Believing in People, Investing in People

Believing in People, Investing in People

Two years ago we met a 17 year old girl, Mimi, at the hotel.  She was with a young boy who was carrying a scale and offering to weigh us for a little money compensation.  Although I was not specific as to where we worked, Mimi found us and thus began a journey to attempt to help a talented girl establish herself in life.  It has been a rough road.  Mimi became pregnant shortly thereafter.  We helped her with her school fees.  She did not do well with her exams.   Mimi is back at school this year.  A younger girl is looking after the baby. 

Mimi’s mother is a very talented person.  With a little help, she has established herself in a business in the Bamenda City Main Market.  One has to see this market, it is otherwise unimaginable.  Cameroon is famous for its exquisite 100% waxed dyed cottons.   Fabrics are designed for special occasions, organizations, village promotions and further enhanced by the incredible designs created for both men and women.   

Mimi’s mother met at the market, we entered  through the Bamenda City Main Market gate.  Streets are well market designated for designers and textile vendors.  Never have I seen such color in fabric!  The latest design is for today, Women’s Day March 8^th 2014.  Mimi’s mother has her treadle machine set up just inside their small, efficiently arranged small shop.  There are two apprentices, two ladies on electric machines (one an industrial machine) and a man who operates a serger.  If my count was right, there were seven little ones being cared for by the various ladies.  One little boy was eating a bowl of beans, the small baby was ready to nurse, the toddler was situated beside one machine, two little boys were quite curious about the camera.  Amidst all of this, we managed to do a little film.  I have never seen a treadle machine so efficiently operated. 

Mimi and her Mother are from the village of Sabga.   The village appeared to be well represented in the market.  We went to visit Mimi’s aunt who operates a textile shop.  There is a strong family resemblance between the two sisters. 

Two years ago, Mimi’s Mother was very sick.  She has made changes in her life; she and Mimi moved from Sabga to Bamenda where Mimi can go to school and Mimi’s Mother can be employed.  She has addressed her health issues and has regained her energy and stability.  Very rewarding to see.  Again, IDF through Oussematou has taken an individual (in this case both Mimi and her Mother), given counselling and a little help.  Mimi’s Mother is doing really well.  We are hoping that Mimi with do well with her studies.  It is not an easy world, especially here!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxMOg3Yfk30&index=3&list=UUKLdLUrOXVJPkIJuTTJxaAQ

Palliative Care: Reaching the Elderly, Starving and Vunerable

Palliative Care:  Reaching the Elderly, Starving and Vunerable

There is no welfare or social safety net in Cameroon.  If you can’t grow your own food and you have no money, you are in danger of starving.  Accepting referrals from Dr. Pounguey, a retired doctor who, since 2011 has undertaken 21 consultations in the city of Bana.  He says sick people can be completely destitute.  So, it is through Dr. Pounguey and community people that IDF searches out these cases, does an assessment, keeps records and does what it can to give a little assistance to individuals and families in extreme poverty without income, often without food.    We visited four such situations to deliver a package consisting of a large bag of rice, 5 pounds of beans, five boxes of matches and five large cakes of soap.  Each package, about $20 Canadian, means everything to these individuals and families. 

The first man we visited lives alone and has no family.   He is visually impaired and hard of hearing but has a great sense of humour.  He thanked us for the rice, beans, soap and matches.  He wanted to carry it into his house by himself.  Without electricity and almost blind, this way he would know where to find things.  He is 83, has diabetes and has a lot of pain. Allan asked him if he cooks for himself.  He said yes, if no one brings him something already made!    

Travelling down a steep washed out road to the second situation, a young man was all over the road, arms flailing.  Oussematou called him a mad man.  She says that during dry season, many people become mad.  Right away I said malnutrition (B Vitamins in particular) further exaggerated by lack of food and water in the dry season. Most people live on fufu (corn) sometimes with huckleberry (dark green vegetable) or unenriched rice with beans. 

Each time we enter the real world of poverty, reality hits.  Dirt floors.  Cooking inside the one room house with no chimney.  Three rocks balancing a large pot over the fire.   All food preparation is done on the ground.  No table.  Usually small bamboo individual little stools.  Water carried in a pail or plastic container.  Dishes washed in cold dirty water.  It is good to know that it is possible to help, if only in a small way.

