Community interchange between American youth and African youth, members of the
AYINET (Africa Youth Initiative Network), 27th July - 1 August 2003, Luanda - Angola
Cooperation of the American Friends Service Committee and Angola 2000
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Summary and Background
This is a report of a community exchange hosted by Angola 2000, the lead organisation of the Africa
Initiative Youth Initiative Network (AYINET) in Angola and the American Friends service Committee
AFSC. The community exchange program run from the 27th -1st of August 2003 as a component of the
AFSC Africa Initiative Youth exchange program. Angola 2000 is on the leadership team of the
AYINET regional advisory group working in close collaboration with AFSC Africa region office
in Harare and the AFSC office in Angola.
Angola 2000 is:
AFSC is a Quaker peace and social justice organisation that includes people of all
faiths that are committed to working for peace and justice and humanitarian service. Its work is
influenced by the Quaker principle that proclaims the power of love in overcoming violence and
all forms of injustice. AFSC over the three years is collaborating with partners to build and
strengthen the capacity of a corps 240 youth leaders from Africa and the US to work toward a
new vision for Africa's renewal that focuses on responding to its people immediate and long
term needs. In this light, in collaboration with Angola 20000 it organized a community exchange
between US youth coming from the AFSC Central Region Office (CRO) and the Angola youth
organisations, Ngos and Angolan community at large.
The objectives of the exchange were to Intercontinental Inter-cultural exchange visit with
the following objectives:
- Capacitating on issues that are affecting Africa such as: culture, debt, democracy and economy.
- Visiting local organisations to collect their experiences in working with the communities.
- Creating conditions to set up networks with the organisations and with the youths for exchange
of information, work experience and other issues.
The US delegation was composed of the following participants:
It Mr. Steven Parish
Mr. Maurice Rowe
Ms. Erica Mashay Strong
Ms. Iris Dixon
The youth organisations from Angola that participated include the following:
The visits took place from 27 July to 1 August 2003 in the city of Luanda and were greatly
supported by the Organization Angola2000, which tirelessly lead the AFCS members to the
following organizations: Centro Arnaldo Janssen, Angola2000, COIEPA, AJPD, MPD, JRS, ADEMA.
They also paid a visit to Dias Chicambi's family, Canganjo's family and the family of the MPD
president; they also visited the Slavery and the Army Museums; they visited the Agostinho Neto
and Nginga Mbande Monuments; the National Radio of Angola interviewed them; they participated
in the music-cultural show of the Angolan female singers.
- Narrative Report
Angola is a country with an extension of 1.246.700km² and a population of about 12 millions of
people. It's divided into 18 provinces. It was a Portuguese colony for about 500 years. It became
independent on 11 November 1975 and has been at war until the 4th April 2002, the two belligerent
forces(UNITA and MPLA) signed peace agreement after the death of UNITA leaders Jonas Savimbi. The
27-year-old war devastated the country, impoverished its people and destroyed the infrastructures
making misery and penury a daily experience. With the signing of the peace agreement new horizons
are opened, the hope of a better life is born and Angola now moves through a transition process
from a country of war to a country of peace and stability. This is a period of great expectations
and if these expectations of a better life for the people are not met in a short length of time,
it could result into social instability and violence. It's within this context that AFSC's program
'African Initiative' plays an important role in affirming human rights, democracy, justice and
sustainable development in Africa.
The aim of the AFSC Africa Youth Leadership Program is to build and strengthen the capacity of a
corps of youth leaders that will foster for a renewing vision of Africa that promotes peace,
African unity, fair policies that generate sustainable development with youth in Africa nd youth
in the united stated playing a lead role. These activist youths will deepen the knowledge about
the roots of oppression and underdevelopment in Africa and together they will plan the
implementation of the solutions they will have identified.
27th July 2003
AFSC's team arrived at the ‘Aeroporto Internacional 4 de Fevereiro' airport at exactly 13h and
15min. of 27 July 2003, coming from South Africa via Namibia. It was indeed a long journey.
However, AFSC's members did not show any sign of tiredness, on the contrary the joy for having
touched the capital city of Angola, the Angola of Nginga Mbandi, Ngola Kiluange, Ekuikui,
Mandume, Nunda, Mutu ya Kevela and others, was visible on their faces. “I LOVE ANGOLA”, said
Steven, after having kissed the ground of the country he so much wanted to know. Immediately,
Steven begun to make use of the little Portuguese he had learnt two weeks ago in a related AFSC
youth program a Leadership training held in Cape Town, South Africa. He practised the Portuguese
until the last phone contact that we had.
The Angola 2000 team went to the ‘Aeroporto Internacional 4 de Fevereiro' airport to welcome the
AFSC delegation. Thereafter, they were taken to the ‘Hotel Forum', the place where they were
staying during the time of their visit. On the first night they had occupied one room each, then,
and to our surprise, on the following day our visitors proposed to us that they wanted to occupy
only two rooms, meaning that the two young ladies would stay in one room and the two young men in
one room. Their argument was soundly based; first because the hotel rooms were big enough to be
shared and second, after talking to the hotel manager we understood that the cost would be reduced,
how well soundly based!! The saving and good use of money had been very well employed.
