Stephanie and I in Maryland
The view of Kaya from the Governor's house
Another angle of Kaya
Trent and Grace, my sitemates
Richard and I, sweaty as usual
Emily, Carolyn, and I
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Burkina's Peace Corps 50th Anniversary
Check out this video from the first day of Burkina's 50th Anniversary fair:
I'm Back!
Ca fait deux jours (it’s been two days)…as they say here in Burkina Faso, whether it’s been two days or a month or a year since you last saw someone. And yes, it has been two days, at least, since I’ve updated my blog. Désolé.
So what has been going on in my life recently? A lot I must say. Let me start back in the middle of July…
I left on the 18th of July with Marita, Julie, and Rachel (fellow PCVs who has just become RPCV- returned Peace Corps Volunteers- aka they had just finished their service) for Tanzania. We arrived without much hassle in the middle of the night and promptly slept the next day away in our hotel rooms. Rachel and I were in the honeymoon suite, and it sure was sweet. The following day we left on a three-day safari to see animals in the wild, like I’d never seen before. The half of the safari was at Tarangire National Park where five minutes in we saw a herd of wildebeest and started to franticly take pictures. Little did we know that wildebeests are like goats in Burkina, you see them all the time. Some of the animals we saw, but were not limited to: Impala, Plain Zebra, Masai Ostrich, Masai Lion, African Elephant, Secretary bird, Masai giraffe, Savanna Baboon, Cape Buffalo, Fischer’s lovebird (made me think of you Mom), Vervet monkey, and warthog (which the guide kept calling Pumba). We really couldn’t believe how many animals we saw in such a short amount of time.
The next day we left for Ngorongoro Park, the home of a huge crater or caldera, at least a mile down and 16 miles across. There, we stayed on the edge of the caldera for the night before venturing down the next day. After taking the steep route into the mouth of the caldera, it felt like we were in a different world. The cloud cover was even below the rim of the caldera. In Ngorongoro we saw many of the same animals as in Tarangire, but we also saw hippos, jackals, gazelles, the sacred ibis, hyenas, and even a cheetah! Before going on the safari, I had a ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ attitude, but after being on one, it was completely worth it. When again am I going to be able to see animals like that in their natural state?
After finishing the safari, and arriving back in Arusha, Tanzania, we rested up that night before beginning the climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro….I can’t really seem to explain in words what a good time I had. Yes, it was cold (really really cold after being in Burkina) and I got altitude sickness, but I was with wonderful people, which made the whole trip worth it. We did the Lemosho route and finished in eight days. People generally finish in six to eight days, but we choose to do a longer ascent for better acclimatization after being at basically sea level in Burkina for two years. And the food was amazing! I don’t know if I thought that because I had come from Burkina as not from America, but boy, did it rock. I would do Kili again just for the food…just kidding. But it was good! (Can you tell that I’m still a PCV because of how much I talk about food?)
I really could go on and on about Kilimanjaro, but I won’t take your time up with that, because I still have so much to share! So after descending the biggest mountain on the continent of Africa, I flew back to Burkina while Marita, Julie, and Rachel continued onto America and home sweet home. And fortunately, we all got our bags (eventually) in their respective locations!
Once I arrived in Burkina (without my bag, which got delayed and Ghana and would find me later), I went straight to the PC bureau to work on Camp Glow stuff. I stayed in Ouaga a few days to get everything figured out, and then it was back to Kaya to get things finalized before the camp. So I arrived back August 4th in Burkina and the training of trainers for Camp Glow started August 11th. Not much time. And guess what happened in between: the mayor decided to change the location on us, so we had to find a new place, inform the officials and inform all the schools. Additionally, PLAN Burkina, an NGO we were working with, said that we didn’t submit the proper paperwork to get their help. Thanks for telling us at the last minute. All the last minute stuff also had to be taken care of as well, such as bringing supplies to the new location, setting up mosquito nets, printing a ton of materials, etc, etc, etc. Needless to say, it was a process, one I do not want to do again alone. One of the lessons learned.
