March 21, 2011
I am pleased to announce that I am now a certified mushroom farmer! I have earned my certification after participating in a three day workshop. The time was spent learning about all the advantages of mushrooms ( I never knew they were so healthy), mixing various substrates and supplements and bagging dozens of starters. My favorite substrate is plaintain leaves but they only last three weeks before there is no nutrition left. Corn husks ground up and mixed with other stuff lasts three months and the big winner is sawdust mixed with ground corn ( we happen to have a corn grinding machine as one of our projects).
Women came from all over the region to attend this workshop. This is a small business that can be done with little space and stress. Our organization is always looking for income generating activities that women who are infected with HIV can do. Many of them are overworked and stressed- which of course makes the HIV symptoms worse. We have enough starter bags now to harvest a good crop of
mushroom s soon. I will be the first customer!
I was also successful at accessing a small grant through VSO to pay for this project. VSO has capacity building and empowering beneficiaries ( people living with HIV/AIDS) as a part of their objectives so anything that fits under those criteria is considered. They are interested in reducing stigma and promoting the involvement of beneficiaries in programming and planning. Our organization meets all these objectives and some so VSO is quite pleased to be partnering with them
Regarding my social life........Spent two nights in Babungo with my friend who lives in the place that most people would pay big bucks to vacation at. (there is great potential for tourism in this region because of the hiking and scenery but the infrastructure is so poor that most tourists couldn't take it). We packed in two 3 hour hikes, a visit to the tea plantation and a ceremonial dance at the local Fon's palace.
The tea plantation is owned by one of the richest men in Cameroon. He owns 3000 hectares of hilly land covered in tea. It is one of the most beautiful landscapes I've ever seen. We toured the place from the nursery to the mature plants. Saw the production from drying, steaming, mincing, bagging and packaging. Then we toured his grounds. He has his own mosque, a peacock acreage, horses, ostriches and a prize winning major bull. He also has 2000 people working for him that live in slums on the property....... The trip was 10 kms. Up a BAD road on motorcycles. We had to walk up a few hills because they were too steep. Why I am not loosing weight is a mystery!
We were fortunate to attend the start of the planting season celebration. It was the first dance complete with naked chested dancers ( all male), the Fon in masks and robes, men with leopard skins, pots an d branches on their heads, and other witch doctor types who pointed spears at you until you threw them some money. I did because I want my luck to hold here!! the volunteer who has been here on and off for 8 years was dressed in ceremonial dress because she has been appointed the Fon's honorary mother. She got us into this shin dig as well as the tea plantation ( it was closed but they opened it for us).
Saturday evening we had a bonfire and some of the staff at the clinic made dinner for us all. Kids, staff and volunteers. I made my first banana cake in my oven ( pot with sand) which was a success with the volunteers. We sang a little, the Cameroonians drummed and sang and I went to bed to the beat of drums and kids dancing.It was the biggest full moon in 20 years apparently- it's neat to know we are all under the same one.
Other than this, I facilitated my first workshop with another volunteer and two colleagues. It went over well- people here like role plays ( can you believe it!) even in front of the whole crowd. They also love clapping for achievements which we did many times through the workshop. I felt proud that we started and finished on time!
Work is starting to pick up a little which is great. I am writing reports, updating VSO and working with some staff on skills and Pidgin lessons.
Spring is coming, seeds are getting organized and the wild flowers are beginning to poke out in the mountains.
Hello to all until next time.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
March 12, 2011
March 12, 2011
Happy International Women’s day to all of you! This place knows how to throw a celebration.
There were over 800 women’s groups marching in the northwest region that I am in. All of them had matching uniforms ( in our case cabas in green and yellow), head scarves, and signs , some inspiring, some just with the organizations/groups name. We met down on the main street and marched past the bandstand where the local and area dignitaries sat ( including the governor and local fons). There was a lot of clapping and picture taking.
We then cabbed back to Ntankah’s offices where we had put up canopies and set out chairs. Women had cooked last night for a crowd and beer and sodas were brought in. Grassroots women from the area ( sister organizations) arrived with a large bus and the party got started.
Speeches ( I was elected to do one), a great lunch, a fashion show, several songs from us as hosts and impromptu songs galore. A large youth contingent led us in many dances and got us old people really grooving. We then had a dance contest of traditional dances which was a blast, and we had names of men and women called out ( we had to find each other and dance). I got the quarter head of our division! A thoroughly enjoyable the day. The music and beer flowed.
What’s happened to us at home? The young people here that are aware, educated and involved want a better future for men and women, gender equality and no more HIV. The are real pioneers spreading the word against lots of opposition. They are involved in water issues, land issues, women’s rights. It is inspiring and let’s me know how far we have come in my generation. I forget some of the struggles from the past.