The second person, a widow still able to live in her home.  Traditiionally,  the husband’s family comes in to claim the family house.  IDF has followed this family for a long time.  The husband was a long term diabetic and as a result became unable to father children.  His wife had a baby by another man.  This caused much trouble.  But, it was she who nursed the diabetic husband through to his death.  We met him last trip.  At that time he was very emaciated and could barely walk.  Again, this family does not have a plot to grow food.  The rice and beans, matches and soap were much appreciated.  It was here that I was most concerned about a toddler (grandchild) playing around the open fire banging two small plastic pop bottles together.  His balance wasn’t great and he was wearing a flammable plastic covering over his diaper.  Not to mention the smoke inside the one room structure! 

By the third visit, it was very dark.  No electricity means light is dim or nonexistent.  This elderly man has a daughter who brings him food but again, he showed his appreciation abundantly.  We tried to visit a lady with seven children but she was not home.  

The next morning, the hotel said there was someone to see me.  I went down to find a lady I did not recognize who spoke only French.  I told her to wait and Oussemtou would come to help.  What a surprise.  Last year we met Odette, a woman with seven children whose self esteem was so low, she would not look at me and just seemed so lethargic.  At our farewell gathering, Oussematou brought her, dressed her in a new dress (didn’t help) and told us, you wait and see what happens as I work with her over the next year.  An issue at that time was another pregnancy.  Odette wanted another girl.    Oussematou encouraged her to not carry another pregnancy.  Methods are different here.  After much work, Oussematou was able to arrange an injection that will prevent pregnancy for five years.

So, Oussematou gave Odette a job.  To carry water and make rice and beans for a man who had no one.  One year later, here is Odette so capable of facing the camera to tell us she has been working some at the hotel, at the hospital cleaning.  Although Oussematou says Odette still has some mental issues, she is doing well. 

I have an excellent interview with Odette which I hope to share with you on utube. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKh9exoq5Bg&list=UUKLdLUrOXVJPkIJuTTJxaAQ




 

School Garden Project: Bana, Cameroon Conservation Farming

School Garden Project: Bana, Cameroon

Mme. Wouapi is the Head Mistress or Principal of the Public School in Bana.  The school has 405 students.  Behind the school is a hillside where Mme. Wauapi applied the principles of natural agriculture.  The students planted and grew cabbage, onions, potatoes, corn, beans and cassava using the conservation farming method thus introducing students , colleagues and parents to conservation agriculture. 

Results : A good harvest: one important part was used for consumption , another sold and the last part to keep seeds for the next season.  Cooking demonstrations were held to teach how cassava leaves could be cooked and how meals could be balance.   The money from the sale will permit the opening of a fund to support school activities.  With some of the money from last year, uniforms were purchased for teachers. 

Jean Baptist from Radio Flambeau Banka reported as follows:                                                                    ‘ Corn with mulch is also implemented by the latter Mrs. Wouapi also undertook cassava selective method and the results are expected. It plans to encourage other fellow Directors for the application of these methods of natural culture in other schools Bana . The field school to be monitored and cleaned by both students as teachers . It is a presence as a result of the application of the balanced consumption (she lost a few pounds since the last meeting. Students, colleagues were introduced to prepare balanced meals, use the palm nuts crushed , eat less fat (no oil), fruits, use cassava leaves, peanuts and especially of eating good natural harvest before selling the rest.
Results: preparation with colleagues and students practice activities in the presence of community volunteers
In short, to maintain good health, we must improve nutrition
Recommendation: It is necessary to raise domestic animals (chickens, pigs ...) for droppings, eating good harvest products (not always sell) educate students in schools and involve parents not to throw garbage and manufacture composts.’

We received pictures along the way of the school project.  Cabbages were bigger than a person’s head!  Mme. Wouapi showed pictures from her computer of the corn (healthy, green, tall, productive plants). 

We visited the school.  I was again taken back by the facility.  We first met Mme. Wouapi when she was Headmistress of the Nursery School in Bana, an amazing project initiative set up and operated by community persons.  I have great respect for Mme. Wouapi and even more so when I see the challenges she is facing and the initiatives she takes to do her best in the situation. 

Children were called from classrooms, bringing their hoes, to come to the garden.  It was here that we were first introduced to the fact that the school has NO water.  The latrine, a good looking structure, remains unused.  They said that it is too difficult to clean because of lack of water.  Mme. Wouapi goes for precious water using large jugs.  She travels to the top of a big hill where there is a well and a water storage tank.   Imagine how 450 people are told to use this water!  I suggested that Mme. Wouapi work through IDF to contact the Irrigation/Water specialist to conduct a study to put in a water pump (drill a well) for the school.  This would be an excellent project for Rotary!  As well as providing water for 450 people, three crops could be grown a year in the extensive school garden.

