Sunday, June 27, 2010

Israel Fete

The Mbororo Fete in the village of Israel to celebrate their tree nursery happened on June 29th, planned a few weeks after my return to Cameroon, so that if anything went wrong when I was gone I would have enough time to get back and maybe get things organized! As it was, nothing went wrong. No animals got into the pepiniere and ate all the plants (thanks for your prayers). The nursery men didn't abandon the work. And the village was ready for the celebration. There were a few disappointments in the area of attendance, but that's only to be expected in these things. We had invited 8 different organizations or government officials and only 3 of them came, one of whome missed the first part of the ceremony. However, Amadou Toukour, the Peace Corps Garoua staff person was one of those three, along with the agro-extension agent of an environmental project in the area and the representative for the Mayor. So I feel good they at least were there. Jessie, a nearby fellow agroforestry volunteer came as well and I was grateful for that. The ceremony started in the nursery where the chief, the invitees, and other members of the community all had a chance to talk: about the importance of trees and planting trees, aboutt he tree nursery they had created, and about their village needs. Then, unplanned, I asked the two nurserymen to perhaps show each species of tree the produced. And that ended up being the best part (in my opinion). Without pausing, Ramani and Salah seriously and perhaps proudly went tree to tree, picking up an example, telling its name and explaining its uses and importance. This was such a great tool for teaching their fellow villagers who are not familiar with many of the trees, and at the same time gave them ownership and allowed them to show their "expertise." They took it so seriously; and I was so proud. I felt like a mother. After that, the whole group went back to the village to the mosque where we planted four trees around the mosque. Milk was brought out and shared together. Now, since the ceremony, they are planting their trees in and around their village. I am again proud...that they are taking the initiative of planting their trees without me there.
walking around looking at the trees before the ceremony

Men and Jessie starting to gather and sit on the mats in the nursery



Amadou Toukour, one of our biggest supports and help, and me



Salah and Ramani explaining a Cassia siamea (?) tree





Jawro Issa Adamou preparing a hole for a Neem tree, at the Mosque, with Ramani, and Dama Ndjida from Sodecoton's Project ESA looking on and explaining good technique



Ramani planting a Neem tree


Jawro Issa watering for planting a Cassia tree


drinking milk at the mosque

A very few wedding photos from my cousin Taylor's wedding

Heres a few photos from the wedding. It turns out I only took maybe 8? Crazy. I'm just relying on my sisters and moms photos....I still have a messed up camera that chooses not to work when it wakes up tired in the morning sometimes.


The boys....what more to be said?

Granddad and Me


Uncle George, Aunt Ginny, Jessie, Taylor, Tony, Granny, and Granddad



Jessie and Tony being very serious, waiting for photos to finish up. Jessie looks like she's about to crack up any moment.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Frustration that emerges as different faces--Community Forest Destruction

