Updates

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KALAHARI PEOPLES FUND SEEKS SUPPORT FOR URGENT RESEARCH: FOOD SECURITY, AIDS RISK AND MDR-TB PREVALENCE IN TSUMKWE NAMIBIA Tax-deductible contributions to the project may be made securely via Paypal on this site, or by mail to: Kalahari Peoples Fund, PO Box 7855, Austin, TX 78713-7855. Thank you! STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM BY DR. RICHARD B. LEE: Tsumkwe is the administrative center of the San-populated subdistricts of Tsumkwe East and West. Ju/’hoansi and !Kung San constitute over 75 percent of the subdistrict’s numbers. In 2008 a pilot study was conducted to evaluate the vulnerability of Ju women to HIV infection. An unexpected finding was that HIV infection, though present at low levels (3-5 %), is not a major health concern. By contrast TB was far more prevalent with multi-drug-resistant (MDR) strains on the rise. Of 70 patients currently in treatment for TB, only two have tested positive for HIV. Food availability and nutritional adequacy play major roles in TB and AIDS epidemics in several important ways. Undernourished people have increased vulnerability to initial infection, the course of the illness is more rapid, and without adequate nutrient intake, drug treatment regimes are far less effective, driving up rates of non-adherence to treatment protocols. Non-adherence in turn fosters drug resistance in patients, necessitating resort to second-line drug treatments and sharply poorer prognoses. Despite the importance of food security there is little current information on the topic. In the 1990s Dr. Polly Wiessner carried out food security studies in several villages. These valuable baseline studies are in need of updating…What are the sources of food actually consumed by the urban population of Tsumkwe, and what is the extent of undernutrition? San townspeople rely on a variety of food sources including store-purchased, farm-grown, and even foraged wild foods. Cash for purchasing food comes from wages, old-age and disability pensions, casual labor, and sales of crafts. Our preliminary findings indicate that a significant percentage of the San residents of Tsumkwe town, especially in the informal settlements have insecure and shifting food supply. By contrast, the population of the outstation settlements, at distances 10-60 km from Tsumkwe, are able to procure food of greater reliability and variety. The purpose of this research is two-fold: first to document more systematically the sources of food and dietary composition and sufficiency for a sample of resident-households in Tsumkwe town; and second to relate these findings to vulnerability to infection and response to treatment regimes. If possible we will divide the study population into those in treatment for TB and a roughly matched control group. Alcohol consumption and over-consumption is frequently implicated as a intermediate factor in affecting nutritional status, reducing the effectiveness of drug treatment and negatively impacting treatment outcomes. Our research will also attempt to gauge the impact of alcohol consumption on health and nutritional status. SPONSORSHIP AND CLEARANCES The overall research plan will be sponsored by the research wing of the HIV Unit at the University of Namibia, Dr. Scholastika Iipinge, of the Faculty of Medical and Health Science and Director of the HIV Unit, will help us implement the program and obtain the necessary clearances. It will also be closely coordinated with Ministry of Health and Social Services staff at the Tsumkwe clinic, and the proposal will be presented to the leadership of the Nyae Nyae Conservancy as the relevant local entity representing the interests of the San people. As well, the staff of the Nyae Nyae Development Foundation of Namibia, Windhoek, will be consulted. The field season for which funding is requested will run from May 1st to August 15, 2009. PERSONNEL Principal Investigator: Richard Borshay Lee is a University Professor Emeritus, in Anthropology and International Health at the University of Toronto. Prof. Lee has over forty years experience working with the Ju/’hoan San in Botswana and Namibia and is a recognized authority on San ecology, nutrition, and social and economic change. Project Staff: Steven Sovran, M.D. Research Associate, is currently a resident in general medicine at the University Health Network, and a Masters student in Medical Anthropology. Dr. Sovran will focus his research on TB/HIV co-infection, drug treatment adherence, and nutritional sequelae. Elizabeth McCarville M.A., Research Associate, is a Masters student in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto. She holds a Masters in International Health from Edinborough and has wide experience in African health and development in Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda and Rwanda. Ms. McCarville will be responsible for administering the food and nutritional survey instrument. Hannah Rosenberg, Research Assistant, is an upper level undergraduate majoring in medical anthropology and International Development at McGill University. She will work with Elizabeth McCarville carrying out the food and nutritional survey. Dr. Aimee Webb, Ph.D. Emory University, is a Post-Doctoral Fellow in medical and nutritional anthropology, University of Toronto. Dr. Webb will not be in the field but will assist the research team in designing and adapting standard nutritional and dietary survey instruments from WHO, FAO and other sources. BUDGET While airfares for the personnel are being sourced elsewhere, funding is requested for local transport costs accommodations costs and modest perdiem and translator expenses Van Rental for trips to and from the Tsumkwe field $1000.00 USD Per diem expenses 3 persons X $20.00 p.d. X 60 days 3600.00 Accommodations two rooms at Government Rest house $30 p.d. X 60 days 1800.00 Interpretors’ services $15.00 p.d. X 40 working days 600.00 Internet Access, telephone and faxes 400.00 Total: $7400.00 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT In dealing with former hunter-gatherers like the Ju/’hoansi, familiar from books, films and TV specials, there is a tendency to admire them from afar and a reluctance to acknowledge the dramatically changed circumstances in which they now exist. The Kalahari Peoples Fund has been a key player in the attempt to bridge these two realities, with care and respect for traditional culture and an active engagement with the contemporary problems that negatively impact their future. The study we are preparing to undertake should yield valuable insights about food, health, and survival strategies of 21st century San, and in close consultation with indigenous rights organizations such as the Nyae Nyae Conservancy, will provide a basis for designing interventions that could improve Ju/’hoan food security, diet diversity, and self-sufficiency and overall health. Signed RBLee Richardb.lee@utoronto.ca Feb. 12, 2009 Tax-deductible contributions to the project may be made securely via Paypal on this site, or by mail to: Kalahari Peoples Fund, PO Box 7855, Austin, TX 78713-7855. Thank you!

