Project Work Ahead . . . Burkina Connection 1 JOURNAL OF THE FRIENDS OF BURKINA FASO SPRING 2002 BURKINA CONNECTION Have you not, from time to time since returning from your Peace Corps service, wondered how you might return to support the people of Burkina Faso? Or won- dered how you might stay connected and involved? We served at the grassroots and know that friendship, personal initiative, and small steps create a lever that can move mountains. At our reunion in 2001, there was a ground swell of support for development projects. The FBF leadership challenged its members to find ways to commit resources to worthy development efforts in Burkina Faso. Some friends in the Washington D.C. area have been meeting to discuss the objectives, organization, and selection criteria for FBF projects. Presently "The Projects Committee” is chaired by Tom Vollrath, RPCV '67-'69. See our committee's charter on page 6. The primary guideline is to work closely with people and organizations in Burkina Faso, encouraging local initiative. To assure that our efforts are hitting the intended target, the committee is seeking ways to get accountability and feedback from the beneficiaries. We're exploring a number of project ideas, including those related to scholarships, computer use in schools, solar energy, distribution of bicycles, school electrification, and provision of pharmaceuticals. Some of these ideas have been initiated by Burkinabé and FBF members. Others are based on programs that have an estab- lished track record and are being man- aged by development organizations, including Save the Children, Crosslink International, and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. The committee seeks input and contri- butions from the FBF community. If you have exciting project ideas or would like to participate in any way, contact our Communication Coordinator, Anastasia Hopkinson, [email protected]. We are in particular need of project leaders who are willing to write propos- als and/or who are able to oversee project developments. The FBF Projects Committee would like to create opportunities. We believe that our small community can make a difference by extending a hand that helps bridge the economic and cultural gap that divides humanity. One way to begin is to help us build a capital base by making a tax-deductible financial contribution. You may send your check, labeled “FBF Projects” to treasurer Holland McKenna who has opened a special projects account. FBF is organizing to fund projects
Transcript
Project Work Ahead . . .
Burkina Connection 1
JOURNAL OF THE FRIENDS OF BURKINA FASO SPRING 2002
BURKINA CONNECTION
Have you not,from time to timesince returningfrom your PeaceCorps service,wondered howyou might returnto support thepeople of BurkinaFaso? Or won-
dered how you might stay connected andinvolved? We served at the grassrootsand know that friendship, personalinitiative, and small steps create a leverthat can move mountains. At our reunion in 2001, there was aground swell of support for developmentprojects. The FBF leadership challengedits members to find ways to commitresources to worthy development effortsin Burkina Faso. Some friends in theWashington D.C. area have been meetingto discuss the objectives, organization,and selection criteria for FBF projects.Presently "The Projects Committee” ischaired by Tom Vollrath, RPCV '67-'69. See our committee's charter on page 6.The primary guideline is to work closelywith people and organizations in BurkinaFaso, encouraging local initiative. Toassure that our efforts are hitting theintended target, the committee is seekingways to get accountability and feedbackfrom the beneficiaries. We're exploring anumber of project ideas, including those
related to scholarships, computer use inschools, solar energy, distribution ofbicycles, school electrification, andprovision of pharmaceuticals. Some ofthese ideas have been initiated byBurkinabé and FBF members. Others arebased on programs that have an estab-lished track record and are being man-aged by development organizations,including Save the Children, CrosslinkInternational, and the Institute forTransportation and DevelopmentPolicy. The committee seeks input and contri-butions from the FBF community. If youhave exciting project ideas or would liketo participate in any way, contact ourCommunication Coordinator, AnastasiaHopkinson, [email protected] are in particular need of projectleaders who are willing to write propos-als and/or who are able to overseeproject developments. The FBF Projects Committee wouldlike to create opportunities. We believethat our small community can make adifference by extending a hand that helpsbridge the economic and cultural gapthat divides humanity. One way to begin is to help us build acapital base by making a tax-deductiblefinancial contribution. You may sendyour check, labeled “FBF Projects” totreasurer Holland McKenna who hasopened a special projects account.