Maybe some of you remember the Community forest project that I wrote about early on in my service. Maybe you could go back and read the posting again. So the frustration this time came in the form of the events with our Community Forest in Mafa Kilda, and it came to announce itself Sunday evening at my house, when the bureau of the community forest came over to my house. They sat down on my mat outside and began to tell me how, a few days before I got back, the Sousprefet came to the village and gave away the field where we had been planting trees since last year, to another farmer. Now this story has a background, for sure, complicated, but not too much. The field we chose last year was on school property, property that was chosen in 2005 by all the area officials, property that was infertile land farmed by nobody. The whole school property is very large, and only a part of it has the primary school built on it, but the villagers wanted to delimit the territory around it in expectation of growth and new schools being built and using the land later on, namely a technical shool and nursery school. Around 2007/2008 with the aggressions against Mbororo en brousse, a population of Mbororo came to settle in Mafa Kilda and their cows started sleeping on the school property land at nights. As they left their manure there, the field started to regain its fertility and last year and the year before, the old owner of the field (a Laka man from Sanguere Ngal, the neighboring village who owned the field before it was taken as school property) started farming it again, especially the area that had been set apart for a community forest. Last year, therefore we had some major problems with land tenure, as the community forest group planted 216 trees, given by WWF, and the farmer complained they had disturbed his corn. All of this debate finally ended at the office of the sousprefet, a regional authority. There, last year, in the sousprefets office, in front of the farmer and Sanguere Ngal chief, the school director, the president of the Community forest, and the Mafa Kilda chief, the sousprefet said : A field is for one person only; a school and trees are for a community. This land in dispute should be for the community forest. From this day forward, in addition, I don't want anyone else farming in it. It should be left solely for the trees. You should protect these trees and put out a guardian. If anyone starts to farm it next year, Laka or Mafa, come immediately to my office and tell me." We were so happy that now the community forest had protection, could continue and had it's place in the village. Over the dry season, we rearranged the committee members, planned for this year, and while I was gone, the villagers dug holes and planted 100 new trees to start to replace the 120 that died during the dry season (yes low success rate, but 86 trees from last year remained, and the group was much better organized this year in planting earlier). Because it was such a low success rate 86 out of 216, WWF would not donate trees this year for the project, and rightly so. However, the group decided it was important enough, that they would pay for these trees this year themselves, in order to keep going and see the dream of their forest realized. So they dug, they planted, all while I was gone, all on their own, really making me proud and demonstrating ownership of the project. About a week before I came back, they noticed that the Laka man plowed the field, in plowing it killing a good amount of the new seedlings. So the chief went to the sousprefet's office as directed and told him about it. The sousprefet called in the Sanguere Ngal chief and farmer party, as well as Mafa Kilda chief. But instead of all of them sitting down and talking about it, as is necessary resolving any dispute, to come to a general solution, he said simply that he would come to the field on Thursday in two days. Thursday came, he showed up at Sanguere Ngal, picked up the men there, bypassed the Mafa Kilda chief and townspeople and drove straight to the field. As villagers saw the sousprefet's car go by they figured they'd better go see what this was about, and got there in time for the sousprefet to ask the farmer "where are the limits to your field?" The farmer showed him. And he said to the farmer "Ok, all of that then is for you," giving away over half the school property. People obviously became upset, and started asking "Well what of our forest that you said we should protect? What of you saying it should no longer be farmed? Why do you go back on your word?" At this the sousprefet went to his car, telling the chief, "Well you'll just have to come to my office to work that out another day." The problem is that this, instead of resolving disputes, causes a continuation and often escalation of disputes, as people feel their voice was not heard nor were they involved in the final solution.
The day after the sousprefet gave the land away, Friday, someone came and cut down and pulled up about 120 of the total 186 trees in the field. (They finished up the job Tuesday destroying all but perhaps 10 trees.) The Laka people say it was Mafa. The Mafa say it was Laka people. An "eyewitness" says different things to each side.
