Matt's Story

Matt Loewen, Vancouver, Canda
Botswana Sports Ministry Co-ordinator 2005 & 2006

As I begin my second year here in Botswana I am excited about the impact my work has had on those around me. In cross cultural work it is not always simple to recognize tangible results and thus easy at times to feel that all effort is in vain. I would be lying if I said my first year in Francistown, Botswana was without such struggles. In fact I endured many personal trials, and it was through these trials that I learned the most about my work, myself, and those around me.

I find myself in an area of the world that suffers dearly from HIV/AIDS and in a specific town that is said to have an infection rate well over fifty percent. It’s in this setting that my work with children is invaluable. Many children grow up being raised by older siblings and or family members while the majority has never known the consistent presence of two parents. Through 2005 I experienced this first hand as I was blessed with the opportunity to live at a local orphanage. I quickly took on the role of an older brother, while for some children I felt like a father. I loved this responsibility and took great pride in building up the self worth of the girls and providing guidance for the boys. Any consistency and security I can provide for the children of this nation is of utmost significance.

I have found my work here to be very rewarding and challenging as I work with various organizations and develop sports programs that can be sustainable. The effectiveness of such a goal hinges on my ability to train and equip local individuals as leaders. The challenge is often knowing how to pursue initiatives that are culturally acceptable and not merely western concepts/ideas being forced on local people. It is exciting to be in a situation where I am continually learning and developing personal skills. And after one year I recognize that my sense of working in vain is often the result of me observing my surroundings through western eyes.