Happy Xmas !

2nd time of Xmas in Burkina.

Last year, I had japanese style xmas lunch at the volunteer regional coordinator's house then visited a YANTA member's house and my boss's.

This year, I was invited at Yé (compost partner) 's house so at first I went at his place.

One week before the christmas, he gave me a traditional costume of his ethnic group (Bwaba).

It was a surprise gift.

He didn't take my size but when I tried it on, it was just !!!

I like the coulour very much.

He was in full costume with even his initial on it and so was his son.

Very cute:D

I have been working with him since a year but I had never visited his place.

I could finally say hi to his wife too.

Lovely couple.

Then I headed to a french family's house.

Foie gras, salmon, chicken, cheese...

Then at the end, of course !

Bouche de Noël :p

My stomach was about to explose...

I was invited also at another local friend's house so I could put nothing anymore in my mouth but I went at her place to say happy xmas.

The family offered nice local food there too but I really couldn't...

Too bad...

As same as last year, it was eating xmas !

Hope everyone had a happy xmas !

Promoters

The next day...

A workshop of 2 days for compost promoters took place.

13 women who had motivation to be trainer spontaneously participated in it.

They have really a strong feeling of desire to share their knowledge about compost making and to improve their production skill.

At this workshop, I put a point of techniques of awareness raising/sensitization about poor solid waste management and sanitation related problems in the city.

Because they know already how to make compost although there are still many for them to learn and improve.

However, they have had neither experience of speaking outin public or teaching something to someone nor training.

So the workshop objective was to learn how to speak in public, how to animate a meeting and how to use effectively photos which help people to understand better the situation or subject.

At first, without any example demonstration, I divided them in 2 groups and asked them to prepare a presentation of sensitization about solid waste problems in their community.

Then they presented their groupwork.

Hmmmm...

It was as I expected.

As they are not used to speak out in front of other people, they came out individually, spoke quietly for a couple of minutes with looking down the floor and done...

Some had a photo in their hand but without using it or even showing it to listeners.

They didn't even choose a specific photo but just had one in hand...

Well, it was the first exercise !

It is normal ! (I told myself...)

Then, we recalled my way of sensitization and important information/problems that they should not forget to talk about.

I showed how to use different photos :

By showing a photo, ask people what they see on it or what they think about the situation on it.

Using photos and asking questions helps to have interaction between trainers and learners instead of one way teaching by trainers saying "it's not good", "you have to do that", etc...

1st day of workshop was done here.

2nd day.

We started with the review of the 1st day work.

Some did again the presentation.

It wasn't yet perfect but it was better than last time :

They mentioned much more information than the day before,

Others tried to complete the information after the 1st person demostrated,

They tried to get reaction from listeners by asking questions,

Some put some humor to make a good atmosphere, etc

Then 2nd day's work was compost making process review.

The same 2 groups prepared and presented their work.

Most basic information was covered.

But some advice to avoid failures or to make better compost wasn't come out unless I asked questions to get these answers.

Well, it is the same thing.

From the 1st time, it is impossible to be perfect !

Anyway, all agreed that 2 day training wasn't enough...

The women themselves expressed their worries about their capacity of animation.

So we decided to organise one more day in a week to review everything.

3rd day was much better although they still need to practice more.

At the end, I gave my handmade certificate of completing the workshop to each participant.

Most of them can read neither french nor dioula but I put their face photo on it so at least they can recognize that the paper is for her about compost workshop ;)

With the certificate, they got respectively a kit for hygiene promotion with 6 photos that they used during the workshop and a manual of compost production in dioula.

Besides, I added some seeds (tomato, spinach, salad) as a small gift to appreciate their motivation and commitment.

Also I wanted encourage them to continue compost making and use it for home garden for example.

To start sensitization by showing example by themselves, I used a piece of textile that people here use to make clothes as a bag (cover) of kit materials instead of a plastic bag.

This is a japanese traditional way to use cloth to wrap thing and carry them around, called "Furoshiki".