FBF is organizing to fund projects
President's Yiri
Burkina Connection 2
by Bob Osborne
My big personal newsis that as of Friday,March 1, I'm officiallypart of the diplomaticcorps. I was sworn inby no less than Secre-tary of State ColinPowell, along with 96other new ForeignService Officers. Forthe record, I'm theoldest member of my
class; the youngest was a fresh-faced22. It was quite a day for me, as itmarked the culmination of a long pro-cess that started back in October 2001,when I took the written Foreign Serviceexam.
Friends and colleagues joining mein my celebrations were Tom Vollrathand Anastasia Hopkinson, from UpperVolta I, and FBF TreasurerHolland McKenna, whoserved in the early '70s. Thebiggest honor during the daywas the presence of Secre-tary Powell, who has doneso much already in his shorttenure to boost the Depart-ment of State as an institu-tion, including getting large increases inbudget and staff, mandating moretraining for officers and generallyincreasing morale.
My own part of this ceremony wasto be assigned to Lagos as a consularofficer for a two-year tour beginning inearly May of this year. I had preferred aFrench-speaking area, but there wereonly a few of these available, and thevarious permutations that go into theselection process gave them to others.But at least I'll be in West Africa, andsince I've never been to Nigeria, I'm
very pleased to be heading for a newadventure. This is especially excitingbecause Nigeria, along with SouthAfrica, represents the key to sub-Saharan Africa in the foreseeablefuture, and I'll be happy to play mylittle part here.
NPCA ANNUAL CONFERENCEThe Annual conference of the NationalPeace Corps Association, originally setfor last September, has now beenrescheduled as the 40th+1 NationalConference, set for June 20-23, inWashington, DC. I hope that many of you will take theopportunity to attend this conference,as it will give you the opportunity toreconnect with UV/BF colleagues, meetnew RPCVs from all over the PeaceCorps world, see what other groups are
doing and how they do it,and find out what ishappening in light of theAdministration's promiseto expand Peace Corpsdramatically. The Friends ofBurkina group dinner isscheduled for Friday
night, June 21. We will make reserva-tions at a West African restaurant toaccommodate a gathering and reunionfor all Friends of Burkina Faso. Conference activities will be cen-tered at the Omni Shoreham, 2500Calvert Street, Woodley Park, near theNational Zoo, one block from theWoodley Park metro station on theMetro's Red Line. To register for theconference, go to [email protected],or call 202-293-7728, ext 24. You canget updated information on the variousevents and seminars at www.rpcv.org.
bo
bs
yir
i...
Mark your calendar:Friends of Burkina
group dinnerFriday, June 21,Washington, DC
Bob Osborne
Burkina Connection 3
fb
f C
ON
TA
CT
S...
Click Honor the 40th and then click2002 Conference. Please contact mevia e-mail if you plan to attend. Also,let me know if you need financial helpto attend, as we have at least one pre-paid registration that can be awarded tosome deserving soul.
FBF PROJECTS COMMITTEEAfter the September FBF meeting, Iappointed Tom Vollrath as Chairpersonof a new Projects Committee, whosecharge was to develop a frameworkwith which possible programs andprojects could be researched, evaluatedand ultimately recommended for fund-ing and development. The Committeewould also oversee the operation of theprojects, and make regular reports ontheir progress. The complete proposal has not yetbeen finally approved by the Board, butwe anticipate that we will be underwaywith more actual projects soon. You'llfind a request for the project donationfund on the membership form.
Y'ALL COME SEE ME, YA HEAR?Once I get settled in Lagos, I hope thata few of you will consider a visit. I willbe living in quite comfortable quarters,with lots of extra room, and zero hous-ing costs will be my contribution toyour vacation budget. It's my understanding that Lagos hasplenty of fine beaches, since it's spreadover four islands and a strip along theAtlantic coast, and I will do my best toconvince you that it's a large and excit-ing and thriving metropolis, with muchto offer to offset its reputation. Besides,you're all old Africa hands, so you'll beable to easily appreciate the beauty andthe adventure.