Then came the beginning of Camp Glow. We had a three-day training of trainers, getting the facilitators ready to facilitate. Then the boys arrived! And then the girls came! Throughout the two week-long camp, there were activities to encourage self-esteem, goal-setting, and leadership, as well as create awareness for personal health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and the importance of education. We, as facilitators, ran into problems, but that’s the case with any new thing that takes place. And of course there were many lessons learned and we’re already thinking about next year’s camp (AHHHH!!!!). The important thing is that the students had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, while also gaining important information and knowledge that they will hopefully guard for the rest of their lives. I have faith in them.
Towards the end of Camp Glow I started getting sick and by the end of the second week I was down for the count. The PC country director took me to Ouaga, where I stayed in the med unit for almost two weeks. It was a good, air-conditioned, recovery period. I came back to Kaya last week, still a little rundown and tired, but was very glad to be back. I spent a few days’ just relaxing, beginning to think about all the paperwork that comes after the camp, and decorating my house. I started work again yesterday at Save the Children, and it feels really good to be back. And I am back.
Ok, well that’s about all for today, if you have any comments or questions, please feel free to post comments or email me at emma.prasher@gmail.com. Now some housekeeping stuff:
1. I don’t know if I wrote about my change of address already, but here it is again:
Emma Prasher, PCV
s/c Corps de la Paix
B.P. 157
Kaya, Burkina Faso
West Africa
2. PC Burkina has a website! It is www.pcburkina.org. Please feel free to browse to your heart’s content.
3. Burkina’s Camp Glow has a page on the website. At the moment it’s a little hard to find. Two ways to find it are:
a. Click on the “Youth Development” tab on the website. It is under that.
b. Google search “Burkina Camp Glow.” It should be the first or second link that pops up.
4. As usual, it’s taking wayyyy to long to load pictures on my blog, so check out facebook for picture updates!
5. I just got a blackberry (I know, giving into the smartphone trend) so I now have internet all the time, or at least when the connection is good. So I will be more available to chat whenever! Also, if you also have a blackberry, let me know and we can become blackberry messenger friends and text for free!
6. I will be taking my month long home leave from the end of November to the end of December. I am planning to spend the majority in it in Alabama with my family, but will be up in the DC/St. Mary’s area for a few days. So hopefully I can see everyone!
I hope this finds you all well and surviving the crazy weather. It’s currently the beginning of mini-hot season here (90F at 9pm), so I’ll send some warm breezes your way!!! Take care!
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Save the Children
Now for a little more information about the organization I am now working for. Save the Children Canada (SCC) is an international humanitarian NGO who works to protect children’s rights throughout the world. SCC has been present in West Africa for more than 20 years, now with a regional office in Ouaga. In Burkina, alongside the Ministry to Health, SCC works to teach about HIV/AIDS and against malnutrition. After an evaluation, the Centre-Nord region of Burkina Faso was chosen as SCC’s site to fight malnutrition. The regional capital of the Centre-Nord is Kaya. The Health District of Kaya covers 7 communes and 334 villages. Within these villages, there are 52 CSPSs (Medical Clinics), one CREN (Centre for Malnutrition), and the regional hospital. SSC works in all of these locations to help eliminate malnutrition in the district of Kaya. The goal is to have a durable and permanent reduction of malnutrition.
Now, malnutrition is what exactly? According to unicef, malnutrition “is a broad term commonly used as an alternative to undernutrition but technically it also refers to overnutrition. People are malnourished if their diet does not provide adequate calories and protein for growth and maintenance or they are unable to fully utilize the food they eat due to illness (undernutrition). They are also malnourished if they consume too many calories (overnutrition).” In this situation we are talking about undernutrition. I would love to see fat babies everywhere.
