A drawing, a journey

Ok, ’bout time I write this I think… (How about long overdue, Sydnee?) ok, yes I KNOW, but I was kind of hung up with Med School which turned out be a far cry from a joke (who knew, right?)

This blog is about something I did in Senegal that I take great pride in having done, not only because it actually came together when I wasn’t sure it would, but because of how the impact outlasted my stay.
We were often told to not be naïve about how deeply we would impact the Dakar community. Afterall, 60 days is nothing to even realise where you are, let alone pose an action, and even less a durable one.

However, when I first ran a workshop teaching some 50 children about the Right to Food, an insuppressable good feeling of having felt like I did “something” slowly grew on me. In Dakar I ran two workshops in which 30-50 children listened as I did a little 20 minute spiel about the goals of ANORF (the African Network on the Right to Food). Right to food, Food Sovereignty, the importance of consuming locally, the benefits of family agriculture and rooftop gardens. Will they remember something of it other than some chick with a weird accent made them sit through class during their summer time? They most certainly… might!

You see, I didn’t just make them sit and listen. They were looking at comic strips depicting the concepts in a simplified way. bam. I spent the first half of this sub-project planning out how to convey abstract concepts liking buying Senegalese to promote the economy. With the help of Seydou Ndiaye of our host organisation and consulting around to see if the cultural references I was making made ANY sense (eg: The kids in panel 1.3 are playing traditional Senegalese wrestling, right? They are not fighting). I then drew them out. Knowing the value of a quiet room and a working crayon kind of came into play.

So while I was talking to the older children of the workshops (12 years old –ish) the younger could look at the comic drawings. And after, all could start colouring (the pictures were just lines)! And then they could take the material home to keep! Showing to whoever was at home and keeping for when they are older. Ok so it may be a bit of a stretch, but it may just be!

Overall it was a pleasure. I remember waking up the morning of the first workshop and thinking “Who am I to be doing this?” But it wasn’t just me. It was ANORF using the resource I offered. I love drawing. I love kids. So though I spent my time working, it was too awesome. All in all, it was just so opportunistically awesome that our forces came together. This is what I was sent to do / taken in MY direction, and serving both.

So even though now I have that famous picture all people who beg to be awesome have in their Facebook profile picture (the “I have been with cute little smiling African children” picture), I don’t feel ashamed. I feel like those kids in my picture will tomorrow be among those strong Senegalese who stand up for their rights and be tomorrow’s economic competitors –  by the sustained efforts of ANORF and other native centers’ and the Senegalese people’s own zeal for standing up for what they believe is right… movements upon which I had the honor to join if but for a snippet.

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After this experience, its not a question of if I come back to Senegal… but a question of when. I thank Alternatives, RootED, Québec Sans Frontières, ANORF and my team of fellow interns for making it such an emancipating and unforgettable experience.

And now, several months into dreary studying and cold weather, I look back to the (sometimes overly) sunny days and it still brings a smile to my face and heart. But  my passing in Senegal has turned out to be a beginning : before I left, the Kid’s Section Coordinator of the  Cultural Center Blaise Senghor I was working with asked me for a contact with ANORF. I gave it quite easily, thinking “oh its nice to be able to give what  is actually wanted”, I thought the video of the workshop a more grueling give. What came of that contact however was a whole month’s worth of organized daily activities for kids during the last month of their summer holidays! And on top of that, it was themed “Right to Food”!  That just made me feel all that more involved! Not if, but a matter of when…

Souris Mon Frère, Souris Ma Sœur

  Qui somme nous, d’où venons-nous?

Des questions reliées à notre existence sont parfois importante

Et pourtant, sont parfois ce qui nous retient,

Nous sépare et nous couvre les yeux.

Un tel voile, nous laisse aveugle à de tell merveille que ce monde nous offre.

Le croirais-tu si je t’aurai dit que tu es ma sœur,

Que toi mon frère qui souffre au japon ressens la haine de celui an Libye.

Toi qui écris une lettre d’espoir en bas d’un baobab,

Dans unvillage à l’extérieur du Dakar est recentie

Par celle rejeté d’une voiture dans une ruelle à Detroit.

Il existe encore cet instinct humain qui nous connecte.

Nous pleurons tous, nous rions tous, et oui un jour nous mourions tous.

Cependant la beauté de cette vie nous entour.

Alors prochaine fois que nos yeux croisent souri mon frère.

Un suicide de moins, une addicte de drogue de moins, une âme secourue de plus

remplie d’espoire, de confiance et de foi.

Sourris mon frere, Sourris ma soeur.

 

par Laurenie L.