Bob Osborne, ‘67-’69, President1201 South Eads, Apt 1607, Arlington, VA 22202Tel: 703-486-0728 (h) [email protected]
Andrea Joseph-Adams, '79-'80, Assistant Editor6305 N Bell Street, Kansas City, MO 64151Tel: 816-746-9465 (h) [email protected]
Jonathon Colman, ‘99-’00, Web Naaba310 Beakes St #1, Ann Arbor, MI 48104Tel: 734-997-9157 (h) [email protected] (h)[email protected] (w) www.friendsofburkinafaso.org
Tom Vollrath, '67-69, Projects Committee Chair4705 Duncan Drive, Annandale, VA 22003Tel:703-503-3438 (h) [email protected]
The past year of 2001 was marked by three major events. First, in Februaryand March, Friends of Burkina Faso conducted a group return trip; second,in September, we gathered en masse in Washington despite the cancellationof the National Peace Corps Association conference; and third, we initiateda formal project development committee.
RETURN TRIPIn late February, a group of nine FBF members gathered in Paris, and thenheaded off together for Burkina Faso. The group consisted of Bob Os-borne, Denny FitzPatrick and Ellen (Ammerman) Gouin and husbandRené, all '67-69, and David Marcham, Gary and Katrina White and sonWilliam, and Karen Updegraff, all from the early '80s. Most made visitsinto the countryside to return to their old villages and renew friendshipswith Burkinabé colleagues from the past, and all had the opportunity to getinformed about the current status of the very lively Peace Corps programunder the stewardship of Director Nelson Cronyn. In addition, the delega-tion met with two groups of officials from the Burkina government, namelythe Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and some of hisstaff, and with several Delegates of the National Assembly. On the U.S.side, Ambassador Jimmy Kolker held a reception for the group at hisresidence, and opened his home for us to stay there for the last two days ofthe stay. The crowning achievement was the chance to view several filmsduring FESPACO, the premier event of its kind in all of Africa. This wasthe first group return since 1994, and it should help stimulate more frequentones in the future.
MEETING IN WASHINGTONIn September, in response to the terrorist attacks in New York and Washing-ton, the NPCA was compelled to cancel the 40th Anniversary NationalConference. Friends of Burkina Faso, however, felt that it was a bettermessage for peace to continue with our portion of the Conference. There
Annual Report 2001 by Bob Osborne
Burkina Connection 5
AN
NU
AL
RE
PO
RT
...
was surely a great confusion of emotions:joy over meeting old friends after as longas 32 years, mixed with despair over thetragedies of just a few days earlier; happi-ness over the sounds of animated conver-sations, contrasted by the dark sounds ofmilitary helicopters flying at low altitudes;pride in participating in a vigil at the Lin-coln Memorial, mixed with concern bor-dering on fear of the heavy presence ofpolice and military personnel. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful experi-ence, as two groups, the original Upper Volta I veterans and a secondfrom the early 1980s, held reunions. On Saturday afternoon of the con-ference, a large number of attendees met for a membership meeting, andthe finale was a wonderful reception at the home of Thomas Fox, thefirst Peace Corps Director in Ouagadougou.
PROJECTS COMMITTEEOne of the significant accomplishments of the September meeting was awidespread desire of many FBF members to get more actively involvedin the organization, particularly in the area of projects that could beundertaken in Burkina. President Bob Osborne appointed a ProjectsCommittee, chaired by Tom Vollrath, '67-69. The Committee wascharged with developing a formal framework with which to receive andresearch proposals, and make specific proposals to the FBF Board. Onceapproved, the Committee would be charged with implementing andoperating the project, and reporting to the Board and membership on theongoing status of each project. The policy is projected to be underway inearly 2002.
OTHEROn the plus side, the organization continued to expand participation bymembers during the course of the year; most of this was a direct result ofthe enthusiasm generated by the September meeting. On the negativeside, there has still not been a full implementation of the Website,www.friendsofburkinafaso, but Web Naaba Jonathon Colman promisesto have it all up and running in the near future, so stay tuned.
Burkina Connection 6
PR
OJE
CT
S...
Charter of the Projects Committee
charitable foundations, and othersources.