So the men told me about this Sunday night, and I went to the field to see, called the sousprefet, to talk about this problem, and find out why things happened the way they did. I asked if he'd be in his office on Monday and he said yes, and we went to speak with him. We must have talked about 1 hour, maybe more, or maybe it just felt like more because I was so frustrated. And it was an incredibly frustrating conversation, the type where you state clearly your problems with something, or ideas, but the other party will just not listen at all. I had two main questions. 1) what exactly was it that made you change your decision from last year, and all the things you said, to just giving the field away 2) why did you not go about this by sitting down with both groups and working it out, as is generally done, hearing both sides, saying ok, this could work like this, we'll give part of this field to this person, but leave the community forest in place. His answer to number 1: "Well, things change." That was really it. And I kept thinking, well change them again then. See that you did wrong and right it. But he said "Well I can't go back on the decision I've made." I said, "Well you did this year on last year's decision." And he said, "Well I can't do that every time." Another reason he gave for giving away the field: For peace. Really, for peace. I told him that I also work for peace here, and work with people of many different ethnicities, groups that don't get along with each other. And the way that he went about making this decision is the type of action that works contrary to peace. You work for peace between groups by sitting down and talking about things and coming up with a solution together (something that may not be possible in Gaza Strip and West Bank, but is certainly possible here in our situation). But just arbitrarily making a decision like that, without talking it through only breeds animosity and feelings of injustice. I got the impression that his idea of "creating peace" is by giving one side a concession and then going back and giving the other side a concession so that noone gets too mad, and everyone is always a little mollified. He said its him afterall who makes the final say so why would he have to consult both sides. Some of the things he said during our meeting floored me. "Well I find it strange, frankly to want to plant trees in a village. Outside the village, in the country yes, but in the village, that's just not normal." As I responded to that listing the benefits of having a small woodlot in the village and not miles away, such as not having animals destroy all the trees, as in water access, and easier access to the trees to take care of them, as in tired volunteer villagers who have been in the field all day and then go to give their time to dig holes and plant and water and take care of trees not having to walk another hour to their woodlot, his response to me was "Well that's just a question of desire. If the people really have the desire for this, they can just find land out far away and do it there. If that's too much of a problem it's evident they don't have enough will to do it." That made me so sad, because if ever you find a group who has shown will and desire, which is very difficult to find, here they are. Here they are having given time and energy and money and sweat last season and this to make this happen. Here they are in the face of land disputes last year, perservering because they want this woodlot. Yes, you need will and desire. But you also need to work within the confines of reality. You don't say "Oh well, if they really had the desire and will for a woodlot, they could just do it on the moon." This type of interchange went on, and towards the end I stopped speaking at all, and just listened, realizing that there's no way to talk, or influence, or reason with. Anyway, I think most of what he said was just words, not necessarily his actual convictions or reasons. But I will say this, I was incredibly proud of the other 6 villagers, becuase each of them spoke up and had something thoughtful and firm to say. No matter how much the sousprefet tried to intimidate, by shouting, by writing in other papers while they were talking, by turning on the radio in the middle of the meeting, they were even and spoke their word, which is really something in this culture of god-like authorities who treat general people like dirt. It also goes to show how strongly these men feel injusticed and how much they want to fight for their woodlot.
So here I am, not knowing what to do philosophically. Because honestly, after the meeting with him, I went away from it truly thinking, "If that is the case, I cannot in my right mind, encourage people to plant trees. I really can't. There is no point to plant trees, because even when it's on your land, even when problems are resolved, even when the authorities are behind it, tomorrow, they will just go give it away. And the fact is, not all authorities are like this. Peace Corps has a strong policy, and for very good reasons, not to get involved with politics, and I will stand by that. But at the same time, its hard to stand by and watch things like this happen. I think the best course of action is to encourage and act as a witness, and stand by those who are trod upon. And I will continue to seek peace and resolution, even between ethnicities that have a culture of disliking each other. One of the important things is to encourage that disputes be settled locally first, with all parties present and able to share their points of view. There needs to be better communication between groups. I am lucky that I have other successful work going on though, because if this were my major project...it'd be very difficult (and still is) to watch 1 1/2 years worth of work be thrown out the window.