It is estimated that 20 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition and directly contributes to 1 million deaths per year. Since 2005, health workers have been using the community care method to treat acute malnutrition. This method has been recognized by the World Health Organization as the best approach to treat malnutrition. This approach has 3 essential components: community mobilization, outpatient care, for children without complications, and hospitalization for children with complications. Generally children 6-59 months are admitted into this program.
So what does this mean for me exactly? This means that every morning a team of Save the Children workers (generally 2-3 people) goes out to one of the 52 villages in the Kaya district. When we arrive at the village, we head to the CSPS to find a long line of women waiting for us (if word has gotten out that we’re coming that day). Then we set to work determining if each child is malnourished. We look at the age, sex, weight, height, and MUAC. Based on the child’s measurements, we decide if the child is malnourished. And if so, is he/she moderately or severely malnourished? If the child is malnourished, we give them vitamin A, amoxicillin, folic acid, along with plumpy nut (a nutritional supplement given out by UNICEF). We enter them in our program and monitor them over several months, with the hope that everyone gets better!
SCC has recently started a new initiative where all the children 0 to 5 years in the Kaya district, along with pregnant or nursing mothers, are given free medical treatment. Programs like these can take place due to community participation alongside the regional health office. I’m looking forward to seeing this be put into action.
In other news, I leave for Mt. Kilimanjaro in a few days. I’m still doing my Close of Service trip that I’d planned on doing for almost a year with three of my good friends here in country. So we will be climbing Kili and doing a three day safari. Then I return to Burkina where ten days later, Camp G2LOW starts. It’s going to be a whirlwind until September, but I am looking forward to everything (although of course I am also looking forward to relaxing and only having work to think about in Sept). Yay!
Now, malnutrition is what exactly? According to unicef, malnutrition “is a broad term commonly used as an alternative to undernutrition but technically it also refers to overnutrition. People are malnourished if their diet does not provide adequate calories and protein for growth and maintenance or they are unable to fully utilize the food they eat due to illness (undernutrition). They are also malnourished if they consume too many calories (overnutrition).” In this situation we are talking about undernutrition. I would love to see fat babies everywhere.
It is estimated that 20 million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition and directly contributes to 1 million deaths per year. Since 2005, health workers have been using the community care method to treat acute malnutrition. This method has been recognized by the World Health Organization as the best approach to treat malnutrition. This approach has 3 essential components: community mobilization, outpatient care, for children without complications, and hospitalization for children with complications. Generally children 6-59 months are admitted into this program.
So what does this mean for me exactly? This means that every morning a team of Save the Children workers (generally 2-3 people) goes out to one of the 52 villages in the Kaya district. When we arrive at the village, we head to the CSPS to find a long line of women waiting for us (if word has gotten out that we’re coming that day). Then we set to work determining if each child is malnourished. We look at the age, sex, weight, height, and MUAC. Based on the child’s measurements, we decide if the child is malnourished. And if so, is he/she moderately or severely malnourished? If the child is malnourished, we give them vitamin A, amoxicillin, folic acid, along with plumpy nut (a nutritional supplement given out by UNICEF). We enter them in our program and monitor them over several months, with the hope that everyone gets better!
SCC has recently started a new initiative where all the children 0 to 5 years in the Kaya district, along with pregnant or nursing mothers, are given free medical treatment. Programs like these can take place due to community participation alongside the regional health office. I’m looking forward to seeing this be put into action.
In other news, I leave for Mt. Kilimanjaro in a few days. I’m still doing my Close of Service trip that I’d planned on doing for almost a year with three of my good friends here in country. So we will be climbing Kili and doing a three day safari. Then I return to Burkina where ten days later, Camp G2LOW starts. It’s going to be a whirlwind until September, but I am looking forward to everything (although of course I am also looking forward to relaxing and only having work to think about in Sept). Yay!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Third Year
Dear Friends and Family,
I am officially doing a third year here in Burkina Faso. I am working with the NGO Save the Children Canada. Everything happened in a whirlwind a few weeks ago, with me finishing school, then getting this job with Save the Children, then starting my new job, then moving all of my belongings to my new house. Needless to say, I haven't had much time to update/be on the internet. But I'm here now!