The pressure is on + An Entry from my journal while in Mali

 

Vaughn in small rural village in Mali 2009

Less than three months left.  I feel the team is getting tired. The preparation is demanding..both on the individual level and as a collective.  The stress cloud of raising the money hovers above our head.  The uncertainty of Senegal is creeping in.  We have lost 3 members and gained 2 others and group dynamics since the get go have been a challenge.

 

and I love every second of it.

Senegal 7: If there ain’t no sweat, blood and tears….well something nah right!  The learning curve is steep but enriching and worth it.  Relish in the pressure and enjoy the tension.  Claim your weaknesses and identify your strengths. Let’s do this properly.

 

Anyhow, I was at my mom’s house the other day and found my journal from my trip to Mali in 2009. If our suscribers like it and show us some love (both through comments and through a little financial support !)  I’ll write some more entries..including my memorable stay at the Malian Clinic.  Enjoy!

 

June 16th , 2009

Paris- De Gaule Airport.

 

A young mother swings her baby over onto her back and in an effortless motion wraps the child firmly around her body with a colourful piece of fabric.  She then pics up her two bags and walks towards the boarding line.  I am going to Africa.  A young boy holds his little brother’s hand firlmly and gives him the ‘keep quiet’ frown.  The youngest obeys and they both stand in line wine with their ticket in one hand, carry-on in the next, all dressed up in their Sunday best.  I am going to Africa. A dread hails the I; his skin clean and dark, his hair and eyes a light brown of experience.  I hail him back and he nods. I am going to Africa.  The long line dwindles down and the intercom politely says that it is this is the final boarding call.  I am going to Africa.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH FUNDRAISER!!!! SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2011

Levée de fonds pour le mois de l’histoire des noirs.
Les profits iront au groupe Senegal 8 de Root.Ed. Notre groupe est en partenariat avec deux organisations (Alternatives et Head & Hands) qui envoient 8 stagiaires Montréalais au Sénégal en Afrique pour 2 mois cet été afin de faire de la sensibilisation sur la souveraineté alimentaire ainsi que la sécurité alimentaire. Nous réaliserons également 3 documentaires sur ces sujets.
Visitez notre site : rootedmontreal.wordpress.com
Il y aura des performances par différents artistes (connus et pas (encore) connus, mais tous excellent. Ils seront annoncés plus tard), de la sensibilisation pour le mois de l’histoire des noirs et sur le stage.

50 Premiers billets à 5$
A la porte : 10$-$15 (votre choix ;))
LES GENS DE TOUS LES ÂGES SONT LES BIENVENUS (pour les enfants de moins de 10 ans, le prix est un dons à votre discrétion, OUI, pour une piasse votre enfant sera le bienvenu 🙂 )

Il y aura de la nourriture, des performances, de la musique par les DJ (DJ Blaster & DJ Drunken Disciple), des drinks et un vestiaire OPTIONNEL.
Il y aura également un tirage avec prix ET un 50/50.
2 enchères auront lieu pour 2 prix provenant de 2 femmes d’affaires noires de Montréal.

A Sala Rossa. 4848 St Laurent (proche du metro Mount Royal)

Les portes ouvrent à 6pm
Le spectacle commence à 7pm

Plus d’infos sur la cause? rootedmontreal.wordpress.com 🙂
Plus d’infos sur la soirée ? Écrivez-moi votre numéro ou écrivez-moi à misterh@live.ca 🙂

J’ai aussi un groupe qui explique notre cause. (en bas) 🙂
__________________________________________________________

Black History Month Fundraiser. Proceeds go to Root.Ed’s Senegal 8. We are under 2 “tag-team” organizations (Alternatives and Head & Hands) sending 8 Montreal young adults to Senegal, Africa this summer for 2 months of raising awareness of food security and food sovereignty. We will also film 3 documentaries in Senegal for our cause.
site is rootedmontreal.wordpress.com

Performances from various artists (well-known and not-so-known, but ALL good and TO BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE) and awareness of Black History Month and the cause it is for.

1st 50 tickets : $5
At the door : $10-$15 (your choice ;))
ALL AGES ARE WELCOME (for children under 10 the fee is YOUR donation choice.. YES, if you drop a looney at the front, your child may come in :))

There will be food, performers, music from the DJs (DJ Blaster & DJ Drunken Disciple), beverages and an OPTIONAL coatcheck.
Raffle tickets also being sold for prizes and a 50/50 draw.
2 Auctions being held for 2 gifts from 2 Montreal based Black businesswomen.