Children stood by their hoes, sang to us, then returned eagerly to their classrooms.  This school operates totally in French.

Nutrition Workshop: Bamenda, Kumbo, Bafut and Wum

Nutrition Workshop:  Bamenda, Kumbo, Bafut and Wum

Always a challenge, the topic for this workshop was to be Nutrition for HIV Positive Pregnant and Lactating Mothers and Infants and Children who are HIV Positive.  Observations and learnings went far beyond the course material.   Ten participants were brought in from Bamenda, Kumbo, Bafut and Wum.  It was easier to pay their transport and accommodation then for us to travel and present to four communities.  UNICEF, USAID, WHO and Toronto Public Health have excellent materials that were well used.  Core to the building of the workshop materials were the 30 Counselling Cards developed by UNICEF for field workers. 

 A reporter was designated for the day.  His comments were very detailed.  They were interested in Colostrum, the advantages of this first precious milk for the newborn.  The graphic chart showing 12 feedings per 24 hour period was surprising to them.  They were intrigued by the ‘skin to skin’ recommendation for the newborn, especially the premature or low birth weight baby.  They loved the kangaroo care, looking at the front carrier.  In Cameroon, most babies are carried on the mother’s back.  The changes in breast milk, both during a normal feed from a lighter to a milk with more fat in it;  the adaptation of the breast milk for the premature baby and how the constitution of the breast milk changes almost daily as the infant grows during the early days.  Exclusive breast feeding for the first six months was emphasized.

Mme. Oussematou cautioned the participants in counselling the mothers to allow them the option of infant formula, that formula is good milk and sometimes the only option: for example, when the mother dies and there is no ‘wet nurse’ available.  Lydia had emphasized that it is wrong for formula companies to provide just enough formula to mothers to discourage breast feeding.  All agreed that breast feeding is the best way but sometimes not possible.  The Counselling Card on reasons to choose breast feeding promoted a discussion on how impossible in this environment it is to properly wash and sterilize bottles.  Many children die of diarrhoea caused by contaminated water.

One of the participants talked about how important it is to be tested for HIV and to be on antiretroviral drugs if HIV positive.  She said that HIV is manageable as long as a person addresses the problem early and adheres to the treatment, eating properly and being closely monitored.  She said that removal of the stigma of HIV is very important.  Another participant told us that she herself is HIV positive and is enjoying a healthy and vibrant life.  She said by sharing her story in community of Kumbo, stigmatization has been reduced, people have come forward to be tested and treated when positive.

Emphasis was placed on a balanced diet with greater food requirements for the pregnant and lactating mother as a result of being HIV positive.  The basic diet is corn or rice.   Fufu is made from white corn, often eaten with huckleberry, an excellent vegetable.  But, the need for protein to be added was emphasized with beans and ground nuts (peanuts) being great substitutes for chicken, fish and meat.  Another common family meal is rice and beans.  Adding pumpkin, tomato, pepper or carrot would help the need for Vitamin A in the diet.

A discussion that almost stumped me was on the need for iodization of salt. In Canada, we try to minimize the use of salt.  Here in the market, salt in large open bags is cheap but not iodized.  Goiter is a major problem.  Never would I have thought, as a person trained in nutrition, that I would be advising people to use salt!  So Oussematou’s advice to them was spend the 600cf (a little over a dollar Canadian) and buy a box iodized salt to be used sparingly.

Milk here is not a common food.  At the hotel, we are served heated reconstituted skim milk powder with our morning coffee.  Rickets (bowed legs and knocked knees) is too common here.  All those pictures from the nutrition text books come to life here.  Especially sad to see children hardly able to walk because of rickets.

USAID, WHO and UNICEF all point to the Cameroon as having a major problem with Vitamin A deficiency.  Blindness and eye problems result.  It is uncommon to emphasize vegetables in meal planning in the Cameroon.  Often farmers sell the vegetables at the market to obtain much needed money for the family, depriving the family of good vegetables. 

Mmn. Oussematou summarized the history of breastfeeding and HIV positive mothers.  Initially, HIV positive mothers were advised not to breastfeed because of the possibility of transmission but in time, it was determined that threat to the infant mortality was greater when not breastfeeding and, with good antiretroviral follow through, proper nutrition and care, that breastfeeding should be recommended.  One participant cautioned about sores on the nipple bleeding and the blood ingested by the infant allowing for transfer of the HIV virus.

