Zero Sachets

The first day of March marked the first day of Campaign “Zero Sachets,” a campaign to clean Kaya up.  This campaign was initiated by the Governor’s office and on the first of March all of the city’s civil servants went around cleaning up the town.  However, the cleanup did not go very far.  I took the following pictures March 2 and unfortunately I did not see much in terms of “cleanliness.” 

As those of you who have visited me here (Mom, Rebecca), you understand what I’m talking about when I say that Burkina is dirty.  Even if you take away the dust and sand (which cannot be helped as Burkina is a Sahlian country), you will still find Burkina extremely dirty.  The main reason for this, in my opinion, is a lack of cleaning services, such as trash pickup, dumps, etc.  There are hardly any trash cans found anywhere, so people just dump their trash out their windows.  This leads to trash everywhere, in particular black plastic bags “sachets.” 

My neighbors pride themselves on being very clean.  Clean to them means having a clean courtyard.  They collect the trash from inside the courtyard and throw it outside the courtyard.  Therefore they are clean.  I, on the other hand, collect my burnable trash and burn it, so it is not littering up the inside of my courtyard nor the outside world.  The unburnable trash is a little more difficult. For the most part, I try to give away things that I do not want anymore to Burkinabe, such as boxes, containers, etc.  Other trash goes down the latrine, I am sorry to say.  Latrine trash includes old batteries and expired medication.  I know this is not the best thing for the environment, but otherwise I will see children sucking on the batteries and trying to eat the medication.  Not good.  But what else can I do?

A few weeks ago I was in the alimentation, the boutique closest to a grocery store here in Kaya, talking to the cashier.  A man approaches the cashier, pays for his items and then proceeds to take them out of the packaging and drop the packaging on the floor.  I ask him if he is going to pick that up and put it in the trashcan not two feet from him.  He says “No why don’t you do that, or are you not nice?”  I said of course I’m not going to pick it up for him, that’s his job to clean up his own mess.  He laughs and storms out to his car.  Of course this pissed me off to no end.  Here is this larger man (meaning that he has enough money to drink lots of beers to give him a beer belly) that doesn’t care enough about Kaya, Burkina, the world (I don’t know) to pick up a measly piece of trash and then proceeds to get into his luxury car (meaning he has even more money/is probably pretty well educated in terms of Burkina).  After this encounter the cashier thanked me for standing up to him. If the cashier had said anything the customer would have complained that those who work there are not polite or good to their customers.  What kind of world do we live in?

Now that I’ve gone on about this enough, I wish I knew some way to change the mentality here (that goes for many different subjects).  But it seems that I will just have to do my part and maybe if others see me picking up black sachets, they will follow suit. 

Trash next to the biggest garden in Kaya

Trash outside of an old palace in Kaya.  The sign says "Illegal to dump trash here."

Happy Valentine's Day

Returned Peace Corps Volunteers make GREAT dates. (I know I'm not "Returned" yet, but soon!!)

12 reasons to date a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer:

