Remember that motto of mine? “Have suitcase, will travel!” Well, here I go again…..

Where to you ask?

Gantsi.

It is the centre of Gantsi District and it’s claim to fame is that it is the furthest town from all other Botswana urban centers  The area is known for its indigenous peoples, the San. I am going to facilitate a strategic planning process for an organization that consists of a network of 8 NGOs whose goal is to empower these vulnerable people and assist them through economic development achieve permanent control over their lives, resources and destiny.

It was a very last minute thing – they required an experienced facilitator so WUSC asked me after striking out with other ODAs. I got the formal request on Friday, the sessions are this up-coming Saturday and Sunday. No pressure, huh? Oh, and by the way, Lawrence and I need to drive 900 kms to get there and another 900 kms back 🙂

So I spent yesterday working on a drafting a strategic planning exercise. I still haven’t finished it so I need to work on it tonight. I was out of the office all day today and will be out again tomorrow attending Governance training for my board. Can you say busy?????

But I am happy to be doing this as I am taking my buddy along to build his capacity in facilitating strategic planning or should I say he is taking me:) He has to drive as the vehicle is a standard and due to my wonky ankle, I can’t operate a clutch anymore.

I am also visiting a part of the country that I haven’t been to yet. We are staying a lodge that is owned and operated by the trust that I will be doing strategic planning for. The link to see it is http://www.dqae.org/ Of course it is a game area, with cheetahs and leopards. I am truly a mercenary as part of my negotiations to agree to doing this on such incredibly short notice, I asked that they arrange an evening game drive for us so that I can see the big cats at night when they are out and about.

So of course with a 1800 km road trip, indigenous people, game and who knows what else I will have plenty to blog about. My only problem is staying stationary long enough to be able to write 🙂