For my hiking buddies, last weekend I was able to hike again in one of the most beautiful spots I have seen so far. Three cabs and one motorcycle ride later we were in a valley surrounded by mountains. The valley has rich, black soil and farmers there grow tomatos, corn and tons of rice. My two buddies look out on the rice fields- it is the kind of view most of us would pay big bucks to sit in front of. PS. They happen to have water and Sykpe access as well. I may be a frequent visitor! This is where we are having the March birthday weekend.
There are two volunteers there working in one of the few mental health treatment programs in our region. It is much like a l’Arche community with patients ( called students) live with staff and caregivers. They work in small industries and have a combination of traditional and modern therapies ( including herbal and modern medicines and traditional healing practices. It is an inspiring community and a beautiful place.
Well, now it is the 12th and my internet is still not working.....I join the millions who say 'arghhhh, Cameroon!”. when my internet cooperates I will send this off.
Thursday was clean up day for the region- I forgot, was in Bamenda town and walked 2 hours back to work. No cabs run and any motorcycles caught by the police are in trouble. I am considering it a workout!!! Everyone is supposed to clean the front and surroundings of their homes and businesses. Then a mass burning happens of everything....yes, all the toxic substances we get to breathe.
Here it is Saturday and still trying internet. It may be spring before you get this entry. Saturday routine- get water, walk 20 minutes for a taxi to go to the market. First an hour in the bank as I shuffle from the guard, to the first suited man, to the next suited man to stamp my withdrawl slip, then into the 'vault'. I'm out. Groceries at one store, fabric in the main market, meat at the meat side of the market, vegies and fruits at the other side. Dodge taxis, go to the one bakery tha has baguettes and I trudge to the taxi area laden with knapsack and bags. Return trip home , walk 20 minutes. Unpack, wash clothes by hand, scrub my floors, eat lunch and drop with heat exhaustion in front of my computer. You wonder why I'd rather be trekking!!!!!
Next weekend is March birthday celebration weekend. Long trek, bonfire, tea plantation visit ( I hope). Stayed tuned for my mushroom growing workshop Monday and Tuesday and I workshop I am doing with 2 colleagues plus a volunteer on Wednesday and Thursday. This week I will earn my keep!!!
Love to you all.
Cornelia
Happy International Women’s day to all of you! This place knows how to throw a celebration.
There were over 800 women’s groups marching in the northwest region that I am in. All of them had matching uniforms ( in our case cabas in green and yellow), head scarves, and signs , some inspiring, some just with the organizations/groups name. We met down on the main street and marched past the bandstand where the local and area dignitaries sat ( including the governor and local fons). There was a lot of clapping and picture taking.
We then cabbed back to Ntankah’s offices where we had put up canopies and set out chairs. Women had cooked last night for a crowd and beer and sodas were brought in. Grassroots women from the area ( sister organizations) arrived with a large bus and the party got started.
Speeches ( I was elected to do one), a great lunch, a fashion show, several songs from us as hosts and impromptu songs galore. A large youth contingent led us in many dances and got us old people really grooving. We then had a dance contest of traditional dances which was a blast, and we had names of men and women called out ( we had to find each other and dance). I got the quarter head of our division! A thoroughly enjoyable the day. The music and beer flowed.
What’s happened to us at home? The young people here that are aware, educated and involved want a better future for men and women, gender equality and no more HIV. The are real pioneers spreading the word against lots of opposition. They are involved in water issues, land issues, women’s rights. It is inspiring and let’s me know how far we have come in my generation. I forget some of the struggles from the past.
For my hiking buddies, last weekend I was able to hike again in one of the most beautiful spots I have seen so far. Three cabs and one motorcycle ride later we were in a valley surrounded by mountains. The valley has rich, black soil and farmers there grow tomatos, corn and tons of rice. My two buddies look out on the rice fields- it is the kind of view most of us would pay big bucks to sit in front of. PS. They happen to have water and Sykpe access as well. I may be a frequent visitor! This is where we are having the March birthday weekend.
There are two volunteers there working in one of the few mental health treatment programs in our region. It is much like a l’Arche community with patients ( called students) live with staff and caregivers. They work in small industries and have a combination of traditional and modern therapies ( including herbal and modern medicines and traditional healing practices. It is an inspiring community and a beautiful place.
Well, now it is the 12th and my internet is still not working.....I join the millions who say 'arghhhh, Cameroon!”. when my internet cooperates I will send this off.