Project Selection Criteria:The Committee will give priority toprojects that:• Promote sustainable economic devel-opment and/or advance social well-being;• Transfer knowledge and/or enhancecross-cultural understanding and com-munication;• Are community-based and addresslocally-identified needs;• Are initiated and/or well managed byBurkinabé. Well-managed means over-head costs are low and project activitiesare efficiently directed towards intendedpurposes.
Operational Guidelines:The Committee will conduct its activi-ties within the following guidelines:• Establish working relations with keyindividuals, organizations, and institu-tions in Burkina Faso.• Encourage local initiative, accountabil-ity, and feedback.• Limit FBF financial input into anysingle project so as not to exceed itsabsorptive capacity.• Conduct fundraising and promotionalactivities via e-mail, the Burkina Con-nection newsletter, direct solicitationand other modes of communication.• Avoid raising expectations beyondwhat we can effectively undertake andsupport.
Objectives:The primary objectives of projects of theFriends of Burkina Faso are the genera-tion of good will between the UnitedStates and Burkina Faso and the enrich-ment in the lives of citizens in bothcountries, irrespective of shifting politi-cal winds. To this end, the Board ofDirectors of the Friends of Burkina Fasoappoints “The Projects Committee” toevaluate and recommend worthy en-deavors.
Organizational Structure:The President of the FBF appoints theChairperson of the Projects Committee.The President and the Committee Chair-person select “friends” to be Committeemembers. Members serve in variouscapacities, e.g., Communication Coordi-nator, Project Accountant, Public Rela-tions and Marketing, Foundation Solici-tor, etc. The Committee seeks ProjectLeaders whose responsibilities are todevelop project proposals and plans forevaluation by the FBF Project Commit-tee. Proposals must include a budgetand identify individuals who will moni-tor and manage project developments.Project leadership is open to all FBFmembers.
Project Committee Roles:• Evaluate project proposals;• Recommend approval of projects andproject budgets from the FBF Board;• Monitor the status of on-going activi-ties;• Solicit funds from FBF membership,
Burkina Connection 7
RE
CIP
ES.
..
Have I got a recipe! by David Marcham, '83-'85
CHICKENNAT
✁
Friends of Burkina et tout le monde entier –Strap yourself in and let’s go for another culinary ride!
Every recipe I have attempted from the Africa News Cookbookhas been magnifique and very tasty.
OK, you may have noted this is the second dish I've givenyou featuring peanut butter. It seems like I lived on the peanutbutter in Burkina Faso. I always bought it from my favoritevendor in the marché (I looked her up when I was back inHounde and we had a great conversation!). The next recipe maybe a dish without PB for you anciens volontaires who are nottotally enamored of it. And to make a vegetarian meal, justsubstitute a good tofu or seitan (mock duck) option.
Happy cooking et bon appetit!!!
1 2-3 lb. chicken, cut into pieces1 tsp. salt1/2 tsp. ground black pepper1/2 cup butter1/2 cup onions, chopped1 pint chicken stock3/4 cup pure peanut butter, or 1 lb. roasted peanuts, ground to a paste1-2 egg yolksSeveral sprigs of parsley, coarsely chopped
Rub the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Melt butter in a large, ironskillet or stew pot (Dutch ovens,too!), and add the chicken and onions.Cover and simmer over lowest heat, gradually adding stock until youhave used it all. (Without stock, add tap water or bouillon). After 15minutes, remove half a cup of the cooking liquid to thin the peanutbutter or paste. Add to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat andthen whisk some of the hot stew liquid into the egg yolks. Add to thepot and stir to incorporate the egg mixture into the stew. Simmergently until chicken is done. Be careful not to heat the stew above asimmer from this point. Garnish with parsley leaves and serve withrice or a stiff corn porridge (comme tô!).
Voilà!
David Marcham
Burkina Connection 8
us
em
ba
ssy
...
