any concrete plans here in Lesotho, but now we need to get moving! Khotso, Kathy Khotso January 2011. A United States Peace Corps—Lesotho publication. Page 2 From the Editor’s Desk Editorial Staff Managing Editor – Kathy Jacquart Articles must be received by the 4th Monday of the month to be included in the following Editor – Deepak Pullanikkatil month’s edition of the Khotso. When submitting articles, please provide the name Staff Contributors: of the person making the submission and a Administration – James McCormick contact person for follow-up questions. The Newsletter will be emailed and a hardcopy Program and Training: made available in the office on or about the Education – Clement Lephoto & Malitaba 1st of each month. Please make sure that your Hlabana email address is on file with Peace Corps. Community Health And Economic Develop- ment - Charles Miller & Selloane Pitikoe The editorial staff would like feedback from Training – Masechaba Mapena PCVs regarding the content. It is our desire to provide you with information that is useful, Safety & Security – Masiphole Nthoalo helpful, and encouraging. We would appreciate receiving constructive feedback Distribution — Lebohang Ranooe from you as to whether the information contained in this newsletter met your needs. All other staff and PCVs who contribute By submitting articles, you are providing Peace Corps Lesotho with the right to reprint your article in full or part in any publication. Deepak Pullanikkatil Editor Editorial Khotso January 2011. A United States Peace Corps—Lesotho publication. Page 3 Khotso PCV Birthdays Birthday greetings go out to the following PCVs. The Peace Corps Lesotho staff sends you greeting and hope that you have a very prosperous year. January Bryant, Parker January 7 Burk, Brett January 9 Weiss, Tam January 10 Glanville, Kate January 11 Itumeleng Notsi Kaufman, Elissa January 11 Medical Secretary Rosen, Zach January 13 Kalaw, Michelle January 29 Marsh, Kelsey January 30 February Holmen, Andrea February 1 Birhanu, Nathan February 9 Niang, Lee February 9 Pulvino, Rory February 11 PCV News Corner Tipsword, Jackie February 11 Casimer, Kevin February 12 Kerr, Mike February 12 Helm, James February 13 Movalli, Kristine February 13 Landrum, Nathan February 21 Meet the new Staff Last month we introduced you to the new AO, James McCormick and the new Language and Corss Cultural Coordinator, M’e’ Mamokola. Masiphole Nthoalo This month, we would like to introduce you to Safety & Security Coordinator four new staff members who joined us last month. Their brief bios are on pages 5 & 6. Dr. Victor Inegbedion Letsatsi Mohale PCMO Programming & Training Secretary Khotso January 2011. A United States Peace Corps—Lesotho publication. Page 4 Staff Birthdays Peace Corps Lesotho Holidays January January 1— New Year’s Day (US/LS Holiday)* January January 17— Martin Luther King Day (US Deepak Pullanikkatil January 22 Holiday)* Margaret Putosa January 23 February February February 21— President’s Day (US Holiday)* No staff birthdays. March March March 11— Moshoeshoe Day (LS Holiday)* Bernard Letsella March 15 *PC Lesotho remains closed on this day. Admin Corner By Jim and Victoria That is not to say that I have tails/advises/slips have been been completely detached emailed to you. From this pay- from Africa. After pursuing my ment slip you are able to see former Cameroonian girlfriend how much and for what have for almost 20 years I finally been paid and what deduc- convinced her to marry me ten tions (if any….very rare) have years ago. (I think she finally been done. It is important that just felt sorry for me). As a you inform PC office of any result I have two beautiful girls changes in your email ad- (three including my wife) who I dresses as we forward this hope will all be joining me here information to the addresses next June. we have. I know that I have very big Kindly note that the payment shoes to fill following Richard slip will always be emailed to Carlson, but I promise you that you before funds are actually Meet the New AO I will do whatever I can to sup- deposited into your bank ac- Hello Everyone! My name is port you and help make your count, so receipt of this slip Jim McCormick and I am the PCV lives easier and less should only be heads-up for new Administrative Officer for stressful. It is also my hope to you that money should be on Staff Corner & Admin Lesotho. I arrived in country on get out in the field as much as its way but has NOT actually December 2nd and I’ve already possible and see firsthand the reached your bank account. Corner had the good fortune to meet great (and critical) work you over 50 of the current PCVs by are all doing. In the meantime, We are trying hard though to virtue of stopping by a couple “salang hantle” and “kea le- ensure you get your allow- of the ISTs that were going on boha…!” ances the last week of every when I first arrived. month to cover you for the Message from the Financial following month. Nevertheless, It is really a great feeling to be Assistant we do encounter unforeseen part of Peace Corps again. I Compliments of the New Year! and unexpected delays at am a former PCV from Camer- Please be informed that start- times, mainly due to Bank oon (1980-1982) who has ing with your December 2010 negligence and poor communi- spent most of the last 25 plus Living Allowances and/or Re- cation between the two banks years in corporate America.