weekend in Ngaparu

Happy Monday everyone,

This past weekend was quite an experience in the Senegalese way of life and as an introduction to their work ethic and also the status of the sustainability movements here.

CRESP is an organization here in Senegal that borrows its accronym from a similar umbrella organization at Cornell. The Cornell CRESP provides support for all sorts of community involvement and enrichement projects in Ithaca, among these smaller groups is Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW). The sustainability movement grew right along with that in Ithaca decades ago and the CRESP that developed here in part a sistership with it. CRESP supports the growing ecovillage system of Senegal, along with a microcredit program to women in small villages to start their own microenterprises and the solar oven project. It turns out that there are anywhere from 35 to 50 ecovillages in Senegal! I instinctively thought of the ecovillage of Ithaca when I heard this, and had a hard time trying to picture the 'back to basics' and minimalist mentalities and hippy culture fitting in Senegal. This indeed is not the way it is here. Ecovillage simply refers to a preexisting, traditional village here, where members of the community have recognized the need to change their habits upon recognizing the consequences of deforestation, poor waste disposal practices, poor economy, etc.... Many realize that they CANNOT wait for the government to help. There are no practical programs to help them. Thus, CRESP acts as a facilitator and resource for the villages looking for change.

CRESP is a relatively small office filled with dynamic Senegalese and foreigners. They practice action-research, a philosophy that involves active participation in projects, and informing and activating all people involved in any way with the outcomes of the desired project. Practicing action-research also implies that ever plan of action is only a tentative one and that based on research findings made each day, one's plan of action should be adjusted to best accomodate the situation the following day.

This past weekend was a really interesting example of this philosophy in practice. CRESP organized a retreat for ecovillage representatives to organize some form of network between them. Representatives from about 11 of the ecovillages all reunited for the first time in Ngaparu, about 60 miles south of Dakar. Although Ismael, the director of CRESP facilitated and led many discussions, everyone was encouraged to participate and speak on behalf of their villages, so that it would be known exactly what problems that village faced and what projects they hoped to integrate there.

It turns out that there currently exists no network between them at all. Phone calls are not made, internet doesn't exist in many villages, and one representative, a quiet, thoughtful man from a non-Wolof speaking area, said that he didn't even know that there were other ecovillages. So, this meeting was very constructive for getting the ball rolling and interconnecting ideas.

The weekend produced a lot of friendships and a committee that will begin meeting on a regular basis to make decisions. It was decided that each ecovillage should report on its activities; the failures and successes, so that other villages will have access to that information. No need to reinvent the wheel is the idea. And this should save emmense amounts of time, as many villages are excited to introduce small loans to certain female-led projects. As far as solar ovens go, Mekhe is the only village that has a history with them. Abdoulay Toure began building them there in the 1980's and has been perfecting it ever since. In the past couple years, Senegalese and volunteers alike have been training groups of female teachers in the solar cooking process, to get them psyched for the idea, then spread the love to the other women of the village. So far, a grant has provided 50 ovens to Mekhe and most of the women who have them are pretty happy. 50 more will be distributed hopefully this summer. We have learned that it's best to ask a small fee for the ovens, dispite the fact that they were funded for us and there is no direct cost for us, so that the women really feel invested in them and want to integrate them into their cooking routine. If not, a woman may accept the oven just because, not really taking it seriously. A fee weeds out those who take the concept and practice to heart and those who don't.

Right now, I spend my days reading reports of those who have already worked on the project. When the intern director arrives from the US, Marian, we will work out a plan for my research. I feel most inspired to focus on taking Mekhe as an example of how solar ovens can succeed in a village, and implementing the concepts in another village, Mbom, that really wants to try the ovens. I am learning that everything is subject to change here at any time, and since this really is a first-time project, there is no conventional method to follow, no standard to meet. So, I feel almost silly setting a specific goal for my summer so soon, as it is likely overly ambitious and too focused at such an early stage. But, that gives you all an idea of where my thoughts are and hopefully sets a bar for me and interns who come after me to reach.

The weekend was slow-paced and thoughtful; allowing lots of time for social interaction. It was perhaps the polar opposite of an American office meeting. We met in an open air pavillion on the beach and slept in airy rooms. Meals were casual and for breakfast we had coffee and bread with butter; for lunch we shared huge, round plates of food, like rice and onions and whole, fried fish. For dinner, we would have rice again with sauce, or noodly-like things with sauce. With the Coup du Monde just getting started, some of us would jam ourselves into the sole bedroom with a TV to watch. I've never seen a full size bed hold that many grown men, pressed up against each other as though they've know each other forever. Most of the representatives were men, but it was nice to see that a few were women, and they were taken every bit as seriously as the men. They spoke up a little less frequently than many of the men, but when they did, they did so very eloquently and assertively. I hear that Mekhe has been such a solar oven success due to the dynamic, highly enthusiastic group of women that lives there. They take the financial responsibility of their families very seriously, whereas their husbands would like to spend extra money on cars and on other women (no joke!) Teaching these women the benefits of the ovens, and letting them take the responsibility of their use and propagation into their own hands, as well as providing them micro-loans, is hugely successful. How exciting!

Ok, this has been a really long entry; everyone still awake? If there are any questions, let me know!

Legi legi! (later!)
Melissa