My compost partner, Yé assisted to the whole 3 day workshop as well.

Great help !

From now on, it is them who do the work, not me.

To be honest, I have still some worries if they are really capable and motivated to do this for free...

But I trust them.

And as much as I can until my contract ends, I will support their work.

The first step to follow their activity is attending to a meeting which will take place every 2 tuesday.

Go, promoter ladies !!!

Bragging

November 9th.

The rainy season has finished.

The harvest is also almost done.

I organized an evaluation meeting for compost effect.

Until now, 3 workshops have been held where about 70-80 YANTA women participated.

I could have visited each woman's house and asked the effects individually...

But first of all, there are too many to do it...

Plus, collecting the results wasn't the only purpose of holding the meeting:

1．Bragging (sharing with) their own effects or results to other women ;

2．Hearing other women's stories to know different effects or results ;

Through these 1.2．, I wanted that they stimulate each other to continue the compost making.

3．Inviting other YANTA women who haven't participated to workshop but been interested in compost to give a chance to hear such positive effects and to creat their motivation to start.

To have as many women as possible at the meeting, I tried to pass the information everywhere by visiting several YANTA associations' leader's house and telling about the meeting at YANTA center every time I passed there.

On the day, at the time to start the meeting...

Well, as usual...

There were only a couple of women...

I thought that maybe the information hadn't passed well...

I waited for 30min, 40min...

Little and little, women started to come over.

One hour later, there were about 50 women in the room.

I had expected a bit more but we started the meeting.

Gradually, more and more women were coming in the room.

At the end, the room was pretty packed !

I could feel that it the compost was a big interest for them.

The bragging their results went well.

Many workshop participants spoke out the effect of their compost :

Better yield of cereals (maize, millet, peanuts, beans, etc) than last year ;

Income source (a woman sold her compost to another woman) ;

Creation of small vegetable garden at home (planting tomatoes in the garden, adding compost around mango/papaya trees) ; etc

At the end, a group of women who are volunteer to become compost promoters was identified in front of all.

Next day, promoter workshop took place (to next blog...)

more and more...

Since September, my compost partner, Yé organises a huge training of awareness raising for the danger of using urbain solid waste for farms and of production of organic fertilizer. The target is more than 800 farmers formed in several associations who have some fields in a state forest, mainly under cashew nuts trees.

His training is presented in a local newspaper.

He has been a great help for my compost work, I wanted to contribute in some way for his work.

So I participate in the training as much as possible for different associations.

During the week of theory, he used photos that I had used for my compost workshops for awareness raising through discussions about problems of solid waste treatment in agriculture.

Also he introduced my way of compost production as one of options.

Most of them, especially male participants had never heard of that.

They seemed very curious and asked many questions about it.

I was happy to see their interest.

There was even a guy who started preparing the base of compost at home on the same day when he learned about it !

During practical phase, I have been following the process of compost production of an association by taking photos of each step.

Dig a square hole of 3m x 3m x 1.5m

Put ingredients :

Ash

Stem of corns

Fresh straw

Stem of corns again and water

Wastes of domestic animals (cow, pig and chicken)

Water again

Women who belong to the group participate in the way they can.

Water backets relay

This is one ray.

Fill up the hole with 3 of it.

At the end, cover the surface with stem of corns (start of fermentation)

2 weeks later, first turning.

Remove each ray seperately.

Put them back in the way that the bottom ray comes on top and the top goes at the bottom to let the fermentation equally.

2weeks later, 2nd turning (watering in the middle of the 2 weeks)

Remove and refill them in the same way.

The quantity of the compost has become already 2/3 of the beginning at this moment.

Then 2 more turning in 2 weeks and in a month in total 4 times.

Following the process is very interesting for me because it is 1st time practical experience.

I take just photos by observing the process but the work is physically very hard.

But through this training, I really hope that farmers continue the work even after the training for better food production and soil protection (fertilization).

Gold

Burkina has few natural (underground) resources.