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	TUCSIN Festschrift issued! Feb. 4, 2009 TUCSIN(The University Centre for Studies in Namibia) has issued a collection of papers titled "Heritage and Cultures in Modern Namibia — In-depth Views of the Country" (eds. C. Limpricht & M. Biesele). A table of contents and abstracts can be found here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Launch of New Website! May 15, 2008 KPF has been in discussion for some time now about a website that would provide a structure for San communities - newly connected on the Internet - to communicate and publish their ideas, hopes, dreams, opinions and thoughts on important issues. Early this year, work began on the construction of such a site by Snowball Effect, experienced web designers based in Stellenbosch in South Africa. To be called the Kalahari Peoples Network (KPN) it will be unveiled on the Worldwide Web in June of 2008, and will be launched in Tsumkwe, Namibia, in July with the community there, which is now, for the first time, on a high-speed connection to the rest of the world. This promises to be an exciting time. Various groups of San people, including the Village School Project teachers in Nyae Nyae and trainee linguists working on projects in Tsumkwe (both in Namibia) and community representatives in Platfontein, South Africa, have requested such a site and are eagerly awaiting its arrival. There will be areas of the website devoted to Community, Culture and Communication as well as a section where academic papers and articles of interest can be archived. A discussion forum will provide space for direct communication about issues and there will be a monthly (later possibly more frequent) news-feed to interested people, where news from and about communities can be disseminated. There will also be links to all the relevant organizations and a sharing of their news as well as an information service offering up to date and accurate facts for schoolchildren, the general public and those interested in the income-generating new cultural tourism possibilities. The look of the website is sophisticated, modern and visually very beautiful. The web designers have almost completed the technical design of the site and photographs have been generously donated by filmmakers Craig and Damon Foster to enhance the pages. To find out more or to submit links, information and photographs, please contact website manager Lesley Beake on editor@kalaharipeoples.net We are still looking for funding to go forward with training and further development. Anyone interested should contact Megan Biesele information@kalaharipeoples.org

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Blankets, Baked Beans and Beanies March 23, 2008 Proposal There are approximately 750 San children attending schools in Nyae Nyae and N≠a Jaqna Conservancies, living in the poorest conditions in Namibia. The San represent the most marginalized community in Namibia, in addition to a history of exclusion they reside in an extremely remote and harsh environment. This makes job opportunities and livelihood options few and far between. Thus often parents cannot afford the basics for their children including food and clothing. This winter, to alleviate some of the suffering these children experience and to encourage them to remain in school we would like to provide each school child with: - A blanket - A beanie hat - Supplementary food for 3 winter months Budget The budget for this would be approximately:  Item  Cost  Number of Items  Total  Blankets  40  750  30,000  Baked Beans/Food  120  750  90,000  Beanies  15  750  11250          Total (N$)      131,250  Total (£)          8,750  Total (US$)        18,750 Donors are asked to provide any amount or items that would contribute to this effort. Full Generally Accepted Accounting Principles will be followed in relation to these funds and receipts and reports will be provided to each donor. No administration will be charged by those implementing the project, but some bank charges may be incurred (estimated to be less than 1%). We hope to be able to buy the items during May 2008, so we would be grateful for any contributions before that time. Long-term We realize that this approach is not sustainable, however alongside this the Nyae Nyae Foundation and WIMSA we are setting up village gardens and supporting the conservancies in their tourism and other ventures to create more jobs, income and food for the communities. The Norwegian Association of Norway (NAMAS) project runs various programmes to support school children to complete their education and increase their chances of future employment, while WIMSA also provide bursaries to those that reach tertiary education. However, these approaches take many years to impact on the general well being of the communities and thus for 2008 we would like to provide the 750 school children in Nyae Nyae and N≠a Jaqna conservancies with some relief. In return In return, as well as a report on the funds, we can provide publicity through newspaper articles and photos of the children receiving the blankets etc if appropriate. On behalf of the school children of Nyae Nyae and N≠a Jaqna Conservancies, we thank you for any support you can give. Working Group of Indigenous Minorities of Southern Africa (WIMSA) Nyae Nyae Development Foundation of Namibia (NNDFN) Namibia Association of Norway (NAMAS)

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Project Kick Talk September 25, 2007 Inspired by the 1984 film, "The Gods Must be Crazy", Aaron Kohn, a fifteen year old student, went in search of the Bushmen. Finding that in the middle of the Kalahari Desert, the San children, who didn’t speak his language, or live in a similar community; turned out to be just like him. After this journey, Aaron founded “Project Kick Talk,” in order to share his journey in a short documentary that shows how a group of children in Namibia and fourth graders in Cleveland, Ohio, learned that the global community is not made up of simply governments, leaders, and economies; but human beings. The documentary from this journey, "Kick Talk" won an award in Providence at the Rhode Island Film Fest and subsenquently was shown in LA at Moondance (livevideo.com/moondance). Aaron was notified last week, that his film won Grand Prize in Missoula, Montana, at the Montana CINE Film Fest at the International Wildlife Film Center, and will be screened there between October 3-7, 2007. He was requested to send the film to a festival in Seattle, for a January festival and will be notified by mid-October. Additional information about Project Kick Talk can be found at: www.kicktalk.org.