At Sala Rossa. 4848 St Laurent (close to Mount Royal metro)

Doors Open at 6pm
Show Starts at 7pm

info on the cause can be found on our website : rootedmontreal.wordpress.com 🙂
For more info;
Inbox me for my number
Or email me at misterh@live.ca 🙂

I also have a group for our cause on facebook if you would like to visit the link 🙂

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_166225716756754&ap=1

The Goana Harvest Program and Food Sovereignty

GOANA: “The Grand Agricultural Offensive for Food Security” (rice growing campaign), a program launched by President Abdoulaye Wade in May 2008, after recognizing the need to advocate for Senegal to be self-sufficient in food production by 2015.

Some of the goals associated with this program are: 1. Doubling rice production to 600,000 metric tons (mt) annually (close to 1million lbs),  from the current 100,000 mt, 2. to increas maise (corn) and 3. to increas manioc yields. 

According to IRIN; Integrated Regional Information Networks (humanitarian news and analysis service that cover parts of the world that are often ignored), “Senegal imports 600,000 tons of rice a year, or three-quarters (75%) of the country’s food consumption, making its people vulnerable to high global rice prices, a 136% percent increase over last year’s yields, 700,000 tons of millet, 500,000 tons of maize and 380,000 tons of non-irrigated rice in 2008”. For GOANA the government subsidies’ seeds by 75 percent to  20cents US per kilogram, and cut the price of fertilizer in half, making it $17 US per 50kg
– subsidies help to encourage the expansion of farm production and achieve self-reliance in food production.       

Some of the concerns so far, “the government has announced $23.7 million US to tide over vulnerable people in rural areas, but has not outlined how much it will spend on boosting long-term agricultural development overall. While there is plenty of land available, levelling it to make it cultivatable costs up to $7,181 per hectare (a football field and then some), not even taking into account the costs of maintaining it in the future”.

“Currently, rice producers in Senegal rely on credit from investors to underwrite their seeds, fertilizer and pesticide inputs. Without credit, rice producers cannot afford to buy fertilisers and pesticides, the prices of which are also steadily rising. Likewise, rice processors who buy paddy rice from producers to turn it into edible white rice cannot afford to buy without credit, leading to bottlenecks (limited amount of flow).”

Goana and how it relates to Food Sovereignty:

 Basically its to reform food production within Senegal. The president of Senegal  is pushing for a more autonomous country, to have independent authority to be self-sufficient and self-reliant in food produce among Senegalese farmers. What this means to me is, taking control of food goods and capitalize within the Senegalese food industry, instead of relying on US imports of 600,000 tons of rice per year, rather, to produce own goods/supplies.

After doing this research alone on Goana, I am better able to understand food sovereignty more as food empowerment, increasing economic strength within the Senegalese country.

Click link below to see the cover story:                                       http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xdhhgt_senegal-goana_news

RootED cooks at J2K

So January 21st and the 29th, members of RootED went out to J2K, a controled hangout spot/activity center for youths in NDG, and cooked meals to support.

About J2K: Head and Hands, in collaboration with the City of Montreal and the Black Community Association, operates a youth drop-in centre. As part of the Jeunesse 2000 program, this youth centre caters to teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 and offers a secure and welcoming environment free of charge, all year long.

I gotta say, seeing all their facilities, this is one place that I would consider hanging out myself if I weren’t so old . check it out!

just your ‘usual’ music magic happening place, you know…

They have videogames. I like videogames. I don’t see no console in MY home.

They also have a pool table, a fooz-ball table, computers with internet and of course an entire kitchen for people to cook them free food. 

Amda, the chef of the day, connives his masterplan

Um… Kind of jealous? So basically us RootED Senegalites went in and cooked these kids a meal (and we got a grant in return that goes to our ongoing fundraising).

 

The process was fun, and since J2K fed me, I wasn’t dying taking these pics (thank you J2K!)

 

Kim chops ‘em yummy veggies!

the meal of the night: pasta and veggie stirfry with cheese

the whole is mixed together and spices were added…

  

and voila! the food was served, the children were fed and after they cleaned their own plates (bless them)… they went on having their fun at J2K

and kim and amda got to clean the pots… and eat their own concoction!

Buying Black in Mtl!

Economics!

I took an Economy class a few years ago and although I could not retell most of the information that was given, I do remember the teacher saying one thing. He said it very matter-a-factly as though he was quoting Adam Smith himself (and maybe he was) but he goes on to say: ” Economy is the study of Well Being. Period”. Then he took out his ipod and connected it to the class speakers and played Kanye’s “Wait till I get My Money Right.” and walked out of the classroom with the hardest gangsta lean. 

