Kiwanis learns about Angola

Hope for Angola was the message George Wolfe delivered to the Kiwanis Club. He retired this year from working in the oil business in that country. In 2007 he was promoted to Turn-Around Coordinator in Angola where he worked a rotating shift of one month on and one month off. His job was planning shut downs of oil platforms for repairs and maintenance.

After four years he retired, but was asked to return to be in charge of operating procedures. So once again he worked in Angola and continued learning about the land and people.

Wolfe described Angola as a country rich in resources but with a very poor population. It was a colony of Portugal from the 1500s until 1975 when they gained independence and Portugal pulled out, the country was left with poor and uneducated natives. There was a struggle for power and two opposing groups waged civil war until 2002. It is taking time to recover from the ravages of war.

One of the remaining problems in Angola is the presence of unexploded land mines. Efforts are being made to find and destroy these because they still kill and maim many people each year. Efforts are also being made to eradicate malaria, another bane of the people.

Wolfe described the people of Angola as wonderful, friendly, and smart. His prior employer, Chevron, has a policy of identifying Angolans with potential and sending them to universities in the United States. The local Angolan government also recognizes the importance of education and is planning reforms.

China has established a presence in Angola. They are rebuilding damaged properties including roads and hospitals. This is having possitive effect on the economy and making life better for the people.

Kiwanis members enjoyed learning about Angola a country of which they knew little. Many went home to locate Angola on the map.

Kiwanis meets each Wednesday at noon at Pacino's Restaurant. They are involved in ways to improve the lives of children. They are currently raising funds to strengthen the Salvation Army's program for youth. Call (661)821-0817 for membership information.