Traveling with the Ambassador
Jimmy Kolker
As everywhere inAfrica, AIDS inBurkina Fasodemands the attentionof both thegovernment andforeign partners thesedays. The Embassyand Peace Corps haveboth been active inthe fight againstAIDS. USAID hasfinanced someregional programs
through non-government organizations.Discussion of AIDS is stilltaboo among many Burkinabe,but billboards featuringPresident Blaise Compaoreand an HIV-positive woman,Christine Kafando tried tobreak down barriers with theslogan “ça me concerne…ettoi?”
Among those showing theirconcern were Vermont Governor HowardDean, who was in Ouagadougou for theInternational Conference on AIDS andSexually-Transmitted Diseases in Africa(ICASA) in December and a group ofnine Congressional staff members, whospent five days here in January looking athealth issues. In many ways, AIDS inBurkina Faso today parallels the situationI saw in Botswana ten years ago. Boththe international community and Burkinasociety itself must pay more attention topreventing the spread of AIDS andaddressing its consequences before thestatistics – UNAIDS uses the figure 7.1%for incidence in Burkina — reach thehorrific levels of Botswana and itsneighbors.
Health and AIDS have also been the focus
of some of my travels this winter. InDecember, I helped launch an anti-Trachoma campaign in Fada N’Gourmawith the US NGO Helen KellerInternational and supported by freemedication from Pfizer. And the Centersfor Disease Control and US Red Crosswere patrons of a very successfulnationwide measles vaccinationcampaign. I joined President Compaoreto kick off the effort in Ouargaye. It wasmy first visit to that remote center, and thePresident admitted it was his, too!
The Embassy gave a small “humanrights” grant toAssociation des Jeunespour les Orphelins (anorganization founded byuniversity students) topublicize the rights ofpeople living with AIDS(and their widows andorphans) among lawenforcement and other
authorities. I joined themfor a seminar reaching about 40 localofficials in Pô in January.
Village self-help projects kept me movingaround Burkina. In the north, I visitedgrain mills we financed at Bissighin (15km from Ouahigouya) and Wanobe(near Titao, where third-year PCV teacherAnne Knight joined the group). Idedicated schools in Kabo (25 km fromYako), Nabiraotenga (south of Zorgho)and Kalao (90 km north of Léo). Themasks were out in force at Kalao, andPCV David Fitter, who teaches 26 kmaway in Fara, accompanied me for thefestivity. I visited a self-help gardeningproject in Kolinka (near Ouessa) and anew women’s center in Noona. PCVsDamon Roberts and Kara Garbeprovided a tour of the Noona area!
"The Embassy andPeace Corps have both
been active in thefight against AIDS."
US
EM
BA
SSY
...
Burkina Connection 9
Three extraordinary trips reminded mewhat a pleasure and privilege it is to servein Burkina Faso:
❖ With RPCVs Christopher and NoraRoy, I traveled to Sayaga, 10km fromKoloko at the far southwestern edge of thecountry, to attend the funeral rites for thefather of our friend Boureima Diamitani,who got his PhD with Dr. Roy in Iowa.PCV Laura Grant, based nearby inSokoroni, biked over for the two-dayevent, which gave us all a full dose ofBurkina music and animist tradition, asonly funerals can. The Roys took theopportunity to learn more about Senoufoarts and culture, including visits to womenpotters in Pelignan and blacksmiths inSifarasso. Chris and Nora made a gener-ous contribution through the Friends ofBurkina Faso to purchase a generator-operated mill for Sayaga. The mill willhelp generate income to pay for thecompletion of a maternity clinic and otherprojects there. They also brought soccershirts and second-hand soccer shoes forthe men’s soccer team in Sayaga, as wellas school supplies and pen-pal letters fromkids in Iowa City schools for the childrenin Sayaga’s elementary school. Bougoutiois Nora's new Tagwara name, and Chris isknown as Konomba.
❖ With our visiting State Departmentinspector, 10 of us from the Embassyvisited the first Mouhoun/Balé maskfestival in Tcheriba. 20 villages worth ofdancing masks! We were leading custom-ers of the exhibition/sale of the remark-able women potters of Tcheriba, orga-nized by Peace Corps teacher RosalindNewton. She also helped them open aboutique and publish a catalog. (To order,contact Ros directly c/o P C Burkina).