That latter part was a slight embellishment but did say the quote..and it stuck with me till this day.

Ujamaa, fourth day of Kwanzaa, is the day where we uphold the principle of Cooperative Economics.  Supporting Black business in our community.  All Black Everything (Yup, I quoted Soulja Boy in my blog!) E-ver-y-thang? (Yup, quoted Katt Williams..)

Here is a video of a couple who decided to commit one year of their lives to only supporting Black owned businesses. From buying shoes to gas to groceries, they made a serious effort to make sure that their money was going to support black owned stores and businesses.  There website is www.EEfortomorrow.com and here is a clip of how their Empowerment Experiment came to existence.

Impressive! A pioneering endeavour albeit a few wrinkles (in my opinion) that need to be ironed out.  In the effort to help out Black businesses, there is an importance to integrate “The Green Factor”..which really in a sense, is just being aware of the how much you consuming  is costing your community, your environment, your health ( Ecological Footprint much?) etc..  For example, doesn’t feel too right to support a Black-owned Clothing company in Montreal that gets its product from a sweatshop somewhere in Asia and then the product has to travel all the way here via ship etc…  It’s even more of a challenge, but as consumers we need to be more knowledgeable of these things.  Buying Black means that its not just the consumer’s responsibility to support Black businesses, but the Black businesses responsibility to support Black communities and show transparency and accountability in their business practices.  In the long run, this will not only create more jobs and business ventures for our communities..but jobs and businesses that are conscious and promote healthy and aware lifestyles!

Amazing book by Van Jones Jr called The Green Collar Economy.  He discusses two main problems in the States (which we can extrapolate to Canada).  One being the draining consumption of energy and the need for a eco-aware economy. And second, the fact that there is a whole bunch of people that have been laid off (recession or otherwise) in low-income coloured urban communities who not only are the first to feel the stab of environmental racism but are in desperate need of jobs and to re-establish a healthy economy in their hoods.  Check it out!

Finally…an encouragement to support some Black businesses in Montreal. Here’s a few to start off with.

Jean’s Restaurant.  My Gosh…if you don’t know this Trinidadian restaurant in NDG..you are missing out! Good food, great service, my favourite is The Pumpkin Potato Roti..you can tell Val that Chris from Head&Hands sent you…it won’t get you a discount or anything..but hey..maybe it’ll get me a discount for reffering clients!

Conscious sistren Odessa Thornhill manages Cultivate Your Own, her practice is based on well-being and natural solutions to your aches and pains.  I go to her for both her amazing hair locking skills and her amazing and informative massages.  I don’t know how she figured out that that I had jaw tension issues by massaging my feet..let’s just say the woman knows what she is doing!

I need to also big up my soap dealer, Waahli Yussef!  This talented musician from Nomadic Massive makes some serious home-made soaps! Got that Oregano Soap, that Tea tree, that Lavender..whachu need son? Support good business

Happy Ujomaa

ps: here is a site that has a list of many Black restaurants in Mtl.

pps: did you check the link to the Kanye video at the beginnng of my blog?

How much?

Today alone I spent $12 bucks on food…and I haven`t even had dinner yet.  Falafel and tabouli at a local cafe cost me 7 bucks.  Coffee and a donut at Tim Hortons cost me another $2.57.  There goes my money..down the drain (after passing through my digestive system)

I decided to write a quick blog before I rummage through my girlfriend`s food pantry.  So check this: seeing how Root.ED is going to be taking 8 Montreal youths to Senegal next summer, and since we are going tbe on a tight budget…I thought it would be worthwhile to see how much people across the world spend on food.

Check some numbers

Let`s start off with our close cousins:the USA:  This North Carolina family spends $341.98 on food per week.  Real talk though..can a brotha get some greens up in here? Cheez on bread! Smiling with big pizza in hand, this is not a game boss!

Next up..let’s take it to Kuwait:

This family spends $221.45 a week on food.  More than 100 bucks less than the American family…and double the family size. 

Moving on to South America:

This family is from Ecuador and they spend about 32 bucks on food.

This Chinese family spends $155 on food.

And last but definitely not least…I&I people from the Continent.  This pic is of a Sudanese family in a refugee camp in Chad.  They spend $1.23 a week on food.  

Note that these are just examples…the differences in how much people spend on food in a week can be drastic even within the limits of a city like Montreal. 

Different realities..but we all got to eat.  Stay updated with Root.ED as our participants explore the many complexities of food security as they embark on this enlightening journey from Montreal, Canada to Dakar, Senegal.

*this info is from the book Hungry Planet by Faith D`Aluisio