1. We can woo you in multiple languages. Who else is going to whisper sweet nothings to you in everything from Albanian to Hausa to Quechua to Xhosa? That’s right. Only a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.
2. We’re pretty good dancers. Yeah, we don’t like to brag, but after 27 months in Latin America or Africa we know how to move it.
3. We’ll eat anything. Seriously. No matter how bad your cooking, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers have had worse and will eat it with nary a blink. Sheep’s eyeball? Water buffalo gall bladder? Grasshoppers? Bush rat? Bring it.
4. We know all about safe sex, thanks to our very thorough Peace Corps health training. In fact, there’s a chance that we’ve stood unblushingly in front of hundreds of villagers and demonstrated good condom technique with a large wooden phallus.
5. We’ll kill spiders for you. Well, actually, we’ll nonchalantly scoop them up and put them out of sight. Same goes for mice, geckos, frogs, snakes. Critters don’t faze Returned Volunteers.
6. We have great date ideas: wandering a street market, checking out a foreign film, taking in a world music concert, volunteering…. Romantic getaway? Our passport is updated and our suitcase is packed. With us, life is always an adventure.
7. We like you for “you”… not your paycheck. Especially if we are freshly back from service, a local joint with “character” will win out over a pretentious eatery. Living in a group house? No problem. Does it have running hot water? What luxury!
8. You won’t get lost when you’re with a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. Navigating local markets on four continents, we’ve honed an uncanny sense of direction. Or else we’ll ask for directions. We’re not afraid to talk to “strangers.”
9. Waiting for a late train or bus? Don’t worry, we’ve been there, done that. We can share lots of funny stories about “the bus ride from hell” that will make the time go quickly and put it all into perspective.
10. Our low-maintenance fashion style. Returned Peace Corps Volunteer guys are secure in their manhood and don’t mind rocking a sarong. Women often prefer flip flops to high heels. We don’t spend hours in front of a mirror getting ready to go out.
11. Marry us, and you won’t just get one family — you’ll get two! When we refer to our “brother” or “mom,” you’ll want to be certain we’re talking about our American one or our Peace Corps one. You might even get two wedding ceremonies, one in the U.S. and one back in our Peace Corps country.
12. And last but not least, we aren’t afraid to get dirty.

It's veggie season! I bought all of this for the equivalent of $3 US

Me with Said and baby Diallo (born two weeks ago to Madame Diallo, one of my closest friends from Tougouri. I went to visit them in Ouaga, where she is for three months on maternity leave. Random side-note: Burkina gives women awesome maternity leave compared to the U.S!)

So tiny (and white)! Black African babies come out white, or much lighter skinned, and turn darker the longer they are out in the sun.

Crazy dust storm

World AIDS Day mural that Trent, my Kaya site mate, and I did. We have yet to do an HIV/AIDS training where everyone will put a hand-print up to show their participation.

Diana (fellow PCV and neighbor) and I on Valentine's Day. We have been working very closely together on Camp GLOW 2012. Don't forget to donate! We still need to raise $4,000 for Camp GLOW Kaya. Remember to click on the Kaya link! Thank you!!!!

New Year 2012

Hello friends and family,

First of all, happy new year! I hope 2012 has been treating all of you well. My new year has been going well so far. As all of you probably know, I was in America for the month of December. It was great seeing all of my friends and family. Thank you all for the wonderful visit! We will have to do it again soon.

I arrived back in Burkina two days before the New Year and celebrated with several PCVs who came up to Kaya for the event. We made Mexican at my house and then headed to a dance club (if you can call if that) to dance until midnight. Overall, I’d say it was a success.

The following week I started work again at Save the Children. Before I left for vacation in America, I stopped working full time at the Save office or on the mobile team. I am now at two CSPSs (health clinics) in Kaya working with the malnourished children at those health clinics. And I am enjoying it so much more! When I was on the mobile team, I was supervising health clinic staff instead of actually working with the children myself. So since November I have been getting hands-on experience, which I find much more interesting (and good for fulfilling grad school pre-reqs). And on the days where not many women come to the clinics, I get to help out with vaccinations and pre-natal consultations. Woot woot!

In addition to working at the CSPSs I am working on Camp G²LOW here in Kaya. We have partnered with the local Ministry of Youth office and are working closely together during the planning process. So far, things are moving along smoothly. And as always, we are looking for donations, so please go here to learn more about Camp G²LOW and to place a donation.

Trent (my Kaya sitemate) and I recently got funds from PC to do a World AIDS Day project. We know we are a little late- World AIDS Day was December 1, but better late than never! We are planning to do a mural at Trent’s school he teaches at and are currently looking for another place in town for a second mural.