Back in the north

Well I've now been back at post over a week, and things are right back as normal, as before I left, except with so much more green, and beautiful rain every few days. It has been wonderful seeing people in village, but the past week has been pretty busy trying to catch up with things, and deal with some issues I found out about coming back, which I'll detail in the next post.
This time of year is really lovely, and I wish all of you could be here to see it. Its full on farming season, and half of my demonstration field was plowed yesterday with cows so that I can plant soy, if I can find someone else to do it with me!, this next week. I will also be replacing the trees in the demo field that died at the end of the dry season, and I'm excited about that.

We're getting ready now for a celebration on Tuesday for the tree nursery that my Foulbe Ladde started this year, and I'm a little nervous about it. I'm less nervous about it getting back now, and visiting it and seeing that it is fine (so far), but for the past month I've had nightmares that a goat or cow would get in and ruin all the trees right before all the officials come. And its still not too late for that to happen! I would love your prayers about this event for certain things in particular:
1) that the officials we invited would come; we invited maybe 10 different people, mayors, government people, ngos such as WWF and APESS (livestock), and most people were interested but that doesnt mean that they will actually show up. I'm praying that they will show up because that will give such an honor to the village, and the men who have worked so hard for this
2) that the village will prepare well enough for the celebration! It's up to them to buy sodas for the officials, and they say the women will prepare milk and dakare *(a sort of cooked grain meal, that is crumbly, that you put into yoghurt. It's really good and the two together become more a full meal), and rice. That they will have enough mats out and chairs for people to sit down. I worry about all the officials coming will show up and feel like there's not enough for them, that they're not well enough taken care of.
3) that the other foulbe ladde chiefs and family members from neighboring villages would come as well and see the nursery, because I really believe it's by spreading the work themselves, that we can have a big affect on tree planting in this region
4) that everyone will enjoy themselves, have fun, that the officials will really appreciate what the nursery men and village have done, and that this year, this event will be a stepping stone forward to a bigger pepiniere next year, alternative income, support from officials in other areas (wells for the village, education), and the integration of tree planting as an activity for this culture
5) that I also will enjoy myself, not be too worried about things, and not be too worried about if I have to speak in front of people in Fulfulde

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers in this direction and I will certainly post photos and descriptions of the event afterwards!

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Food

So one of the most frequent questions I got from Volunteers in Cameroon as well as people at home was : What food are you going to eat? What will be your first meal? So I figured I'd record everything I ate during my two weeks at home. I recorded through the first week, and the second week will be up to my feeble memory!

Ok Here it is. A list of my meals for my time home!

Friday Night

Got home in the evening, people were tired, so yes, first meal was Pizza, eating out in Charlottesville.

Saturday
french toast for breakfast

brocolli and chedder and swiss cheese quiche made by my sister for dinner--delicious!

Sunday

lunch at Peace Hill after church, so that means big potluck; i had some great baked beans, pasta, salad, banana creme pie, chocolate covered strawberries

On the way down to the beach

dinner at Nags Head Pier--seafood (yes fried) shrimp, trout, hushpuppies

Monday

Breakfast--Dunkin Donuts...and leftover seafood

Lunch--Cosmos veggie pizza in Corolla

Dinner--Veggie sub with eggplant, tomato, pesto, feta and provolone cheese, toasted, at Tomato Patch in Corolla

Tuesday
Breakfast--leftover sub
Lunch--Pauls Deli in Williamsburg, driving back home to C'ville, 3 cheese melt with pickles (I miss pickles!) and Root Beer
Also earlier, a peanut butter milkshake from Sonic
Dniner-- Early 80th birthday dinner for my granddad in C'ville; lobster, corn bisque and garden salad with raspberry vinaigrette--so-so. German chocolate cake at home

Wednesday
Breakfast--Cereal
Lunch--Thai food with Claire: Pad Pak Jae--Tofu, veggies, mushrooms, sprouts, peanut sauce. mmmm
Dinner--grill out with grandfather and Uncle from New York, fresh corn, leftover Thai food, rest of the family had chicken?

Thursday
breakfast--
lunch--my grandfather and uncle came down from New York, my uncle made us poached eggs (my favorite) and toast for my grandfather, himself and me, while we were home alone
dinner--it was Golden Corral for dinner, yes indeedy (my grandfather's favorite).