I am now working at Save the Children. I am still a Peace Corps Volunteer, so I still get all the perks of PC (the best healthcare, a whole bureau to support us, a way out if the country blows up, etc) but I am working for an NGO. Save the Children here in Burkina has three main offices: Ouaga, Banfora, and Kaya. I am at the Kaya office working in the mobile team to help end childhood malnutrition in the centre-nord region of Burkina. Being in the mobile team, every morning we go to a different village to diagnosis and treat children who are malnourished. It is fantastic work, everyday is different, and I actually feel like I'm making a difference.
Living in Kaya will be very different than living in Tougouri. First of all, my house is amazing. I have a salon, two bedrooms, one of which I have turned into a kitchen, and an inside bathroom, yes with running water and even a toilet! Although I have to admit, I still use the latrine more often than not. A toilet just uses too much water. But the shower is wonderful!! Annnddddd I have electricity! This is a big change for me. Electricty means that I now have fans! So I sleep in my bed, with real sheets on it (I've been missing that for two years) under a large ceiling fan. Being able to charge my cellphone and computer is definitely nice too.
Another difference about living in Kaya is that there are two other PC volunteers. I really like this, but I don't want it to turn into me only hanging out with them. I enjoy (and now miss) my village friends. But good news, Kaya is only 70km from Tougouri, so I am sure to see my Tougouri friends all the time. In fact, one of them has already come down to visit me for a night!
Oh another difference: I have a new puppy! His name is Denzel and he is black with a white stomach and white front paws and loves to chew on toes!
Well, I've got to run, but hope everyone is well and it's not as hot there as it is here!!
I am officially doing a third year here in Burkina Faso. I am working with the NGO Save the Children Canada. Everything happened in a whirlwind a few weeks ago, with me finishing school, then getting this job with Save the Children, then starting my new job, then moving all of my belongings to my new house. Needless to say, I haven't had much time to update/be on the internet. But I'm here now!
I am now working at Save the Children. I am still a Peace Corps Volunteer, so I still get all the perks of PC (the best healthcare, a whole bureau to support us, a way out if the country blows up, etc) but I am working for an NGO. Save the Children here in Burkina has three main offices: Ouaga, Banfora, and Kaya. I am at the Kaya office working in the mobile team to help end childhood malnutrition in the centre-nord region of Burkina. Being in the mobile team, every morning we go to a different village to diagnosis and treat children who are malnourished. It is fantastic work, everyday is different, and I actually feel like I'm making a difference.
Living in Kaya will be very different than living in Tougouri. First of all, my house is amazing. I have a salon, two bedrooms, one of which I have turned into a kitchen, and an inside bathroom, yes with running water and even a toilet! Although I have to admit, I still use the latrine more often than not. A toilet just uses too much water. But the shower is wonderful!! Annnddddd I have electricity! This is a big change for me. Electricty means that I now have fans! So I sleep in my bed, with real sheets on it (I've been missing that for two years) under a large ceiling fan. Being able to charge my cellphone and computer is definitely nice too.
Another difference about living in Kaya is that there are two other PC volunteers. I really like this, but I don't want it to turn into me only hanging out with them. I enjoy (and now miss) my village friends. But good news, Kaya is only 70km from Tougouri, so I am sure to see my Tougouri friends all the time. In fact, one of them has already come down to visit me for a night!
Oh another difference: I have a new puppy! His name is Denzel and he is black with a white stomach and white front paws and loves to chew on toes!
Well, I've got to run, but hope everyone is well and it's not as hot there as it is here!!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Forever and Ever
Sorry it has been a year and a day since I've last updated. Okay, it's actually only been three months. But three months is a long time and a lot has happened!