Last weekend I went up to Tougouri for my first visit since I left last summer. I planned on going for just Saturday, but ended up spending the night because there were just too many people to visit! Everyone was so happy to see me. Some were a little confused, because they thought I had gone back to America last summer, but here I was, riding around on my bike like I had never left. I also had the pleasure of sitting in on the Youth Club at the high school I taught at during my time in Tougouri. The Youth Club was started by Zangre, a counterpart who helped out with Camp G²LOW last year, and students who were camp participants last year. It was great to see something that I had helped start actually being continued after I left!

So that’s about all for the moment. Hope everything is going well with everyone stateside and I hope to hear from you all soon!

Now here are a few pictures of my new house in Kaya. I’m still decorating, or stopped decorating I guess, so if you have any great ideas, please let me know! There are a lot of blank walls…

Camp G2LOW 2012

Raise your hand if you have ever been to summer camp. I bet that the majority of my blog readers have at some point in their life attended some sort of summer camp. The camp experience is a unique one that can change a child’s life.

I have been on both sides of the camp experience as a counselor and camper and there is something truly magical about the camp experience. Being away from home (maybe for the first time), meeting new people, learning new things, and having fun all aid in a child’s development.

Unfortunately many children in Africa never get to experience a camp. Camps are costly and many students spend their summers tending their fields that provide food for their families.

Camp G²LOW (Girls and Guys Leading Our World) is an already well-established national camp happening annually in 22 Peace Corps countries around the world. Burkina Faso became the 23^rd country to host Camp G²LOW in August 2011, starting the first edition of Camp G²LOW at the regional level in the cities of Kaya and Boromo. Our goal is to add two more regions each year until it reaches the national level with a two week long camp: one week of boys and one week of girls. Next year, in 2012, we hope to expand Camp G²LOW to include not only Kaya and Boromo, but also Léo and Fada as well. That way the camp will touch four different regions of the country.

I will be working the Kaya Camp this summer.

The camp trains 6^eme and 5^eme (6^th and 7^th grade) boys and girls and focuses on three main themes: healthy living practices, leadership development, and the promotion of gender equality. Some of our sessions during 2011 included:

§ Men as partners/developing equality

§ Leadership

§ Hygiene and sanitation

§ Effects of alcohol and cigarette consumption

§ Healthy relationships

§ Effective communication skills

§ Self-esteem

§ Reproductive and sexual education

§ HIV/AIDS

§ Family planning

§ Making the right decisions

§ Planning for the future

§ What is violence?

§ Career panel with Burkinabe businessmen and women

In 2011, the Peace Corps Burkina Faso team of volunteers and staff put forth a lot of effort to reassure the community participation and sustainability of the camp. Villages were requested to choose 4 girls and 4 boys to attend the camp based on their school performance and character. They also helped to choose a host country national (HCN) to work with each Peace Corps volunteer (PCV) and to help be a counselor during the camp after completion of a comprehensive training. Communities also helped pay for student transport, housing, and materials.

In order for Camp G²LOW to take place again in 2012, in addition to the 25% community contribution by the villages involved, Burkina Faso PCVs as well as Burkina Faso HCNs must raise $44,000. This is where your generosity can help! With your help and donations, we will be able to achieve our goal. Any donations, big or small, are greatly appreciated. We are hoping to raise $24,000 through the help of our family and friends through the Peace Corps Partnership Program. If you are interested in making a 100% tax-deductible donation and would like more information on how to donate, please go to http://pcburkina.org/camp-glow.

Two weeks in four different cities. 60 middle school aged students a week. Giving students a week to just be kids. Giving students a week to learn more about their bodies and how to make good decisions. Developing tomorrow’s leaders.

Camps change lives. Please donate to Camp G²LOW. Give a Burkinabe child the gift of a summer they will never forget!

Thanks!

A few pictures

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

Burkina's Peace Corps 50th Anniversary

Check out this video from the first day of Burkina's 50th Anniversary fair:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl2vFj3mvZw&feature=related

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 18^th 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 4^th in Burkina and the training of trainers for Camp Glow started August 11^th. 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!