Another week gone! Some changes in the weather, drastic increases in humidity and we thought that it was going to rain. The rains of this period are called mango rains. They come at the time that mangoes are starting to be ripe and they clean the dust out of them. Children pick the mangoes off the trees and bite them without washing them. Without the rains they are full of dust. Not a very healthy practice.
Creative change in organization in order to get more funds from the World Bank
Millennium goals are both good as a guideline, but very bad when it comes to projects funding criteria. I already mentioned in a previous blog how the criteria set by the big donors makes the receiving government very creative for their reporting. For example funding is based on the number of children entering primary education, who cares about what is coming out… Statistics are manipulated to show increases in % of kids attending school by for example counting children attending Muslim schools. The name “school” for a lot of these institutions is not appropriate since it is mainly a way to exploit children whom you see begging in the streets or along the roads going to work at the farm of their marabou.
Well now another way of getting longer funding has been found. Today there are 2 ministries for education: primary schools is one and another one is for secondary and higher education. The funding comes in program for a certain number of years per level. The funding for primary schools stopped in 2015 in Burkina Faso, but goes on for secondary school until 2019 (I think). So in order to keep on getting funds for the primary schools, it has been decided to join part of the secondary education (first 4 years) with the primary education. Technically it does not make sense and it will be a big disaster on the organizational side. But it will be very good for funding (and the pocket of the people in charge).
It is really sad to see how the UN, World Bank, IMF, Europe blue collars are stupid.
Traditional way to find water
In the village of Nefrelaye, we are helping the villagers to set up a vegetable garden project. They need to have about 2 hectares (4,5 acres) for this project and water has to be available on this plot. The land has to be given to the association which will manage it. Not all farmers are ready to give away land. They had offered 4 sites to be looked at. With us we took a “water man”. To find water he uses two copper rods. The movement of the rods give some idea of where there is water underground and also at about what depth.
Mr. Lengani with is copper rods
Out of the 4 pieces of land earmarked by the villagers, none had a good spot for water. A bit outside one of the places, a good spot was found. The owner of the land was with us and said that there was no problem to get land around this good location. We will plot the GPS coordinates and go back to limit this new area.
Jean-Francois (left) and Odile (right) in the meeting following the survey.
Projects
Maternity clinic in Fina
VKF (van Kesteren foundation) has funded the construction of a new maternity clinic in Fina, together with the Dr. Hofstee Stichting and the ’t Atrium school. The old one was a small building which ASAP had converted in a maternity clinic about 15 years ago. During the 2 first weeks of March, 19 births happened in this old building!!!!!!! The day before we came they had 5 births.
The new building will definitely help mothers to give birth in better conditions. Construction will start this Monday. The old maternity clinic will be converted into a pharmaceutical depot.
Site for the new maternity clinic
The old maternity clinic still in use: post birth room and preparation room.
Nursery school of Fina
Funded School opened in October 2014 with 78 children of 5 years old.
One of the fathers was telling us the changes he has seen in his child after 6 months of nursery school. First of all, the child now talks to him and comes to him if he has a problem, he will also ask him questions such as “What are we eating tonight?” or “What are you going to do today?”. This seems normal to us, but here this is kind of a miracle. The children are also very clean and very respectful.
Microcredits in Fina
The women took the opportunity of our visit to reimburse their credits. Over 300 women have a small credit of around € 30 for a year with 7% interest.
Odile and Jean Francois counting the cash.
The lady in the middle of the picture told us that with the credit she bought a sheep which had a lamb this year. When I asked if she sold the sheep to pay back the loan, she said that she did not have to do it because she used the cash she got from the Shea butter.
Hangar for the house of the women in Fina
Looking at the space for the hangar in front of the maison de la femme de Fina.
Funding comes from the Lakeland Foundation and from other sources.
Agricultural social business
Erik (student at Wageningen University) and Remy (farmer of SYS)
In order to clarify some points with the village of Sokourani, we had to have a meeting with some of the leaders. Even so the main leader was not attending, we could discuss and come to some kind of understanding regarding the relationship between SYS farm and the village.
Termitary along the way.
Pictures taken in the various villages we visited this week
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Question
What is this picture?
While coming back to Bobo from a village, we found ourselves at the back of this truck.
The truck was still moving!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Some new birds
Proverbs of the week
One who plants grapes by the road side, and one who marries a pretty woman, share the same problem. ~Ethiopian Proverb
Celui qui plante des raisins sur le côté de la route, et celui qui épouse une jolie femme, partagent le même problème. ~ Proverbe éthiopien
The surface of the water is beautiful, but it is no good to sleep on. ~Ghanaian Proverb
La surface de l’eau est belle, mais ce n’est pas bon pour dormir dessus. ~ Proverbe ghanéen
There is always a winner even in a monkey’s beauty contest.
Il y a toujours un gagnant même dans un concours de beauté de singes.
I will let you go on these thoughts. Have a very good week.
Hervé