When did it become 2012?

December and January were incredibly busy months.  Some real projects picked up and I went home for Christmas and New Years!  It is so strange to think that this year, 2012, will be the year that I leave Togo.

MALARIA ACTION COMMITTEE!!

In Togo, about 50% of deaths of kids under 5 are caused by malaria. But, malaria elimination has not been one of the main goals of peace corps-Togo – until now!   And, I’m really excited to be part of the Malaria Action Committee (MAC).  That statistic came from our first job as committee members- getting a survey from every volunteer in Togo and discussing the data at a meeting/training.  At the meeting, we also set up the goals, objectives, and action plans for our group and discussed how Togo can really get involved in eliminating malaria.  Togo is sort of an ideal country for this initiative because it is so small- and there are so many Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs).  I think if Peace Corps really get involved – and every volunteer gets involved- the malaria situation can improve significantly.  Right now, we are working on preparing and organizing small “projects-in-a-box” that can be done by every PCV with minimal training, organizing our information on the healthcare systems here, finding the means to media and PR stuff, and writing and preparing a new and improved survey.  There is another blog site specifically for the Malaria Action Committee.  It can be found at:   Like I said, I’m super excited about this; it almost makes me wish I could stay in Togo longer ….but that’s what every PCV says “first year is rough, second year is exciting and fun and projects start to work...”

CUTBACKS

One day, at a peace corps training center in Pagala, the country director called a meeting of all volunteers who were present.  She began talking about the budget and how “changes” were going to be made.  The somberness of her speech made me think that she was announcing that Peace Corps would be pulling out of Togo.  Luckily, that was not the case.  Instead, she announced that the SED (Small Enterprise Development) program was getting cut.  This is a huge deal for Peace Corps Togo.  Togo only has 4 programs: CHAP (health), SED (business), EAFS (environment/food security), and GEE (girls education).  So if one program is cut, our population diminishes significantly.  Instead of having the 100-PCVs who were in country when I arrived, we will be having like 80 or something.  It changes the whole training schedule too- and villages – Which villages will continue to have a PCV and the tons more that will not get a PCV again.   

PROMOHANDICAP

“Assaham” can always be seen at the truck station running around, making gestures, and once in a while getting food or money from a passer-by or the local vendors or the mechanics that are familiar with him.  He may be the physically dirtiest kid you have ever seen – you can practically see the layers upon layers of dirt and dust.  When he sees me, he always runs up to me, making noises through his smiling mouth, and holding his dust-covered hand out, anticipating our handshake.  Last time, he had a bandage on his arm – I wondered what happened- hoping it was maybe an accident and nothing done intentionally by another.  You can’t ask him what happened because he can’t hear what you’re saying.  He’s one of the many hearing- and visually- impaired kids in Togo.  Many families in Togo are poor, and a child like may just be viewed as an extra burden, being unable to go to school or work or help around the house.  This leads to many kids who are neglected and abandoned, who grow up in communities where they are mocked and abused.  Over ten years ago, a missionary who we’ll call Mr. T noticed this in the villages around my town, and decided form a group dedicated to educating and assisting these children.  Along with a few others, Mr. T gathered some kids, found a room to rent, and began teaching whatever could be taught.  Since then, this group PromoHandicap has grown and is now a recognized organization in my prefecture.  The community helps out once in a while- donating supplies or money, but recently, the debt has grown too much and they were kicked out of the rented room.  Now, the children are in Mr. T’s own home.  So, Alisha and I and the PromoHandicap group, are hoping to build a school and dormitory for these kids.  Over November, December, and January, we fit tons of meetings into our packed schedules and most recently brought the project idea to our country director for feedback.  She is completely on board- and we are really excited because we are one step closer to making this idea a reality.  I love this group.  I think they are the most genuine and hardworking group I’ve met in Togo – and you can see the needs and what this project will do for the handicapped community- It’s such a good opportunity and – like MAC, almost makes me want to stay in Togo longer.  We will plan to have the official proposals submitted at the end of February and then have the project online and receiving donations ASAP after that.  SOOOOO- if you – or anyone you know- is interested in helping this project succeed- let me know!  I cannot wait to see their faces in a couple months when we tell them the project can be done. 