Some people say that's why the economy of the country hasn't developed much yet. Others say however that's why the people are very friendly and kind and there is no war or really huge conflicts in the country...

In fact, in the Human Development Report (HDR) 2009 published by UNDP this year, Burkina is ranked in 177th out of 182 countries for the Human Development Index (HDI). (although last year, it was at 176th out of 177...)

※Some people criticize the calculation standards or credibility of original data.

But recently there is a subject that many people talk about in Burkina.

Natural resources in underground

Especially that one that you can get when you win a competition.

"Gold"

It seems like the South West region of burkina is the place to find it.

I was curious about it.

So I went to see it with friends.

About 2 hours from Bobo, the second half way was very bad. I hit my head so many times on the ceilings of 4WD car...

Finally when we arrived, there were many houses roughly constructed and covered with corn or cement bags on the side.

From there, we had to walk to get to the site.

The mine owner led us.

He was telling me that it was far and I would get really tired...

Yes, it was...

It was really far.

Besides, the mine was on the hill.

At noon, under the too strong sun with unpleasant humidity...

It took about 1h... (I believed so although in reality it took maybe only 30-40min...)

On the hill, there were about 20 young guys covered with sand looking at (down) us.

Carring heavy rock bags,

Getting into the mine hole,

Some were cooking beans for lunch.

I had somehow a scary image of the site and the people.

But they were nice.

A friend once got into one of holes.

They let us take photos too.

Here the site is very small so all work is by hand.

They take out huge pieces of rock from the ground,

Then crash them in small pieces.

If there are some potential parts, they break them in smaller pieces.

Wash with water.

Yep, I saw it, some small pieces like sand of gold.

But I was too excited and forgot to take the photo...

I wonder where the gold from here goes...

This reminds me of the film "Blood Diamond".

I wonder also how much these guys (miners) gain compared to the price of the gold at a jewelry shop in some country.

Dream of fortune.

The life is not so easy to gain.

A suiss friend who lives in Bobo is film director and he made this year a documentary about people's life in a gold mine in Burkina.

It is very well done. I loved it.

"Ceux de la colline / The hillside crowd"

Facebook site :

http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=ceux+de+la+colline&init=quick#/pages/Ceux-de-la-colline-The-hillside-crowd/101301976835?ref=search&sid=698510560.577719320..1

It has been winning many prizes in worldwide film festivals.

Almost...

Rainy season is almost done.

These days, I haven't been working so much...

But I go around in the town.

I went to see one of my women the other day.

As soon as I arrived, she said

"Come and see my pernuts that I made with our compost !"

Wow

This is a lot.

Last year she didn't grow peanuts so it was not possible to compare the quality or quantity of harvest.

But she seemed very happy and confident which relieved me.

She can and will continue to make compost by herself.

There are only 5 months left for me under JICA contract.

This was the moment when I realized that there was something which will last (be sustainable) after my reparture even if it is only one thing or one person.

Well, this is Africa !

Yes, the peanuts were pretty lots but of course this is not enough for her whole family forever.

But they share with others, well with me.

"You have lots of kids. Keep them for them later!"

In vain...

Absolute refusal can be very impolite so finally I appreciated her act and got the quantity of 2 tomato cans of her peanuts.

I dried them up under the sun for a day and grilled them.

They must be as same as other peanuts.

But there was our effort (work) and love in it, the taste was different.

It was better than others !

I can't wait to see other women's harvest result !

Engagement

The girl of pancakes (galette) got engaged thursday after Ramadan party.

She has a 2 year old kid and everyone calls her fiancé "husband", I had believed that she was already engaged well married !"

But apparently in islam tradition or customs, she has not.

Her dad had a hard time to explain it to me...

"She gonna will get engaged next Thursday. Well, she is already engaged but hummm..."

Anyway,

While all men were in Mosk, women stayed at home.

I went to visit her on that day after work.

It was very much normal atmosphere there, more likely a weekend, not traditonal or special, to be honest.

