'Real people facing real challenges'

Photo exhibition celebrates University’s transformative work in Namibia

Ground-breaking work by Cardiff University to improve health and reduce poverty in a southern African country has been highlighted in a new exhibition.

The impact of the University’s three-year-old Phoenix Project has already been recognised by senior members of the Government of Namibia.

Namibia’s Deputy Health and Social Services Minister personally asked Phoenix leader Professor Judith Hall to provide specialist training for health professionals around the country.

The project, which works hand in hand with the University of Namibia (UNAM) and supports Welsh Government’s Wales for Africa programme and its Well-being of Future Generations Act, has helped improve the skills of doctors, nurses and midwives.

But the team’s work covers a much broader range of themes featuring more than 30 activities such as:

• Boosting mathematics knowledge among future scientists
• Supporting local languages
• Carrying out joint research on child neglect
• Developing communities of software enthusiasts
• Saving lives following road accidents
• Boosting aspirations of young learners
• Improving study skills
• Boosting e-learning
• Improving human rights awareness

A new photographic exhibition by the Phoenix Project’s Paul Crompton has captured some of the transformative work and the people involved.

Project leader Professor Judith Hall said: “I hope that this exhibition raises awareness of our inspiring work with UNAM and the project’s contribution to the Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations Act.

“One of the seven goals of the Well-being Act is ‘a globally responsible Wales’, and by joining with Namibia, Wales is going some way to fulfilling this pledge. Both Wales and Namibia share and grow through this partnership.

“Paul’s wonderful photographs are an illustration of the huge amount we’ve achieved so far in such a short time in partnership with our Namibian colleagues, but also a reminder that there’s so much more left to do.”

Mr Crompton said: “I hope that the exhibition captures the incredible breadth of the project and the big impact it is having.

“The aim is also to convey the very human side of much of the work – it benefits real people facing real challenges – and that’s very satisfying.”

The exhibition opens at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay on Monday 6 March and runs until 17 March.

It has been sponsored by Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport, Vaughan Gething.

Mr Gething said: “The images in this exhibition really capture the impact this project is having and will help to raise awareness of this ground breaking project.

“We are proud to be associated with this fantastic project, which, amongst many others things, has helped improve the skills of doctors, nurses and midwifes in Namibia and provides many new international opportunities and experiences for staff and students in Wales and Namibia.”

The Phoenix Project’s work taps into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including poverty, health & wellbeing, and education.

Phoenix is a mutually beneficial collaboration between the University and UNAM.

It is one of Cardiff University’s flagship engagement projects, otherwise known as the Transforming Communities programme, which work with communities in Cardiff, Wales and beyond in areas including health, education and wellbeing.