The first activity of the exchange program was a visit to thee Slavery Museum, which is along the
south Atlantic of the African Continent and the capital city of our country, Luanda. I believe
that was the highest point of their visit, because we could share the emotion and the sense of
reencounter with the origins that our brothers felt by the fact of being able to step on, to
touch, to feel the smell of the breeze of the sea, to familiarise themselves with the place where
thousands and thousands of our African brothers passed through and were taken as SLAVES to places
they had never thought of before: AMERICA and EUROPE.
The open character and the manner in which the visitors presented themselves in our country
(listening, sensibility, interest to know and learn about the local people, exchange of ideas
and, above all, the respect for the native people) were the key for the success of the interchange,
and that is the reason why on the day of their arrival the visitors had their dinner in the house
of a family (auntie) of one of our colleagues from the Angola2000. During the dinner,
Steven said: “FROM THE TIME WE TOUCHED THIS COUNTRY UNTILL NOW WE COULD GAIN MORE FOR OUR LIVES
THAN THE FIFTEEN DAYS WE STAYED IN CAPE TOWN”. Both Angolan participants and US appreciated the
people to people connections made.
28th July 2003
- Angola 2000 Office
On Monday, at 09:00 am, the visitors had the first official meeting at the offices of the
Organisation Angola2000, where they had the opportunity to learn about the dependences Of
the office and had a brief meeting with the Vice President of the Association, Mr. Matias
Capapelo. Capapelo a briefing on the operations of the organisation i.e its Programmes,
accomplishments and the challenges the organisation is facing as well as The general
reality of Angola in general. At the end of this session each of the visitors Received a
copy of the Angola 2000 field research activity carried out in five (5) Provincial Capital
cities, namely: Luanda, Malange, Humbug, Kwanza-Sul and Beguile and one municipal town,
Caála, in the province of Humbug. The title of this work is LIGHT AND SMALL CALIBER WEAPONS:
Perspectives for Peace, Security and Development.
- Arnold Janseen Centre
In the afternoon, at 14:30 pm, the visitors arrived at the Arnold Janssen Centre, a centre
that takes in street children. Father Horácio, the Director of the centre was not present,
but Sister Bibiana took group around the installations of the Centre: a medical centre,
carpentry, ironsmith, classrooms, refectory, resting rooms and laundry.
In each area the respective staff member responsible made introductions. The group found the
carpentry, ironsmith and electricity sections more interesting. Students made presentations of
their works, projects and financial constraints. The visitors appreciated the selling of the
fruits of the works. They inquired to know how the children were taken from the streets, and
their reintegration. They were satisfied with what they had seen and promised to keep in
touch with the centre. In the evening, they had the opportunity to visit another family where
the spent some minutes and from there they left to the Island of Luanda for relaxation.
- Jesuit Refugee Service/ COIEPA/ Women Peace and Development (MPD)
The group visited the offices of the Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS). The JRSe representative
at Luanda level spoke about the objectives and activities of the Organisation in Angola. He
highlighted that JRS was involved in initiative around peace building and collective or
community advocacy. From there the group also visited COIEPA as they moved to the offices
of COIEPA offices. Seraphim welcomed the group and explained to them about the activities
that the COIEPA has been developing at the level of the Angolan society.
- Women peace and Development MPD
In the afternoon, the group visited the offices of the Women, Peace and Development (MPD) and
were welcomed by the organisation's President, Mrs. Cesinanda Xavier. She organisation
especially with regard to its role in developing Women, their integration in society, in the
occupation of decision making positions in the Country both at parliamentary and republican
presidency.
She emphasised that it was important to develop women's professional and institutional
Capacity through networks that they themselves coordinate. The visitors inquired on the
membership of the organisation.
30th July 2003
- Association for Justice, Peace and Democracy (AJPD)
On Wednesday, at 09:00am, they visited the offices of the Association for Justice,
Peace And Democracy (AJPD). AJPD is a member of the AYINET Angola chapter. AJPD
Participated at the July Leadership training in South Africa and where part of the
exchange program in Angola. The president of AJPD, Mr. Fernando Macedo welcomed the
group. Discussions at AJPD were centred on democracy, human rights and Afro- American
partnership in forging these issues within the context of current work (see Photo 1).
- Informal Market
After that meeting the AJPD meeting the group visited Angola's largest informal market,
the ROQUE SANTEIRO, in the municipality of Sambizanga, Luanda. This was designed for the
group to have informal chats with the local people.
- ADEMA
In the afternoon, the group went to the offices of the Organisation ADEMA, where the management
of that organisation the President and the Secretary General as well as members of the
organisation welcomed them. The Secretary spoke about the organisation, its activities and
partnerships. She introduced the premises, which is a property of the NGO (Adema), built
from foundation. Adema works is around projects is dressmaking, training women to be
integrated in the society. The US part of the group was inspired by the work of ADEMA. They
were able to draw parallels between this projects and other in the communities in the United
States of America (USA) were they were coming from.