To recap:
On February 22nd, students in Koudougou, a town 100km northwest of Ouaga, started protesting after the death of a jailed student. During the protests four people were killed and more were injured (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/world/africa/25briefs-Burkina.html). As a result of this, students burned down government buildings in Koudougou and called for nationwide strikes. On February 28th the Burkina government closed school indefinitely and the police chief and governor of Koudougou were relived of their duties (http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=13019318). In early March, students all over the country began protesting and burning police stations and government property (http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-09/burkina-faso-students-protest-deaths-police-rights-group-says.html).
Mid March brought around the first military protests, as soldiers in Ouaga left their barracks and began shooting into the air in protest of a recent arrest of their colleague (http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/burkina-govt-calls-for-calm-after-overnight-gunfire). Everything calmed down for a few days until unrest began in Fada, a town about 250km East of Ouagadougou. Soldiers were again protesting over the arrest of a colleague and blocked the entrance to Fada (http://af.reuters.com/article/idAFJOE72R0LR20110328). Subsequently, soldiers from Fada left the town and went to neighboring towns to commandeer vehicles and rally support and arms. After a few tense days, the protests in Fada seemed to calm down.
Around the middle of March, the presidential guard in Ouaga mutinied over a pay dispute (http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-04-15/burkina-s-faso-s-presidential-guard-mutinies-in-capital.html). The military protests then spread to other towns in Burkina Faso (http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/04/18/world-burkina-faso-mutiny.html). The President gave the presidential guard more pay and then dissolved the government and the problems seemed to be solved for the time being http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/16/world/africa/16burkina.html).
At the end of May, right at the end of the school year, teachers began striking, wanting more pay. Students then began striking as well, to help the teacher's cause (http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/04/18/world-burkina-faso-mutiny.html). Then, last Monday, military protests began again around the country over a pay dispute. Tuesday, the military in Bobo, the second biggest city in Burkina, left the second largest base in country, started shooting in the air and looting shops. On Wednesday, shopkeepers, fed up with the looting and rioting, tried to get onto military base, but to no avail. They burned mayor's office and were then dispersed. Thursday all was calm in morning until around 2pm, when the military left their barracks again and started rioting in centre-ville, comandeering cars, and shooting in air. Over Thursday night, the Presidental Guard made its way to Bobo and Friday morning attacked the military base where 57 were arrested, 7 killed, 20 injured (http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE75403V20110605). Things have been calm since Friday.
I hope none of this scares you back home. I have seen no disturbances in my village and would not know any of this was going on except for Peace Corps messages and Burkinabe gossip while listening to the radio. So please do not worry. I feel completely safe. :)
Now, in terms of my life, school is finished!...well almost. I have calculated all of my students' grades and filled out their report cards. All that is left is the final teachers meeting. So I am basically done with my primary assignment for Peace Corps! Camp GLOW has been moved to August, due to the extension of the school year and everything that has been going on countrywide. So this means that I will be in Burkina at least until September. However, I am thinking about doing a third year (gasp). I'm in the process of finding a job in the health sector in Kaya, my regional capital. I really want electricity and fan(s) if I'm going to be staying in Burkina. So my life in up in the air at the moment. But since school is done, I now have time to go to Kaya during the work week to job search. yay!
However, things that are for sure:
1. My sister, Rebecca, is here visiting, but is leaving tonight :(
2. I'm climbing Kilimanjaro in July as my COS (close of service) trip, despite the fact that I am not COSing in July.
3. It is hot season and it it hot.
4. I am still accepting packages, but to there has been a change in the address
New address:
Emma Prasher, PCV
s/c Corps de la Paix
B.P. 157
Kaya, Burkina Faso
5. I miss everyone at home and hope you're all enjoying the beginning of summer!
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Camp GLOW is up online!
Camp GLOW is up online! Please click here to donate: Peace Corps Partnership Camp GLOW.
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
