WIMSA History of Wimsa WIMSA was established in 1996 at the request of the San in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, to provide a platform for their communities to express their problems, needs and concerns. WIMSA is required to advocate and lobby for San rights, to establish a network for information exchange among San communities and other concerned parties, and to provide training and advice to San communities on tourism, integrated development projects and land tenure. A regional WIMSA office was established in Windhoek to facilitate processes for San groups in Angola, South Africa and Namibia, and to co-ordinate efforts around San issues for the entire southern African region. This office is run by a small team composed of two San trainees, a part-time mentor and a full-time co-ordinator. WIMSA's Botswana office (WIMSA/BOT) is based in D'Kar, near Ghanzi, and is tasked to assist San communities in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This office is run by a full-time San co-ordinator and a full-time field worker. With the exception of San communities living in Angola, the majority of the 100 000 San of southern Africa are aware of WIMSA's existence. WIMSA has not been able to work with the Angolan communities due to the ongoing war in that country. Some communities in the region erroneously regard WIMSA as an implementing development organisation rather than a networking, advisory and advocacy body. Almost all of the established community-based San organisations were keen to become WIMSA members within the first two years of its inception. Scattered, extremely remote or very small San communities which have not yet constituted their own organisational structures have requested WIMSA to assist them in doing so. WIMSA is providing this capacity-building support either directly or by encouraging WIMSA support organisations to facilitate the process. WIMSA is also well known among local, regional and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which focus on development work, education, human rights and indigenous people's issues. United Nations (UN) agencies, government ministries, media institutions, academics and other concerned individuals have increasingly approached WIMSA personnel for their expertise, advice, information, assistance and other services. |