New Leaders Initiative in Namibia, Africa

Leon Sharpe with community development trainers
in Namibia


The Heartland Center brought its interactive leadership training approach to Oshakati, Namibia, last August. Educators in this one-time South African colony will utilize Heartland Center curriculum and materials in their "New Leaders Initiative."


The University of Northern Namibia (UNAM) serves a region which faces a critical shortage of economic and educational opportunities. Last summer, UNAM looked to the Heartland Center to help build a solid foundation for positive growth. Heartland Center staff worked with the University to develop and refine a week-long leadership development curriculum. Heartland Center Project Associate Jim Sanks and Consulting Associate Leon Sharpe then made the transcontinental journey to conduct a three-day train-the-trainers workshop designed to hone the skills of five energetic local leaders assigned to deliver the UNAM curriculum to dozens of regional youth.

The UNAM training opportunity came through a recommendation by MDC, Inc., a community and economic development organization in North Carolina. The Namibia project is part of MDC´s Rural Community College Initiative, which focuses on asset-building strategies through rural community colleges.

 

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