It was founded in the province of Huambo and has a wide membership, but because of the war and
financial problems it does not have contact with all the members. Adema has got links with other
organisations that operate in the country.
- National radio of Angola
The US group were interviewed in the central studios of the National Radio of Angola
(NRA.). The interview focused on the program and objectives of their visit in Angola;
besides the interview, the visitors met the editor in chief of the NRA, Mr. Adalberto,
who spoke about the operations of the National radio.
- Cultural Show
In the evening the team participated in a music-cultural show of the ANGOLAN FEMALE
VOICES that was held in Karl Marx Cinema. It was wonderful to see the visitors in tune
with the melody and rhythm of the Angolan music. This was an important aspect of the
exchange as participants experienced the Angola music, which is a big part of Angolan
culture.
28th July 2003
- Natural History and the Army Museums
On Thursday the visitors visited both the Natural History and the Army Museums. They had the
opportunity to know a little about Angola's historic-cultural reality, the resistance against
the Portuguese colonial occupation and the freedom fight.
- Last Events
In the afternoon the team visited the Altos das Cruzes cemetery and from there they went to
the informal market of Rocha Pinto to buy some art crafts. In the evening, the team once again
went to visit the family that had welcomed them on the first day, this time they had gone to
say “thank you very much for the reception and the human warmth of brotherhood. We are now going
back to our country, the United States of America.” The agenda of the visit to Angola ended with
a dinner in the house of the MPD president, whose husband is a renowned politician in the political
arena of the country, Mr. Paulino Pinto João (see photo 2).
1st August 2003
Evaluation of the activities and the return of the delegation.
Time before they had embarked we were chatting with Steven and Erica and, on behalf of the whole
team, they expressed:
- Their joy for coming to Angola and for the experience
- They considered the work of Angola2000 as lovable and noble, because they committed themselves
with great dedication.
- They believe that this experience served to build good basis for relationships of long-term
friendships and work.
- They felt linked to Angola2000 and promised to intermediate all its programs, as long as it
is in their reach.
- They were satisfied with the visit; they felt at home because they believed that their roots
are from Angola and Congo and for that reason they felt motioned and spiritually connected to
Angola-Africa. The visits they made served to see how others, even with their difficulties and
few financial resources, function with creativity.
- The visits helped to see that the country has been devastated and impoverished, and that there
is a lot of work to be done.
- It is important to highlight that the presence of the AFSC youth delegation members during the
five days visit had a great impact on the organisations and people with whom they met, because
they all mentioned something in common “after all, the Americans are also respectful”. This
shows what people's thoughts or perceptions about the Americans are.
Recommendations
It is important that this kind of interaction be promoted not for only five days, but maybe for
two weeks or a month, in order that the visitors gain the opportunity to live the true reality of
the host people and share with them, just as Steve, Erica, Iris and Maurice did.
Angola2000 suggests that in next occasions the visitors get directly involved in the activities of
the organisations that host them; for that, it will be necessary to plan a long time in advance. We
suggest that the pattern of operation continues the same, above all in terms of financing the
visitors' stay.
- Challenges - Evaluation of the agenda
As it is notable in the narration of the visit, the agenda was not followed as it had been planned,
for two reasons: i) some organisations simply disconfirmed the request of the visit in the last
minute for allegations that they were very busy. ii) There wasn't a realistic calculation of time
between the two audiences and the different places because of the horrible traffic that is found
in Luanda, and that caused the failure to visit the organisation AJUDECA.
There was nothing planned for the evening period. However, they were well used with two visits to
families' and friends' houses, promenades to some tourist places, tasting the evening in Luanda
and participation in music-cultural events.
- Addresses of the organisations contacted
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Angola2000
Rua Gil da Liberdade no 21
Valódia, Sambizanga
C.P no1741
Luanda,Angola
Tel +244 2 44 08 48
Fax + 244 2 44 61 25
E-mail: angola2000@ebonet.net
Angola2m@yahoo.com
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Mulher, Paz e Desenvolvimento, MPD
Rua José de Oliveira Barbosa no 58 1? andar apt 2
Maianga
Luanda,Angola
Tel +244 2 32 7179
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Associação Justiça, Paz e Democracia AJPD
Rua alameda do príncipe real no 41/A
Bairro Miramar, Luanda
Tel +244 2 430 300
Fax +244 2 4302 99
E-mail: ajpd@netangola.com
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Inter-eclesial Committee for Peace in Angola COIEPA
Avenida Portugal no 45
3? andar F - Luanda
Tel +244 2 37 1231
Fax +244 2 39 48 65
E-mail: coiepa@angonet.org
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Jesuit Refugee Services JRS
Rua Fernão Lopes no 5
Combatentes, Luanda
Cellphone +244 92 50 7918
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ADEMA
Rua da missão, bairro Golg
Municipio de Kilamba Kiaxi
Tel +244 2 470 090
Cellphones +244 91 24 61 57 and +244 91 50 61 11
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Centro Arnold Janssen
Bairro do Palanca próximo a estrada de Catete
Cellphones +244 91 21 54 70
+244 92 60 85 48
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