Friday
breakfast--
lunch-- Inn at Court Square with Mary Seay, chilled curried sweet potato soup and salad with chevre cheese, absolutely delicious
dinner--rehersal dinner for wedding; my aunt ginny's homemade lasagne, salad, strawberry cheesecake

Saturday
breakfast--pancakes at the greenes
lunch--some sandwhich at church, getting ready for the wedding
dinner--wedding reception food

Sunday
breakfast--
lunch/dinner--variety cookout food at family friend's high school graduation party (mac and cheese, veggies, fruit, pie, cookies)
at night--hot fudge chocolate sauce over ice cream

Monday
breakfast--
lunch--packed sandwhiches for picnic at Ivy Creek Natural Area
dinner--mexican food
post-dinner--party at my sisters house, more food, chocolate eclaire cake, watermelon, strawberries and whipped cream


Tuesday
breakfast--
lunch--date with my mom and Libby Hedstrom at the Batesville Country Store; falafal sandwich with hummus and good ice cream with toppings afterwards.
dinner--quiche again (this time mom's one, spinach? I can't remember)

Wednesday
breakfast--
lunch--date with Mom to harrisonburg, Tea House, delicious salad, cheese scone and Lavender, Mint White Tea
More ice cream at Batesville Country Store on the way back home
dinner--


I also ate tons of Cherries, Strawberries, and cheese, which I miss more than anything! The only thing we didn't get to was the buffet at the Indian restaurant, but there just weren't enough meals!!! Still, with all that eating, I don't think I gained my goal of 10 pounds! Sad. If only I'd have two more weeks of non-stop eating.

a look at my visit home

Well I'm getting ready to go to bed the day before I leave to go back to Cameroon, so I thought I'd share some of my highlights of my visit home for two weeks. It certainly was a packed and scheduled time!



Sunday morning: stop in at Peace Hill, my church through college, for the service and potluck lunch afterwards. So great to see everyone, as well as get the garden tour from Jessie!



Sunday-Tuesday: Continue on down to the Outer Banks, visit to Corolla for the day, seeing old coworkers, (lifeguards and Wildlife Center) as well as old friends was wonderful! And we were blessed with such wonderful weather!



Tuesday night: early 80th birthday party for my grandfather, with our extended family (i.e. aunt, uncle, cousins)


Wednesday:


Wednesday-Friday: my grandfather and Uncle drove down from New York to visit. And of course excellent highlight of Golden Corral (or the Golden Trough. My Grandpa's choice!)


Thursday visit to Downtown mall with my Uncle

night: pick-up soccer with Claire's friends!


Friday afternoon: Lunch with Mary Seay, at the Inn at Court Square, hang out with claire, help her pick up some of her kids from school in the big bus to take them to their afterschool program; drive to Richmond for rehersal dinner for my cousins wedding. Really special coming home with them, spending the night at my aunt and uncle's house with my three cousins, talking with Jessie before falling asleep.


Saturday: morning, getting up, family time, getting ready for the wedding alltogether. Time for pictures, meeting people at the church, thoughts about weddings and marriage. Great time after the wedding, with the young folks, talking for a little bit longer

Sunday: morning: drive back to Charlottesville, and to Trinity Pres. for church with Claire.

Afternoon: high school graduation party for family friend, in Staunton.

Evening: three of my best friends from college come to visit, spend the night, talk/cry through the night. (of course!) It was soooo nice to get to see them, and be together. So incredibly spiritually refreshing and I feel so blessed for their visits.

Monday: Morning: walk in Ivy Creek Natural area with friends and visit to Splintered light bookstore at UVa Center for Christian Study. Drive to Orange where I met up with my dad at his work, to drive back with him, through beautiful Orange and Albemarle Counties at the end of the day.

Evening--party thrown by my sister at her house, so I could meet all of her awesome friends, and see a few of my friends from high school. Again, Jeff, Matt, Katelyn and Claire and I, laughing until the wee hours of the night, really did my soul good. I don't remember when I laughed like that in the past few years!

Tuesday: visit with some of the neighbors; lunch date with my mother and her friend at the Batesville country store! More visiting with neighbors after.

Watching Bad Hair with Katelyn at night!

Wednesday: date with mom going to Harrisonburg, for lunch at the tea house and visit to the quilt museum, then last minute shopping for gifts. Thankfully, all home for the evening.


very restful? no. tiring? yes. I probably would have opted for a little less activity, however I feel blessed to have been able to see so many people, see such beautiful scenery and have such great weather. And eat good food! A very good visit. Everything about it was wonderful.