Another concern I voiced was seeing people washing dishes in cold, dirty water,then placing them in the dirt.  One participant said this could not be helped.  Breast feeding allows for sterilized milk at just the right temperature!

One thing that I feel should be addressed by government is the need for Vitamin B enrichment.  Iron and folic acid are available as supplements to the pregnant woman coming to the clinic.  Rice and flour should be enriched with Vitamin B and iron.  Maybe Vitamin B enriched beer would be helpful to some.  There are sure a lot of big beer trucks on the road.  Not recommended for pregnant and lactating women!   I feel the increase in ‘crazy people’ (as they put it) during dry season is nutritionally related to malnutrition, Vitamin B deficiency in particular.

Never before, despite the years racked up teaching Nutrition, have I seen the need so great for basic good basic nutrition. 

Mr. Dagobert’s Magical Medicine Garden

Mr. Dagobert’s Magical  Medicine Garden

Allan has been in search of Cover Crops to enrich the infertile  soil.  Not only the newly cleared land in Bana but the farms of the participants where soil has been depleted of nutrients by continual cropping without adding nutrients back to the soil.  We were at the Vegetable Growers stall looking at their limited supply of seeds when a man at the counter introduced himself as Mr. Dagobert and invited us to his farm.  Thus began a very intriguing series of discovery visits.

The next day, we went to his home farm.  From the overview, one cannot imagine the hundreds of varieties of medicinal plants in this relatively small ‘mini’ jungle.  Mr. Dagobert slowly took us through the narrow pathways, introducing each plant, shrub and tree by scientific name, telling the medicinal use for the root, stem, leaf, flower, seed and sap.  Mr. Dagobert secured his intense interest by taking a course by correspondence from Canada.  From there, he has managed to grow hundreds of specific species.  He collects, dries and packages the seeds to sell.  They make mixtures of herbs for infusions (drinks).  Many people use these natural medicines for malaria, high blood pressure, digestive problems, whatever ails.    

I photographed each species, Mr. Dagobert spelled the scientific name for Allan to write down, then we videoed what he said about what they are used for.  Not only does he have the knowledge, but to have each of these species growing in his gardens! 

A few were familiar.  Echinacea (cone flower),  marigold (the ones here grow almost as a bush), pigeon peas (first saw them in Tobago, very common food source, add fertility to the soil) for example.  One interesting small red berry they use  to induce abortion! 

Allan has made a power point of the cover crops; the seed, what the plant or tree looks like.  We said the farmers will be adapt at identify each because they will know them.  Mr. Dagobert took Allan’s request very seriously.  Allan had put together a three pager on cover crop species identified by the scientific names.  Mr. Dagobert just loved it! 

The garden is alongside a river.  Every day the plants are thoroughly watered in dry season (now!).

Next visit, we went to Mr. Dagobert’s forest plot where he has many large trees growing in a very natural setting.  The highlight for me was seeing donkey eye growing.  Donkey eye is a seed we used extensively in Tobago in jewelry making.  Donkey eye grows on a vine.  One must be careful not to touch the pod because it will make the skin very itchy.  A relative of the donkey eye, mucuna, is well know as one to add nitrogen to the soil.  As I said, Mr. Dagobert took Allan’s search very seriously. 

Our next visit was to pick up the cherished seeds for cover crops but Mr. Dagobert was not home.  We phoned.  He was three minutes away.  He and another man arrived carrying a cutlass in one hand and a feed bag in the other.  They proceeded to get water and to put strange looking seed pods into the pail.  The man who had promised the mucuna had not brought them so Mr. Dagobert and his friend made a long trip to an area where they knew mucuna grew.  Remember, this is the very hot time of the day!  Anyhow,  Mr. Dagobert’s friend proceeded to make plastic covers for his hands out of thin black bags (a pair of good rubber gloves would have come in handy) and, taking his cutless, proceeded to  lift the mucuna pods from the water, split them open releasing the seed.  It wasn’t long before everyone was scratching.  This variety of mucuna has very itchy little hairs on the outside of the pod.  The itching lasts the better part of a day!