❖ Most encouraging of all was a trip tofarms in the Boussé, Gourcy andOuahigouya areas to look at restorationof degraded land – a project supported bythe US Geological Survey Eros DataCenter in South Dakota. Most of usassumed that after the drought of the1970’s, deforestation and desertificationwere inevitable. What we saw, however,was that self-taught farmer-innovatorswere reclaiming the land, with amazingresults in crops, useful trees and waterconservation. It was one of the mostinspiring experiences of my tour. Anyonewanting to meet these farmers in printshould read chapter 4 of Farmer Innova-tion in Africa, by Chris Reij and AnnWaters-Bayer (Earthscan Publications,London and Sterling, VA).
The Diamitani family in Sayaga with Ambassador Kolker, Nora Roy, and visiting dignitaries.
pc
ne
ws.
..
Burkina Connection 10
Notes from Peace Corps Burkina
Nelson Cronyn, PCD
Greetings fromOuagadougou. In mylast piece, I men-tioned that it wasstarting to cool off.Well, what a differ-ence a few monthsmakes – here comesthe hot season andthose famous Burkinamangoes. My last trip of anylength was a familyvacation right after
Christmas. We traveled to Gorom-Gorom,then on to Gandafabou, a small Tuareg andFulani village with a “campementtouristique” run by Tuareg guide Rissa AgAgali. We were treated to interestingmarkets (Deou and Oursi) and spectacularviews, particularly at night camping outunder the full moon. Ihighly recommend thistrip for anyone inter-ested in gaining abetter appreciation forthe pastoral zone ofBurkina. From north-eastern Burkina, wetook a faint sand track(missed the main pistesomehow) to Tera,Niger, then down toNiamey for New YearsEve with BurkinaRPCV John U. Davisand his extendedfamily. There has been quite a bit of staff turnoverin the past few months. AdministrativeOfficer Bill Salisbury left for medicalreasons at the end of December, whichmeans I have not been out seeing Volunteersnearly as much as I would like. We expect anew Administrative Officer, Molly GlennMbengue (RPCV/Mali) to be on board bymid-April. PCMO Daynese Santos joined
us in December, replacing MollyLeitnaker, who moved with her newhusband to Nairobi. Daynese has manyyears of experience working with HIV/AIDS patients in Atlanta, Georgia, as wellas overseas experience in Brazil and Africa. The usual day-to-day good work ofVolunteers aside, here are four programhighlights from the past few months: ❖ The “Caravane Cycliste Contre leSIDA” began on International AIDS Day,December 1. Three groups of 10 – 15Volunteers, accompanied by animators fromthe NGO Promaco, bicycled three routes -Fada to Ouaga, Ouahigouya to Ouaga,and Gaoua to Bobo – as part of a nation-wide HIV/AIDS awareness-raising cam-paign. The groups stopped in a total of 65villages, reaching over 30,000 people (farmore if one includes the national televisionaudience). The ride was featured on the
national eveningnews three times,and was the centralfeature of Burkina’sobservation ofInternational AIDSDay. On the lastday of the rideVolunteers and staffwere joined by U.S.AmbassadorJimmy Kolker andVermont GovernorHoward Dean asthey rode in aparade composed ofcommunity-based
organizations (women’s and youth groupsworking on HIV/AIDS awareness, supportgroups for people living with AIDS). Theparade ended at the international conferencefacility hosting ICASA (InternationalConference on AIDS and STDs in Africa),with a ceremony presided over by theMinister of Health and the President ofICASA. As representative of the Peace
Minister of Health seeing off Volunteers in Fadaat the National AIDS Ride
Burkina Connection 11
pc
ne
ws.
