BIG Pilot Project - Assessment Report - BIG Coalition Namibia

2.3 Voices of changeWe bought from the shop in Omitara. I also boughta 2-plate stove because we have electricity in thehouse.Willemina Gawises also spoke about the changes in herlife:Things are really fine unlike before when I wasreally suffering and struggling very hard. Last yearI used to be very depressed because I had to begall the time, now I have enough to eat. I am still unemployedbut at least I do not depend on my parentsany more for food and other things now I havemy own money. My children are back in school andI am saving some money to be able to send them toboarding school when they complete their primaryeducation here. The BIG has helped me and mychildren a lot. I can now also travel to Windhoek insearch for work.In June 2008, Ms. Mbangu the clinic nurse shared herobservations about the impact of the BIG on living conditionsin Otjivero-Omitara:I ask people how they are living and they are eatingmuch better now. They tell me that things aregoing a bit better. Some people have started sellingthings like food, tobacco, clothing, cell phones, as asource of income. One HIV positive woman nowbuys materials and makes Nama dresses. We arethinking of holding a competition to see what peopledid with the BIG money. We want to give a prizeand this can motivate others.“Things arereally fineunlike beforewhen Iwas reallysufferingand strugglingveryhard. […]The BIG hashelped meand my childrena lot. Ican nowalso travelto Windhoekinsearch forwork.”(WilleminaGawises)2.4 Profile of Otjivero-OmitaraThe evaluation study is based on a random sample ofabout a quarter of Otjivero-Omitara's 200 or so households.The baseline survey of November 2007 covered asample of 398 individuals in 52 households. Thesample consisted of slightly more females (51%) thanThe samplefor the evaluationstudywas randomlydrawn, coveringabout50 out of200 households.33