Dori

February 17-20, I went to Dori, 4 hours from the capital Ouagadougou to the North for field visit of other volunteers who work in Environment and agriculture.

It was the 1st time to visit other volunteers' working place.

The scenery in Dori (North) was very different from Bobo (South).

I thought that it must have been very difficult to plant trees and cultivate in such area close to desert (with little rain).

However, there are several ponds and one huge lake which serve to water vegetable vast fields around there.

Volunteers in agriculture showed us how to use compost, how to form a ridge to use less water, which veggies are easy to start with etc...

Compost in a hole

The tool to dry vegetables in order to preserve them longer time (consume during the period when there is few fresh vegetables and to sell them with higher price (put more value on them).

At lunch, we were at a beach not nearby ocean but next to a huge lake. It was very nice to be next to water anyway as Burkina is inland country.

I did some tourism as well.

Bani : 30min from Dori, closer to the capital.

There are several mosques in banco (soil blocks) in this town.

What is unique is their location.

At first, Bani's hill is formed like an islam praying. Then, 7 mosques are located on the palce of the person's hands, knees or elbows and feet.

I'm sorry they are so small but do you see figures which look like humans with hands up and down on line at the center of the photo?

Mosques in banco are very fragile with strong heat and hard rains.

After every year's rainy season, they need to be restored...

I have heard that these many bars are to climb up this tour to clean its wall...I hope there are some artistic aspects as well...

I found this rare cow in Bani. He must always have pain on his neck with carring these huge and long horns...

Special classes

I manage to continue the environmental education every week.

I decided to continue the same subject "deforestation and forest (tree) protection" for the first 2 weeks of February.

But not in the same way.

If I organise always by myself, it is very hard and also kids can be bored of it.

I said also to myself that I belonged to the Houet provincial office of Environment and Living Conditoins, I should collaborate with my colleagues !

So, for the 1st week,

I asked to one of my office bosses (forester: expert of trees) to talk about "4 classified forests" around Bobo city that I don't know so much thing about.

Why these 4 forests were classified by by the government ?

→for sustainable use of natural (forest) resources
→for the protection of local flora and soil

What can we do there ?

→Cutting trees with a permission
→Agroforestry under a contract

What is prohibited to do there?

(without permisssion)

→Culture

→Pasturage

→Hunt

Despite these rules, the forests are in danger...

She was taking notes well !

So what kids, future's adults can do to profit of these forests even until their kids' generation ?

They proposed solutions that they had discussed at the last class with me.

I learned also not only about these forests but some good points of teaching from him. He had a good technique of attracting kids' attention and of involving maximum of kids in the discussion.

Then I thought why not to go further !

Which means, I asked to the president of YANTA to tell the real experience of the women at forests when they were cutting trees illegally and right now (how it has been changed).

Whole story was told in dioula because the president said that she would be much relaxed if she could do all in dioula and I thought also the story in dioula could be more realistic.

I couldn't understand all of the story, of course but by watching kids' surpried or chocked reaction, I could see them listening carefully to her story.

However, there were always several kids who couldn't understant dioula at each class so I felt sorry for them...

Anyway at the end, we all sang a song called Enviroment for all (Protect trees).

Her and I were so happy at the end.

After, some kids came to suggest to me to go to see the women's work at forest (planting trees and cashew nuts processing) with the money they collect from each.

I was so happy to hear that because this is the point ! :take action! even though at present, I'm not sure if it is possible to make it and this will be only a visit but not doing any concret action to protect our environment.

I will try to find some possibilities.