SCHOOL ISSUES

Contrary to the well-stated words of Notorious B.i.g. “mo money mo problems,” and the inferred theory of less money less problems, Togolese teachers and students have begun expressing their idea of less money = more problems.  Strikes are common in Togo.  A couple times since I’ve been here, the hospital has gone on strike because they have not been paid (by the government).  Teachers of primary, middle, and high schools have also gone on strike for the same reason: no salary.  However, recently, school strikes (and now riots) have real effects.  A few months ago, the teachers went on strike for a few days and then resumed.  So, when my neighbor’s kids told me that the teachers were on strike again, I thought nothing of it.  Until the strike continued and people began speaking of school being “finished”.  Rumor was: that if they don’t get paid, school will be done for the year.  However, little by little, teachers returned.  And now, most teachers have decided to go back and teach, even though rumor again has it that they still aren’t being paid the full amount.  We will see what happens; there are still people saying that it’s possible that they will go on strike again in February.  In the same domain of education and unrest, in December, university students marched and rioted in Kara and Lome.  Usually, students receive a stipend/scholarship to attend school, which is used to live, but lately the government stopped paying students.  Hence: the riots.   Students marched down the streets, blocking traffic and yelling.   Over the course of a few days, the riots became violent, and universities were shut down and has just reopened last week not reopened since.  I sort of have strong opinions about this whole situation, but I won’t post them online- if you are interested and you know me, then ask.   

AED UPDATES

“My baby just had the results of the final test.  She’s not sick; she’s not sick!  She’s normal!  It’s finished!  God has given!  Another round of drinks!”  The bartender brought everyone another beer or soda.  The staff of the HIV/AIDS group had gathered to celebrate my return from the US, the New Year 2012, and now, Pierrette, the president of the group was announcing that her daughter Marie Reine was officially HIV-negative.  Everyone cheered “A la santé!”  and continued drinking.  I looked over at the newest member of the group, Nazarine, who was born in October, and wondered about her status.  Will we find out she is HIV-negative too?  Or will she grow into a young girl carrying the virus, eventually succumbing to AIDS….  There’s another young girl- about 11 years old – who has AIDS.  I can’t stand to think of Nazarine like that.  The girl is skinny- incredibly-skin-and-bones-skinny.  She walks very slowly like she is having trouble balancing herself on her skeleton body.  She smiles sometimes; I think I’ve seen her smile twice – and I can’t and don’t want to picture Nazarine growing into an AIDS patient like her.  Nazarine is the chubbiest, happiest baby I have ever seen.  She is like a baby Santa Claus.  (Which actually sounds sort of scary, so maybe erase that image from your mind)?  She smiles a two-toothed smile, makes a lot of baby noises when you talk to her like she can actually understand, and laughs – like really laughs.  It’s hilarious to watch; she opens her mouth wide so you can see the tips of the two front teeth that are just arriving, lifts her face up and back like the force of the laughter can’t keep her head in its normal position, and lets out this huge baby laugh.  Then, if it’s an especially big laugh, she gets the hiccups, like her body was just shook by this earthquake laugh and now is getting little hiccup aftershocks.  I usually end up cracking up too, and so does Clementine, her mother. 

POPPY and QUI SAIT

While I was gone, poppy and qui sait got into trouble.  They killed more pintades (guinea fowl/like a chicken).  The owner of the pintades luckily did not kill poppy and qui sait, but gave them a warning: a cut on their leg; a scar to remind them.  So, I have been keeping the dogs cooped up.  I know the only reason poppy is not dead yet is because I am white – the foreigner/ the VIP in village.  I just hope that Poppy will be safe until I leave and take him to the US.

ENGLISH CLUB

Although I’ve been super busy, I was able to meet with some of the kids in the English Club and was really proud of what they did over the strikes and their holiday break.  While I was away on vacation, they had meetings about gender equality, the environment, and the importance of girl’s education.  They talked to the principal to get trashcans for the school- and they succeeded in getting cheap trashcans made.  They formed an “environmental police” group who will monitor the trashcans, and make sure people use them.  I can’t believe they did all that!  On their own initiative!  I’m so excited about that.  Think: the school for the years and years and years of being there, did not have trashcans and instead had piles of trash covering the grounds.  Now, my English club kids have installed trashcans and they are actually working! Crazy. 

HOME!!!!!!!!!

I honestly don’t think I can succinctly write about how excited I was to go home and everything that I did and everyone I saw and everyone I wished to see but couldn’t.  But, I did go home- for about 2.5 or 3 weeks- and had the most amazing time.  I was so happy and just felt “whole” being with my family again.  Christmas was amazing, New Years was fun, and all the friends I was able to see were wonderful.  I can’t believe everything that has changed-houses engagements babies careers! – and everything that is still the same – never failing family/friendships J