..Corps, I was a co-signee with representa-tives of other organizations in the parade ona declaration stating our intention to remainengaged in all aspects of HIV/AIDS preven-tion and awareness. This project was madepossible with generous financial supportfrom the President and CEO of AmericanMedical Laboratories, Timothy Brodnik,based inChantilly,Virginia. ❖ RebeccaArcher,EducationVolunteer inDiebougou,receivedfunding fromAmerica On-Line, as part ofthe PeacePack program,to start acomputer labwith internetaccess at her Lycée.❖ Volunteers have been busy setting up aseries of Guinea Worm Weeks in GuineaWorm endemic areas (Gorgare, Soubeira,Ziniare, Loropeni). Worm Week, an ideaconceived by Niger Volunteer MichaelKinzer in the mid-90s, aims at raising thelevel of awareness regarding Guinea Wormby conducting health extension campaigns
AIDS Ride: Start of the "Caravane Cycliste" in Fada. December 1, 2002
in villages hardest hit by “The Worm”.Volunteers work with counterparts doingeverything from door-to-door education toisolation and treatment of cases. Thisactivity has received a big injection ofenergy (and resources) since the arrival ofGlobal 2000 Director, and Burkina RPCV,Raymond Stewart.
will focus on HIV/AIDS awareness. RPCVs, please send us your 8x10 glossyphotos of your Volunteer days, noting whois doing what, where, and when on the back.We still have plenty of wall space tocover… Thanks to all of you for your continuinginterest in the Peace Corps program inBurkina Faso. Enjoy the spring.
Volunteers Claudia Diaz and Jennifer Wilen during ananimation session in Diapangou
AF
FF
...
Burkina Connection 12
African Family Film Foundation"African Family Film Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization committed tobringing inspiring images of African peoples to schools, community groups and the media. Ourfilm projects aim to provide the public with engaging, enlightening, and uplifting portraits ofAfricans and their cultures. We are dedicated to raising people's consciousness and appreciationof African culture worldwide. We attract and receive support as a result of screenings andexhibitions in public venues, through outreach and by direct appeals to individuals and publiclysupported institutions. Our award-winning films are now in libraries, schools, colleges, univer-sities, archives, museums and community centers in 33 states and 11 countries."
African Family Children's Fund"African Family Film Foundation assists children in Africa through the African FamilyChildren’s Fund, presently focusing on children at risk in Burkina Faso. We actively supportprojects and schools in Africa that teach children ecologically sound skills: sustainable organicfarming, reforestation and solar energy production."
LEARNING RE-FORESTATION…
The following two pages were submitted by Taale Laafi Rosellini (Returned Peace CorpsVolunteer Burkina Faso 1967-75), Founder/Director of African Family Film Foundation.
Dugutigi Kone teaches his son Dramane to play thebala xylophone. At age 4 Dramane speaks 3 languages.
Scenes from the film Great Great Great Grandparents' Music
Kalifa and Kiemogo play jembe drums, brother Bureimaclaps as Zalisa dances the Fiyen ka bo ("Air must exit!").
Paul Zombre and Alfred Kiba water seedlings at theLoumbila village cooperative nursery, Ziniare region.
Raogo and Sambo Kabore learn reforestation fromtheir elder at the Loumbila village nursery.
Burkina Connection 13
AF
FF
...
"African Family provides nutrition (millet, sorghum or corn organically grown in Africa) andcotton blankets (hand-woven by Burkinabé artisans) to children at risk and their families. Weengage in the redistribution of wealth while encouraging local organic farming and the ancientart of weaving cloth."
Teacher Samuel Sakana takes his students tovisit an African home powered by solar energy.
"We are seeking funds to continue the work of the Foundation and to support the grass-rootsprojects illustrated in these photos. Please help us help African children and their families. Evena small contribution can make a difference. Large contributions can make a BIG difference.Imagine how much you can help African children. Act now! Send your contribution."
LEARNING SOLAR ENERGY PRODUCTION…
During the dry season, youth of Malgsomde village,Oubritenga region, dig holes in the millet fields, fillingthem with organic material (grasses, animal dung anddecayed millet stalks). Burkinabé youth are learningthis technique called “zai”. It provides the soil withnutrients, retains humidity, resists drought, allowsseeds to grow more readily and helps produce a bettercrop, year after year.
…AND SUSTAINABLE ORGANIC FARMING
REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH
Young volunteers distribute 100 kg sacks of African grown organic corn to families, Kuritenga region.
