My grandmother,
Celeste Strong, recently sent me a letter to which she posed several questions
pertaining to PCV work—and one question took precedence over all.
“Do
you have to be on call at certain times or are you on duty 24 hours a day?”
The former US
Ambassador to Togo gave the answer to this question my first week in country: We
are technically on duty 24/7. We are essentially US representatives, US (petits) ambassadors.
We may not be
educating our communities 24/7—we need sleep like everyone else—but we make un grand effort to shine a positive
light on America and it’s often hard work. But what do we do really? Or more
importantly what do I do, right?!
I’m quite certain
there are some curious cats that would like to know about my work activities in
country (and outside). Am I wrong? I sure hope not!
So here’s what
I’ve been doing:
WORLD MAP PROJECT
With my site mate
Katy Todd, I worked with a small group of elementary students at EPP Worgou in
Dapaong and painted a large world map on an outside wall of the school.
WELL-BEING CONFERENCE IN SAGBIEBOU
Originally
organized by a CHAP PCV in 2011, the village decided to make this conference
annual (SUSTAINABILITY!) and requested PCVs and HCNs to present a topic of
their choice. Since my Togolese counterpart presented on family planning
methods and CHAP PCV Maggie McRae did condom demonstrations, I focused on the
benefits of family planning. More specifically, I explained the ways in which a
smaller family size benefits everyone, more resources for each member of the
family—food, money, clothes, housing, water, etc.
WOMEN’S GROUP IN DAPAONG
Nutrition. I love
it; I teach it; and I live it. In June and July, I led a nutrition talk with a
women’s group in Nassablé, Dapaong. Most of the women are in their 50s or late
60s, thus I discussed the importance of calcium, low-sodium intake, hydration
(especially during hot season), etc. They also requested a talk on what
qualifies as a balanced diet.
CHAP TOOLKIT REVISION 2012
Each program
sector has a book complete with a plethora of resources for PCVs to use (if
they so desire) at post. An editorial team of six PCVs (including one PCVL)
revised the toolkit for the new CHAP trainees who arrived this month.
FOOD SECURITY TASK FORCE (FSTF)
An increasing population, environmental
degradation, and gender disparities have led to the current food security
crisis in Togo. There are seven members of FSTF, which include PCVs from all
four sectors. Each member has his own role, and I work on public relations and
communication.
FOOD SECURITY SUMMIT 2012 (THE GAMBIA)
EAFS
PCV Benjamin Bogardus and I recently had the opportunity to network and
exchange information at the Food Security Summit in Banjul, The Gambia with
PCVs and staff from eight other West Africa Food Security Partnership (WAFSP)
countries: Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, and Mali.
Through sessions and informal exchanges, we learned about the food security
activities happening in other countries and formed some recommendations for
moving forward in Togo.
MID-SERVICE CONFERENCE
That’s right.
Halfway there! This conference was an excellent opportunity for PCVs from each
sector, i.e. EAFS, CHAP, GEE and SED, to showcase their activities in a
three-day work fair. It also gave PCVs a chance to refine their skills.
SITE DEVELOPMENT IN PANA (SAVANNAH)
Proper site
development is crucial before the arrival of a PCV. If a community is seriously
committed to receive a PCV—which entails a community-donated house for the PCV
that also meets PC requirements—then the site is accepted. PCVs often help
APCDs with site development and I helped with the site development of a village
near Dapaong.
CAMP ECO-ACTION
Togo has many
camps, however, this environmental camp had its début this July. I was a
counselor for girls’ week. I led informative lectures/trainings on nutrition,
composting, improved cook stoves, and soy bread.
HOUSE MANAGER OF A WORKSTATION
There are two
workstations in Togo: one in Atakpamé (Plateau) and the other in Dapaong
(Savannah). I am the new house manager for the Dapaong workstation. Yay!
AGRICULTURAL TRADE FAIR 2012
Economic
development in Togo largely depends on improving sustenance farming and
agricultural information exchange. This fair gives individual farmers and
agricultural producers a venue to showcase locally produced products and open
new marketing and networking opportunities. I am a scout for the fair.
Well, that's what been happening chez moi. Next blog will include more information on the Food Security Summit.
Until next time...
