Compost vol.2

On January 12, the second compost workshop started with an association which is based in a district where one of last workshop participants lives. The association members had asked me to organise it.

I learned a lesson from the last workshop.

In Burkina, when you participate in a workshop or conference which lasts whole day or a couple of days, you can learn new things and also "receive" some money for their participation, instead of paying the fee.

It can never happen in Japan and no one expect it !

HoweverAt the last meeting of my workshop where each meeting lasted only for 2-3 hours, I gave only some vegetable seeds to the women to appreciate their great work and active participation.

At that time I felt only something different from other meetings. The women seemed tired or unmotivated.

A couple of days later, I went to one of the participants house to give her a papaya tree. She wanted to grow it with compost and show its effect to her neighbours.

Then she told me that many of the participants were disappointed because I didn't give them any money.

I was shocked. because I believed that they were very motivated to make compost. But it ended with the question of money...

But 2 of 10 promissed me to teach composting to another member of her association or her neighbours who are interested in it. So I told myself that there was at least a tiny positive outcome.

Yes, so the lesson learned from the last workshop :

Explain my intention and objective of compost workshop before starting it

1.　They can learn how to make compost with home wastes,

2.　No participation money will be offered, and

3.　They prepare all needed materials. (with the 1st training, I learned that it was possible for women to find all materials by themselves)

A bit after 8a.m., (almost on time !) all participants came then I explained these 3 points.

Then the secretary of the association who speaks French said :

"No, no we really want to learn composting. We are all farmers but the soil is so poor that there aren't many crops every year. Gathering many crops by using compost means like making money. So we don't expect any money from you !"

The association president sitting next to me told me also in dioula :

"fields yield many crops means we get food. Food is money !"

My dioula is not so great but I think she repeated something like this.

I was very happy to hear these and assured then we started the workshop with 120% motivation!

The woman who participated at the last workshop helped me by answering directly to the questions from other participants in dioula or in morré (the 1st national language) with confidence and starting the compost base (soil) preparation.

She (in the bottom photo) is already a compost master and played very well the role of instructor (assistant) that I wished.

When we finished the workshop, the association's secretary came toward me then...

"Here, this is our contribution."

She said so and gave me a bill of 1000fcfa !

I was too surprised to say anything for a couple of seconds. 1000fcfa= 200yen = 1.5euro = 2.5 USD. But for them, it is something ! They could buy many vegetables for their kids with it ! Even for me to live here, it is something. (for lunch, one full plate of riz gras is 200-300fcfa)

Besides, at the beginning of the workshop I told them absolutely the opposite thing !

Of course, I refused to accept it because

this is my job :

as a volunteer, I can't support them financially but at least I can offer them some knowledge or techniques that I have.

Well, that is the only thing I can do really...

But they refused also to receive the money again with saying :

"you came to teach us the composting till here far from your home (30mins by bike). Buy something to eat on the way back."

I tried to give back the money for about 5min but it was impossible. I felt also it might be rude to refuse too much.

Therefore we or I decided to buy vegetable seeds before the rainy season if they succeed the composting.

Anyway, I was so touched by their spirit or attitude.

At the same time, I felt very embarrassed and ashamed of my words at the beginning...

I might hurt their dignity and kindness (warm heart)...

I learned another thing.

On 26th, it's the 2nd meeting. This time, I will attend to it with an university student who does research on utility of urban wastes for (peri) urban agriculture and its impact to the soil. He will give comments about our methods from the point of view of technical expert.

Eventually I hope to analyse the compost quality with him.

Viva compost !