archives
September 2010
Wales for Africa
Came in this morning to a very interesting email from John, who's already in Zambia working with one of the Forum's member charities. The email said that someone in Lusaka had asked after me. Now, initially I had the usual moment of 'oh, wonder who that is' that most people from Wales - even more so from Bethesda - get all the time. Then of course remembered that the message is from Lusaka and to my knowledge there isn't anyone even from Bethesda there at the moment (though I could be wrong). Reading on, it was just that the Forum already have my name, and so John was very kindly passing on the message that I'm expected and they're looking forward to meeting me. How amazing, to make someone feel welcome and we're not even on the same continent yet!
I'm still waiting for the specific date when I start work there. Frustrating. Although, it is becoming more and more tangible, partly perhaps because I went for my first jabs this week. Typhoid in my left arm, as that's the one that will hurt most they breezily informed me while wielding the needle, and combined Hep A&B in the other. Not too painful at all at the time, it seemed to me. To be honest I was more concerned with how I looked as I left the surgery with the fluffy ball of cotton wool taped to each arm (ridiculous, is how I looked). However, woke next morning with shoulders and upper arms stiff as a board. Followed by very mild sniffles, probably because of the typhoid jab.
I've also been filling in a questionnaire in preparation for a coaching session next week. The support for the personal development aspect of the ILO scheme is really thorough. The questions included some highly sensible ones about objectives and commitments, as well as a couple I didn't entirely understand if I'm honest. But I know I'll get help and support, which is what matters really I suppose.
August 2010
Wales for Africa
I've now got all the information on my assignement and it sounds excellent - when i read it it made me smile. I'm excited but of course it's a bit daunting too, and there's certainly a lot for me to do in eight weeks, but it would be a bit pointless otherwise. The people that run the ILO programme have done a good job on the 'matching' process (I'll describe the whole application process later).
I'll be working with the Civic Forum for Housing, an umbrella organization that supports various charities working on housing and land rights issues. The Forum wants to build its profile in order to recruit more member-charities and improve its fundraising. So I'll be developing a brand with them and producing brand/profile policies and documentation - I absolutely can't wait to get stuck in.
I'll be based in Lusaka but will travel to visit the various charities, one of which is in Livingstone, which I hope (or should I say, presume) means I'll get to visit Victoria Falls. The African name for the Falls is Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means 'smoke that thunders' - name sort of says it all, really. According to my research transport across the country is neither quick nor comfortable. On my return to Wales, I think I'll be complaining a lot less about the A470.
Wales for Africa
I'm taking a huge step both personally and professionally and I'm off to Africa - Zambia, to be precise. This October and November I'll be in Lusaka, working with a forum of housing and land rights charities.
I'm one of about 15 (lucky) people from all over Wales going to Africa as part of the Assembly's International Learning Opportunities (ILO) scheme. The scheme provides development opportunites for managers from the Welsh public sector and helps Wales fulfill the UN's Millennium Development Goals as part of the Wales for Africa initiative.
At a presentation last week for people who went to Africa last year Carwyn Jones, the First Minister, talked about Wales's contribution to development in Africa. For instance Wales makes up about a quarter of all the UK's links with hospitals in Africa - we really punch above our weight when it comes to international development. I've felt many things since I found out I had a place on the scheme (excited, mostly anxious...) but listening to that speech I felt really proud.
More details will follow very soon.
July 2010
A new life for the roundhouse
Who is smiling on the newest roundhouse in Wales, today? Dafydd and his construction team step back after months of work to celebrate at our mini and informal opening of the latest Moel y Gaer roundhouse. They are congratulated. I've formulated a ritual for the opening. Thanks for joining us at our special event, we all hope you enjoyed following the history of the roundhouse.
The art cart starts this saturday (31st July). Come and make a paper flower ring!
Official Opening of the Roundhouse
We've almost finished the roundhouse. Dafydd and the team have thatched the roof and as you can see we've experimented with the design by creating a small vent for the smoke. I hope this will work but time will tell when we light our first fire! I need to limewash the interiors and then we're all done. We will be celebrating all the hard work this Saturday. If you are around join us at 3pm for the official opening in the 'Celtic Village'. Thanks to everyone for their support and interest in this project over the last four months and to the volunteers, Dylan Hammond and Lauren Parfitt, who have helped us.
'Biodiversity - Who cares?' exhibition now at Cardiff
We’ve just finished setting up the exhibition ‘Biodiversity - Who Cares?’ in the Main Hall at National Museum Cardiff. It’s been a great opportunity for us to show off some more of the beautiful botanical models from our stored collections. The models have been skilfully crafted from beeswax, but you might mistake them for real plants when you first look at them. With around 1000 models in the collection to choose from, our only problem has been deciding which ones to display!
The exhibition has been created by the BioSyB Dept as a contribution to the International Year of Biodiversity. The exhibition looks at some of the ways in which we can help reduce the loss of biodiversity. Look out for this touring exhibition at other Amgueddfa Cymru venues during the rest of the year.
Annette Townsend
Departing Director General of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales reflects on the future of culture in Wales
Michael Houlihan, the departing Director General of Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, reflected on his time as head of the organization by delivering a lecture at National Museum Cardiff on Wednesday 14 July 2010.
After seven years in this key role, Mr Houlihan will be leaving in the coming weeks to take up his new post as Chief Executive of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales announced earlier this week that David Anderson, Director of Learning and Interpretation at the Victoria and Albert Museum, has been appointed as his replacement.
Spring Bulb for Schools
Investigation Results 2006-2010
The ‘Spring Bulbs for Schools’ project allows 1000s of schools scientists to work with Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales to investigate and understand climate change.
Since October 2005, school scientists across Wales have been keeping weather records and noting when their flowers open, as part of a long-term study looking at the effects of temperature on spring bulbs.
See Professor Plant's reports attached or download the spreadsheet to study the trends for yourself!
Many Thanks
Professor Plant
Art Club
Thanks to everyone who came to our brand new art club. We were looking at nature and printmaking and made some beautiful pictures with potato prints, leaf prints and leaf rubbings.
Our next art club is on saturday 4th September from 2pm until 3.15pm, places must be booked in advance so please phone our education department on 029 2057 3424 as soon as possible.
Art Club allows families to spend more time exploring different art and craft techniques, the September art club will continue to look at nature, but i haven't decided exactly what we'll be doing yet!
Meanwhile, our regular drop-in summer art cart sessions will be running throughout August... more information to come.
