'Wales' African Twin' by Paul Williams
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Wales’ African Twin The story of Dolen Cymru - the Wales Lesotho Link Paul Williams Author’s note It is a privilege to have been involved with Dolen Cymru – the Wales- Lesotho Link – since its inception. And it was a special privilege to have been charged with keeping the records since those very first informal meetings in 1983. I continued, as Secretary, to keep the records of the link until the Spring of 2004. I would like to record my sincere thanks to Dr Carl Clowes, who first suggested that I write this book. He has been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement. As well as writing the foreword, he has given the manuscript a thorough edit, adding fresh insights and up-dated material. I would also like to thank my wife Elizabeth for her support, proof- reading and sensible suggestions. As Secretary of the link, I have had the opportunity of working with wonderful colleagues, many of them serving on different Dolen committees and filling different posts, both in Wales and in Lesotho. They are too numerous to list here (some, but not all, appear in the text), but I would like to offer my deepest thanks and appreciation to all of them. Without their selfless and enthusiastic contribution, there would be no story to write. Paul Williams, March 2008 Dolen Cymru by Paul Williams ISBN: 1 85994 601 1 Published by Cyhoeddiadau’r Gair, Contact details: Ael y Bryn, Chwilog, Pwllheli, Dolen Cymru - Gwynedd LL53 6SH Wales Lesotho Link Unit B, Enterprise House, First Published: June 2008 All rights reserved 126 Bute Street, Cardiff CF10 5LE Design and layout: Aled Davies Cover design: Robert Williams, Magma Books Tel: 02920 497390 Printed by: Gwasg Gomer, Llandysul www.dolencymru.com Contents Author’s note 2 Foreword by Dr Carl Clowes 4 1. An idea is born 8 2. Finding a twin 13 3. Allies 22 4. “A new system of international relations” - 28 The link is launched and history is made 5. Discovering Lesotho 32 6. Getting started 40 7. Coping with a coup 49 8. Lands of song 55 9. Women together 64 10. Education! Education! Education! 71 11. A win at the Lottery – health and education. 84 12. “A deeper relationship” - 97 Links between churches 13. The Queen, the lifeboat and a new penfriend! 112 14. Health links 121 15. Enriching support 135 16. Bridging continents 146 Wales’ African Twin Foreword When one sets out on a path without any map, the road can be difficult. The idea of twinning two countries was a novel concept in the early 1980s and the path was far from clear. Fortune has been favourable to the link however and, today, it can boast major successes in both Wales and Lesotho. But why begin on the path? The motivation of the founders was very much about enabling Wales to look out and encourage its understanding of the developing world. For a people that are passionate about their own culture, as important as that is, it was always going to take a particular initiative and imagination to enable horizons to be extended. In the early 1980s, the Welsh community at large had taken an interest in the Ethiopian famine and trauma elsewhere and responded in conscience through various aid organisations. The ‘third world’, for many however, seemed little more than a permanent problem looking for help. In reality for some of us, the argument went, the communities that were suffering involved real people with strengths and attributes. They had a rich history, remarkable culture and traditions and was it not therefore incumbent upon us to understand more about the ‘developing’ world ? The reciprocal argument was also valid. For most people in the developing world, Europe must appear as some sort of Avalon with everything in place and no concerns. Little did they understand that here too, there was a variety of communities, each with their challenges, histories and culture and, even, problems – not necessarily the same problems but, nevertheless, real issues for many. Was it not important that this gulf in understanding be bridged? Paul Williams, Dolen’s untiring Secretary for 19 years, chronicles the events that have enabled this remarkable link become what it is today. It was never going to be an easy journey and what the portrayal of success can never capture is the sheer amount of hard work and determination that has gone into making the link as meaningful as it is. The role of the various Chairmen has been crucial in this. Elaine Morgan who succeeded me in 1990, Dafydd Idriswyn Roberts and, latterly, John Ellis. It is 4 Wales’ African Twin a tribute to their stamina and leadership that only four people, over the first 21- years, held the Chair in this formative period. In 2007, Wayne Crocker became the Chairman and, as was the case with his predecessors, brought a new and different dynamic to the organisation. Dolen’s greatest strength is that it has relied on developing links between people and their communities. Governments come and go but communities remain and therein lies much of the success. O T Sefako, the founding Chair in Lesotho, put great emphasis on this. Should Dolen ever become a traditional aid agency, he said, then it would have failed in its mission. The capacity to see people on an equal footing and learn from one another was always going to be paramount if it was to succeed. Success has not come without its own challenges. For some, the link was seen as an opportunity to ‘experience’ Africa – a kind of ‘safari’ visit with no real understanding or engagement with the community at the other end. It has to be said this is probably true for some Basotho also. After an initial burst of apparent interest, little was seen or heard subsequently. This is not the kind of relationship we encourage and, over time, we have come to differentiate between those who simply seek that experience and those who aspire to Dolen’s true goals of a long-term relationship. A second area of concern relates to good governance. As the organisation has grown, so clarity in relation to good practice, health and safety and financial administration had to develop accordingly – in both countries. Unfortunately, for some, the need for constraints, guidance and good governance has been seen as obstructive. Thirdly, and I believe this is true for most if not all charitable bodies engaged in the developing world, there is an element in society that wants to ‘do good works’ as if Africa was there to enable them to achieve that. Dolen’s philosophy, quite simply, is that if there is work to be done then the case needs to be made adequately, based on a thorough understanding, and a pattern of activity with full funding then needs to be secured – “form follows function”. It is not, therefore, a question of ‘finding’ jobs for people to do simply because they fancy the idea! As Dolen comes of age, it is inevitably a time to reflect. Clearly, no flash in the pan as some felt it might be at the outset, it has grown gradually but what does the future hold? 5 Wales’ African Twin The nature of a ‘twinning’ with a focus on one specific country has been a real strength, albeit not always appreciated fully by those outside Dolen Cymru. As in any ‘twin’ relationship, there is a power, an emotive pull which gives added strength to the organisation through the focus it creates. The capacity of one activity to potentiate another through the joint understanding that develops, and the inter-relationships and friendship between peoples engaged in different domains, never ceases to amaze those of us who are involved. An awareness of the dynamic created by a single focus for activity in the name of ‘Wales’ will, hopefully, increase over time. This is not to deny the success of activities elsewhere but simply to highlight the benefits and opportunities created, based on a long-term national twinning or partnership. With the National Assembly in place, there will probably be increased Governmental support and interest. This is to be welcomed so long as the ‘community’ to ‘community’ strength of the organisation is reaffirmed and not compromised. There is a balance to be struck and I do not envisage that as a problem. The need for Dolen Cymru is probably greater today than at any time in the past as Lesotho struggles to meet so many challenges. Sadly, ‘friends’ are in shorter supply now than in the heyday of apartheid when everybody wanted to identify with the country as an island of refuge for the ANC. Tragically, the British High Commission closed in 2005, and Lesotho became the first Commonwealth country ever to be denied a diplomatic mission by Britain. This pattern is prevalent with many countries having downgraded their input – the number of missions reducing from 35 in the 1970s to six today. Aid agencies have responded similarly, and this despite some of the most depressing statistics for the country – an HIV/AIDS prevalence of 31% amongst the adult population, over 25% of the population dependent on the World Food Programme and income per capita little more than $1 per day. There is considerable latent potential for Dolen Cymru to develop further. The decision in 2007 to invite Prince Harry to become a Patron of our work was a recognition on Dolen’s part of the Prince’s genuine commitment to the children of Lesotho and our wish to cooperate. His ready acceptance has already led to areas of cooperation and is something that is much appreciated by all those involved.