Thursday was clean up day for the region- I forgot, was in Bamenda town and walked 2 hours back to work. No cabs run and any motorcycles caught by the police are in trouble. I am considering it a workout!!! Everyone is supposed to clean the front and surroundings of their homes and businesses. Then a mass burning happens of everything....yes, all the toxic substances we get to breathe.
Here it is Saturday and still trying internet. It may be spring before you get this entry. Saturday routine- get water, walk 20 minutes for a taxi to go to the market. First an hour in the bank as I shuffle from the guard, to the first suited man, to the next suited man to stamp my withdrawl slip, then into the 'vault'. I'm out. Groceries at one store, fabric in the main market, meat at the meat side of the market, vegies and fruits at the other side. Dodge taxis, go to the one bakery tha has baguettes and I trudge to the taxi area laden with knapsack and bags. Return trip home , walk 20 minutes. Unpack, wash clothes by hand, scrub my floors, eat lunch and drop with heat exhaustion in front of my computer. You wonder why I'd rather be trekking!!!!!
Next weekend is March birthday celebration weekend. Long trek, bonfire, tea plantation visit ( I hope). Stayed tuned for my mushroom growing workshop Monday and Tuesday and I workshop I am doing with 2 colleagues plus a volunteer on Wednesday and Thursday. This week I will earn my keep!!!
Love to you all.
Cornelia
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The last few weeks and Cornelia goes on a mini holiday
March 1, 2011
It has been a few weeks and they have been busy. The seasons are changing slowly with a little more rain falling, lots of burning of green foliage as people get ready to plant in mid-March. The northwest region is under haze most of the time now and our mountains are invisible.
A note about planting here-there is no mechanized equipment or animals used here for farming. The majority of farms are small holdings and 80% of the work is done by the women. They are armed with a shovel that is sharpened and has a curved handle. It scoops and chops. They often babies strapped on their backs or children are left with older siblings while moms work.
Our team with me tagging along, offered a mobile HIV screening clinic and lecture. This was the first time for me to see my colleagues in action. We arrived with a lab tech, our nurse, grandma, two counsellors ( that do pre and post test counseling) and a variety of helpers. We lectured to an audience of mostly women on family planning, male and female condom use, all sorts of questions about sex and how condoms might affect sex, etc. It was very rousing, interactive and engaging. Even though there are all sorts of taboos here, talking about sex doesn’t seem to be one of them!
I also spent a day at a workshop with 5 organizations that were being evaluated by VSO. I got to help facilitate a small group of women who were clients of the organizations on how they felt about their experiences. It was very touching actually to hear first hand how volunteers like me and agencies like CUSO-VSO do help people who need it most.
70 volunteers got together in the capitol Yaounde for 4 days of monitoring and evaluation review. Rousing discussions, debates, arguments and a good dose of French English confusion rounded out the week. I ate well including pizza ( I craved cheese), Indian ( one Indian restaurant), pizza again and Chinese. I then hit a large supermarket and bought cheese, chorizo, granola, soy sauce, rice wraps- treats to bring back and hoard. It was grand except for the almost pick pocket disaster- I fortunately was wearing my caba ( my large big mama dress), which has so many folds he couldn’t get his hand in my pocket. I elbowed him and got into my taxi. A wicked man as they would say here.
I took the opportunity to take a few days and went for the weekend to Kribi, a beautiful seaside resort a 4 hour bus ride away. 4 volunteers from Quebec are there working in a model forestry program. So, I stayed in a hotel and swam, ate prawns and enjoyed a wonderful day. ( I will omit details of worms on walls that fall on people in the middle of the night. The geckos at least catch mosquitos!) We visited a pygmy village, had a pirogue ride down a river and relaxed. Not to belabour transportation problems but the 4 hours was in a bus with 10 rows, seats for 3.5 people and 5 people were squashed together. I discovered that men are better seat mates because they actually move a little to give you space ( women don’t) and they don’t have big hips ( women do). Imagine the three seats in an airplane filled with 3 reasonably sized people. Then add a large women with large bags of groceries that wedges herself in to the seat. My legs were numb by the end of the journey. PS Anyone getting out before the end had to climb out through the windows of the bus.
Anyway, enough of the planes, trains and automobile stories. In all seriousness, tourism will never take hold here as long as the roads and transportation structures are so poor.
I’m back with a big welcome from my ’family’ and gang at work. I was missed and missed them too. I was happy to be out of the city.
This week we are preparing for International Womens Day next Tuesday. It is a huge event here and one that I’m sure will remind me of years in the past. There are about 800 women’s groups marching down our main street ( the same street the kids marched mid-February). We will all have a uniform, the same dresses, that one of our staff is sewing as I write this. We will dance, eat, play soccer, etc. These people can teach me how to have fun! When is the last time we did any serious marching? And as for drumming and dancing….