Pierre YamleogoBalma, AssistantDirector of AfricanFamily Children'sFund, explainssolar energy tostudents atBowenwaogreschool, Nagbangrevillage, Bazeegaregion.
AFRICAN FAMILY FILM FOUNDATIONPO BOX 630, SANTA CRUZ CA 95061-0630
African Family Film Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization; your contributions are tax-deductible.
GR
EA
T G
IFT
S...
Please complete the form below and sendto our Kwasa Naaba, Dianne Fergusson ➠
FBF C/O DIANNE FERGUSSON430 EAST PARK DRIVESPARTANBURG SC 29302
Please make checks payable to: FRIENDS OF BURKINA FASO✁NAME: PHONE:
ADDRESS: ZIP:
HOW MANY: T-SHIRTS: M ___
T-SHIRTS: L ___
T-SHIRTS: XL ___
TOTE BAGS: ___
BOOKS: ___
CALENDARS: ___
PRICE PER SHIRT: $16
PRICE PER TOTE: $20
PRICE PER BOOK: $15
PRICE PER CALENDAR: $8
(NOTE FOR SHIRTS: in L & XL sizes, please specify if you want the words "Peace Corps " under the design)
(PLEASE ADD $3 IF YOU WANTTO HELP WITH POSTAGE COSTS)
Burkina Connection 14
Our most popular way to finance FBF projects in Burkina. Theshort-sleeved t-shirts are 100% cotton, pre-shrunk beefy-T,natural muslin-colored fabric. The tote bags are also cotton,natural, roomy and hefty. Our famous design (left) is four-color:brown, black, rust and green. Note that a handy proximity mapis found in the Baobab tree! T-shirt sizes are M, L, XL. In L & XL,specify if you want the words "Peace Corps" under the design.
T-Shirts & Tote Bags
The famous RPCV 2002 International Calendar. Eachmonth features a Peace Corps country of service.FBF will receive the proceeds to support Burkinaprojects. Makes a great holiday gift!
On Sale: 2002 Calendars
A Journey of DiscoveryMichael Patton, ’67-69, is donating ALL proceeds to Friends ofBurkina Faso! The Burkina-inspired book, Grand Canyon Cel-ebration: A Father-Son Journey of Discovery, is Michael’shumanistic tale of a coming-of-age initiation rite with his 18-yearold son. Only $15, postage included.
me
mb
er
s...
Burkina Connection 15
Look for your membership expiration date after your name on the mailinglabel. If there isn't one, your $15 membership is due. Thanks for your support.
Name:
Address:
Phone & E-mail:
Connection to Burkina:
Make checks payable to: FBFMail to: FBF MEMBERSHIP C/O DICK DIETZ 107 AUGUSTA DRIVE STATESVILLE NC 28625-4601
Yes, I want to continue to receive this newsletter
$15 Annual FBF Membership
$40 Joint Annual Membership... ($15 for FBF, $25 for NPCA)
$0 or whatever you can afford... (we'll send you the newsletter)
$ ___ Donation to FBF Project Fund
✃and support the important work of FBF
New Member Renewing Member
Meet Armande CoulidiatyHello Friends of Burkina! Laafi beme? I am the new IRC manager here at Peace Corps Ouaga, replac-ing Mercy Desouza. Mercy's husband was called to new duties inGhana. She is now the new IRC manager of PC Ghana. Can you believe this: My first math teacher in secondary schoolwas a PCV from 1985 to 1986. Gregory Kahoe was his name, andhe came from Kentucky. I hope to get in touch with him again.Warm regards, [email protected]
DENNY FITZPATRICK, EDITORPO Box 563Grand Marais MN 55604-0563 USA
JOURNAL OF THE FRIENDS OF BURKINA FASOb
ur
kin
ac
on
ne
ct
ion
Our Mission:
Friends of Burkina Faso, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable NPCA-affiliated organization • Maintains a network of returned Peace Corps Volunteers and friends of Burkina Faso • Provides funding and assistance to support projects in Burkina Faso • Improves social interaction, communication and information exchange • Educates others about the country and culture of Burkina Faso