 After the seeds were all broken out and  everyone was standing around scratching,  Mr. Dagobert’s friend motioned for me to come look in the bottom of the feed bag.  A little wild baby rabbit!  After a bit, they took the rabbit out-it just fit in my hand.  Allan reached over and petted its head.  It growled.  I have never heard a rabbit growl!

Mr. Dagobert said he would like something from Canada.  He has a 5 year old dog-eared catalogue from Richter’s.  I looked it up on line, tried to download it several times but it is a large file and gets interrupted each time.  It has beautiful pictures of medicinal plants, offers seeds for sale.  From his five year old book he has written out all the seeds he would like to buy and starred the ones he would most like.  The pictures of the gardens on line have convinced us to visit their seed garden near Uxbride, Ontario. 

Mr. Dagobert’s son is studying in Canada.  He gave me his name and I sent him a message on Facebook which he received.  It is surprising that he is taking his PHd in Philosophy?  Great minds!  Mr. Dagobert’s other son wants to come to Canada to play football. 

Oh yes, did I say that Allan thinks he will hide the mucuna seeds because of the itch.  There is another variety that does not itch.  Another challenge for Mr. Dagobert?

Psychosocial Care to Children

Psychosocial Care to Children

I was invited to spend a day at a training session on psychosocial care conducted by the Monitoring and Evaluation officer, Ferdinand,  of IDF with a group of 23 women and several small children.  I would like to share with you my impressions of the workshop.

Before the workshop, I was asked a very interesting question.  ‘In Canada, which is worse, cancer or HIV AIDS.’  I could only answer from personal observation and reading.  I said that I felt  HIV AIDS can be managed with antiretroviral drugs and that some types of cancer are very difficult.  I said I felt both needed early detection and aggressive management.  What do you think of my answer?  Now for their next question, ‘Can cancer be prevented?’  Such good questions!

Because this was the second day of the workshop, once the women gathered (that took awhile), they were asked what they learned at the first day of the workshop.  Persons responded one by one as follows (in their words):  How to control my anger; Feed the child before child goes to school each day; Shelter is a fundamental right of a child; Cancer can be beaten;  Protect the child against violence and child abuse; Home should be a safe place, once not a safe place the child cannot function well;  Sexual abuse is not fair, Sexual abuse  before age of 18 is a crime punishable by law; Being cared for and not neglected is a fundamental right.  .   Behind comments being made, one can ascertain societal problems, statements like: Need to send the child to school;  Child needs a balanced diet; Bring the child along in a good faith so they won’t be prone to a new idea that is not good.   Take the children as friends so they will have a listening ear to your advice, all statements from the participants in relation to their learning from the previous day.

As Day Two of the training progressed, I continually reflected on the course content and how it was needed through my years of teaching.  I did not have this training as a teacher although we as Family Studies and Health educators  used to set up workshops to help each other with teaching materials .   What I am saying here is how progressive this training is!   I felt it to be well adapted to the cultural setting.  

The day’s first topic, Physical Needs of the Child began with the basics.  Only when you love can you support a child.  Give peace a chance.  Grow closer to the person.  We weren’t long getting into the problems faced.  Question:  What do you do when a child is raped?  The steps were clearly outlined: First, go to the hospital immediately, before going to the police.  A proper investigation needs to be done.  The life of the child is threatened.   The hospital will confirm, police will investigate. Gone are the days when rape was a taboo topic.  The child’s mind must be rebuilt.  HIV AIDS, Venereal  Disease, the child’s future is in jeopardy.   A report must be made so the child will receive counselling.  An environment needs to be build to avoid abuse.  Refer to the next person for proper action.  IDF handles difficult cases.  The participants in the  training  were identified as team members.  Don’t let 24 hours go by they were told.  Call immediately day or night while the child is in hospital.  Caution, sometimes police do not follow up.  Copy of the report should go to IDF, Plan and Social Affairs:  avoid bribe of police!  Think about an 11 year old girl pregnant-father age 40- well traumatized!   Child abuse  is everyone’s responsibility.     

A role play by the participants was enacted to show how trust, safety, confidentially should be built to help a child report sexual abuse:   What brought you here?  It’s alright to cry.  Keep the secret.  Avoid promising something you can’t give.  Let them tell the story.  Listen.  Take seriously.  Avoid why. Allow the child to tell the story.  Don’t argue, don’t preach, don’t impose, don’t give advice, give accurate and useful advice:  only encourage.    Let them talk.  Encourage hope.  Take to relevant authority.  Want to journey to a safe place.  Want to remove the event from the child’s mind.  Overcome the crowding of the mind-don’t want a grumbling mind.  (Don’t you love their expressions?)  Anger can destroy.  Want to avoid the negative diseases of the body, the spill over effect of anger:  depression and despair where a person cannot take initiative.  Aim is to overcome. 