I am going to be offering a 2 day workshop with another volunteer and a few of Ntankah’s staff in the next few weeks. I am excited and nervous about that. It will be on HIV/Aids and counseling skills for community volunteers and home based care givers. Another volunteer, our IT guy, is going to offer a day on Excel and one on Word, plus set up a website. So between these things and some reports to send in to VSO on the organization, March should be a little busier.
Well the bats are busy mating and our goats are having babies. Spring is coming!! For all of my dear friends and family as well it will be soon!. Take care all and happy International Women’s day!
It has been a few weeks and they have been busy. The seasons are changing slowly with a little more rain falling, lots of burning of green foliage as people get ready to plant in mid-March. The northwest region is under haze most of the time now and our mountains are invisible.
A note about planting here-there is no mechanized equipment or animals used here for farming. The majority of farms are small holdings and 80% of the work is done by the women. They are armed with a shovel that is sharpened and has a curved handle. It scoops and chops. They often babies strapped on their backs or children are left with older siblings while moms work.
Our team with me tagging along, offered a mobile HIV screening clinic and lecture. This was the first time for me to see my colleagues in action. We arrived with a lab tech, our nurse, grandma, two counsellors ( that do pre and post test counseling) and a variety of helpers. We lectured to an audience of mostly women on family planning, male and female condom use, all sorts of questions about sex and how condoms might affect sex, etc. It was very rousing, interactive and engaging. Even though there are all sorts of taboos here, talking about sex doesn’t seem to be one of them!
I also spent a day at a workshop with 5 organizations that were being evaluated by VSO. I got to help facilitate a small group of women who were clients of the organizations on how they felt about their experiences. It was very touching actually to hear first hand how volunteers like me and agencies like CUSO-VSO do help people who need it most.
70 volunteers got together in the capitol Yaounde for 4 days of monitoring and evaluation review. Rousing discussions, debates, arguments and a good dose of French English confusion rounded out the week. I ate well including pizza ( I craved cheese), Indian ( one Indian restaurant), pizza again and Chinese. I then hit a large supermarket and bought cheese, chorizo, granola, soy sauce, rice wraps- treats to bring back and hoard. It was grand except for the almost pick pocket disaster- I fortunately was wearing my caba ( my large big mama dress), which has so many folds he couldn’t get his hand in my pocket. I elbowed him and got into my taxi. A wicked man as they would say here.
I took the opportunity to take a few days and went for the weekend to Kribi, a beautiful seaside resort a 4 hour bus ride away. 4 volunteers from Quebec are there working in a model forestry program. So, I stayed in a hotel and swam, ate prawns and enjoyed a wonderful day. ( I will omit details of worms on walls that fall on people in the middle of the night. The geckos at least catch mosquitos!) We visited a pygmy village, had a pirogue ride down a river and relaxed. Not to belabour transportation problems but the 4 hours was in a bus with 10 rows, seats for 3.5 people and 5 people were squashed together. I discovered that men are better seat mates because they actually move a little to give you space ( women don’t) and they don’t have big hips ( women do). Imagine the three seats in an airplane filled with 3 reasonably sized people. Then add a large women with large bags of groceries that wedges herself in to the seat. My legs were numb by the end of the journey. PS Anyone getting out before the end had to climb out through the windows of the bus.
Anyway, enough of the planes, trains and automobile stories. In all seriousness, tourism will never take hold here as long as the roads and transportation structures are so poor.
I’m back with a big welcome from my ’family’ and gang at work. I was missed and missed them too. I was happy to be out of the city.
This week we are preparing for International Womens Day next Tuesday. It is a huge event here and one that I’m sure will remind me of years in the past. There are about 800 women’s groups marching down our main street ( the same street the kids marched mid-February). We will all have a uniform, the same dresses, that one of our staff is sewing as I write this. We will dance, eat, play soccer, etc. These people can teach me how to have fun! When is the last time we did any serious marching? And as for drumming and dancing….
I am going to be offering a 2 day workshop with another volunteer and a few of Ntankah’s staff in the next few weeks. I am excited and nervous about that. It will be on HIV/Aids and counseling skills for community volunteers and home based care givers. Another volunteer, our IT guy, is going to offer a day on Excel and one on Word, plus set up a website. So between these things and some reports to send in to VSO on the organization, March should be a little busier.
Well the bats are busy mating and our goats are having babies. Spring is coming!! For all of my dear friends and family as well it will be soon!. Take care all and happy International Women’s day!
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