But many visitors were there.

The official financée was very beautiful.

Her face is so small...

With 2 of her 5 young sisters

The youngest put also nice clothes on, especially on her feet.

My Burkinabè parents (well, hers)

Finally...

I thought that it would never possible to do fasting in my life.

But...

Last Sunday, as I had no plan for the day to go out, I believed that it would be the 1st and last chance to try it!

Well, I confess at the beginning but I didn't do acually 100 %.

Because it was already 7a.m when I woke up in the morning...

I should have waken up at 4:45 and done eating before 5...

Anyway I started fasting day from then after quickly eat some rice.

In the morning, I washed my clothes then studied a little bit.

At 10, I went to see my neighbor family, of course to tell them I do ramadan today!

They appreciated my action.

One of girls told me to break the fasting together in the evening.

I observed the famous, delicious pancake preparation.

Then around noon, I went back home.

It was a very beautiful day, which means it was hot as well...

Gradually I started feeling thirsty.

My stomach started making noise too.

No way of giving up right now !

I tried to kill time and forget these desire with reading and watching a film.

From 4p.m, it became dark and started raining, really hard.

It became very cool, thanks god !

At 5:30, one more hour.

Well, actually I started feeling nothing really...

It doesn't mean that I started losing my consciousness but just I was anymore neither hungry nor thirsty.

Then just before 6:30,

Everyone started clean body (have a shower) before the pray.

Me and one of girls went out to the road side to buy her older sister's galettes.

After praying, the moment came...!

In fact, it wasn't as exciting as I expected because I wasn't suffering from not eating or drinking...

Once the peak passes, it is not so difficult apparently...

Anyway with water I started feeding my empty stomach then ginger juice, millet soupe (like oatmeal), pancakes and yogourt.

I was already full at this time...

We watced TV all together then at 7:30.

"Come here pray !"

"What?! me too!?"

"Of course ! why not ?" They didn't say that actually but sounded so I couldn't refuse it...

Behind the family's dad who leads the pray, the other all members stand on goat skin carpet.

Women and girls wear scarf around their head, of course me too.

Then it started.

I had no idea so just I tried to immitate others and follow them.

Stand up, sit down, put your head on the ground, then stand up again, sit down...

Repeating, repeating and repeating.

From the certain moment, I chould guess what was next movement with hearing what the dad said.

It took about 20min.

Then the real dinner came. That day it was riz sauce (rice with sauce).

One day was done.

I was already full before the pray, I didn't eat much rice and went back home.

It was very cultural day with new experiences!

One month only special sweet

This year too, the period came :

One month of fast...

My neighbor's family is very islamic. All family except young children does ramadan.

Mom and daughters woke up 4:45 to start preparing food before sunrise.

Pray at 5.

Eat....

Then work without eating and even drinking any water until sunset...

Weekend, when I pass at their house, they ask me to taste the sauce for dinner and tell if there is enough salt or else because they can't even taste it...

The special work during the ramadan month for this family is to sell "galette" (small pancakes) on the street.

Islamic people "break" the ramadan of the day with this pancakes.

This sweet is usually made of millet flour, water and sugar.

But this family's galette is special.

It is my favorite in the whole city !

Because they put some banana in it.

It is sweet but not too much, just ! and so soft :)

There are several regular customers like me.

This is a special galette maker.

She is the oldest daughter in this family.

10 francs cfa (2 yen, 0.01 euro, 2.5 cents) for one.

People buy usually for 50 to 200 francs.

She gives me usually more than the price :D

I have to be careful because they put lots of sugar and so so so much of oil while cooking...

But I can't stop eating them ! Around 5, 6pm, just my stomach starts making noise...

You see so many women cooking and selling on streets like every 10m.

I wait until I arrive in front of my house to buy my neighbor's ones !

The family asks me when I will fast with them...

I say "ah... maybe next weekend..."

But to be honest, I probably can never do it because I am too "gourmand" !!!