At this point a participant said they were falling asleep and could they dance!  So, out came the drums ,(one is beautifully carved with the Plan logo set into the drum), another  a large gourd shaker and more).  They love to dance and sing and I love to listen and film!  Ferdinand has written a song that encapsulates the needs of children.  We hope to make utube.  Ferdinand told them they would now go International!

On to another heavy topic.  Disclosure.  Children, upon being told they are HIV positive, have committed suicide.  The mind must be prepared.  In hospitals, space must be occupied by professionals. Please refer to the next person who can handle the situation.   The world does not end.  There is hope.  Aim to have the child be able to say....’I am HIV positive, I take my drugs every day,  I am healthy!’  ‘I am useful, I can handle the situation.”  Watch for lost interest, tired always, withdrawal, always expressing anger.

Advice was given:  Teachers, don’t invite children to come and do housework.  Teacher relationship ends in the classroom.  (There have been a number of cases where students have been invited to a teacher’s house on pretense and the student was taken advantage of by the teacher.)  More advice:  Break the Silence, even if it is your husband.  Don’t protect the person.  Report abuse.  Share the knowledge.  She’s light for everybody.  Transform community.   Document.  Make recommendations to address the situation. 

Credos to Plan for the training program and to IDF for its implementation!   Too bad the program will end in one year.  The needs are so great.  Physical needs are one thing but unless the mind is cared for, where are we?

Oprhans and Vulnerable Children

Oprhans and Vulnerable Children:

Many of us in North America have had or now have adopted orphans from different through different programs. Integrated Development Foundation (IDF) takes care of over 2000 orphans in the North West Region. 319 in the Menchum/Wum are and 679 in the Kumbo, in Befut 615 and Mbejwi 650. Feb 10, 2014 the highlight of my day was meeting two sisters in the Orphans and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) program. IDF first identifies a child as an orphan or in a vulnerable situation, does a needs assessment and gives the support they need: food, health (take them to the doctor and/or hospital), legal support (birth certificate), counselling if they were abused, educational support and psycho social support.

Oussematou arranged for two sisters to come to the IDF office on National Youth Day before and after they were marching in the parade.

Before I met them, Oussematou explained that they had been abandoned by their grand mother after their father had died of a stroke. The father was taking care of administration and finance at IDF. He helped for two years before his retirement and worked eight years as a volunteer with IDF. He lived four months after his stroke, dying three years ago. The children were left destitute abandoned by their grand mother and father’s family who sent away these children and their mother. The reason given was that this lady was not a native of their tribe and was not legally married. All the property was srized , she was not authorised to even harvest her crop from the farm and was told not to pass by this farm again. IDF tried in vain to convince this lady to go to Social Affairs , she refused and said that she will be killed with the children if she does so. She instead when to traditional authorities who did not solve the problem.  The lady went and hired a two rooms house where she stays with the children and IDF gave few chairs and tables. She also started a small business that helps her feed the children. The mother is cooking meals for them. The daughters  carry water each morning and help with washing. Oussematou made sure the girls were registered in school, had a school uniform and school supplies . They are now enrolled in the Orphan and Vulnerable children programme to benefit from various supports from time to time.  They are followed by a case worker.

First I took their pictures.



Ngum, age 9 Anoui, age 13



I gave each of the girls a paper with questions. They were so able and eager to answer the questions well. They knew exactly what they wanted to answer!

They had a friend along who was eager to help them!

Both girls feel that their education is very important. Ngum, age 9, wants to be a pilot. Anoui, age 13 wants to be a journalist. Both say that Mama Oussematou has helped them most, especially with education and dressing. Ngum is thankful for her health. Anuoi is thankful for her life even though ‘we don’t have but we manage with what God has given us’. Ngum would like to have good friends. One real good friend would be good. Anuoi would like to change her way of talking and dealing with anger. Anoui knows that God will change their lives one day.

The girls willingly sat before the camera telling us about themselves. They all enjoyed seeing the interviews on the computer. In the picture, Anoui is hugging her little sister as they watch themselves on the computer.

I hope you will be able to hear them speak on utube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qtbGIH0A9Q&feature=youtube_gdata