Elections & In Service Training (IST)

On the 27th of January, it was announced that the constitution was changed in order for the current president, Abdoulaye Wade, to run for another term. It was also announced that the “leading opposition,” Youssof N’dour, who happens to be a widely known recording artist, is not allowed to run. This sparked riots in larger cities (i.e. Dakar, Kaolack, etc). There has been a lot of tension this year already in the country with several transportation strikes. With our IST beginning at the start of February, people had to be on the move. I luckily got to take a Peace Corps car to Kaolack (it was great because I started the long journey early, not to mention more comfortably, and due to the protests in Kaolack, it made it a bit more exciting). However, I was very disconnected and didn't see much since I didn't have reason to go to the market. I did see the glow of a few fires in the night sky from the rooftop, and got to hear volunteer's stories who did go into the market and see the damage from fires (a quarter of the largest covered market in West Africa was burned). As soon as a few other volunteers got into town who were planning to head up to IST, we arranged a sept place to Thies, the location of where our training was to be held. Once in Thies, I was a bit ill for the beginning of training and have been dealing with it for a while. Stomach issues.

Nevertheless, training was great and I am really happy with how well the AgroForestry sector was organized and I believe we all got a lot out of it. I now can now better brainstorm and theoretically execute projects (tree nurseries, outplanting, etc), coordinate within my work zone, graft trees, better collect and process seeds (as well as identify trees), write grants, garden, & have a wider range of possibilities for secondary projects. It was surprisingly exhausting (lots of classroom time and field work), despite my overnight in Dakar for a doctor appointment. The Kedougou region wants to have regionally based projects and is following up on a regional initiative to work with Tree for the Future to coordinate trainings in the area (tree nurseries and grafting), so I am trying to get more involved with that although the extension work is not being offered as far away as I am currently. The acronym KRAAS (Kedougou Regional Agriculture & Agroforestry Strategy) is being used, I'm not sure how I feel about it, but ohh well! We met with the country director and he supports the idea. Even if I am not thoroughly involved with KRAAS this year, there is a high possibility that a Master Farm, a Peace Corps program that finds local farmers and teaches them "best practices," while using their space for local demonstrations and an area for consolidated seed and scion sources, will be started in the Salemata area, and I would have a lot of work to do in establishing that (especially since my current work partner is being considered as a Master Farmer). Furthermore, IST was really nice to see everyone that I arrived in country with! I realized when I left Thies, it will likely be the last time we are all together until our "Completion of Service" (COS) conference, and I may not see some of them until that time. During the time of our IST, the Malaria Bootcamp was also happening, which brought in people from 11 different countries for intensive malaria discussion and training. Therefore, lunch bowls had more varied conversation and was really interesting to hear about.

Also, I also had spoken with Bamba, the program director of cultural and language facilitators, and got a hold of language books that are used for new trainees during pre service training to edit. Since I was not feeling well, I spent a lot of time editing and managed to finish the Wolof book, and now will be working on the Pullo Fuuta (the language I learned). I am on kind of a tight deadline considering he would like me to complete it before the next new group of trainees come into country. Inchallah (God willing) I will finish!

Currently, presidential candidates are in the Kedougou region and things have been a little unsettled. A few Senegalese were injured at the market yesterday, and people have been throwing rocks. The elections are in just under two weeks, so we will see how things go! The likelihood of volunteers being evacuated is relatively slim, and in the off chance that were to happen, I would be sent to Mali or Guinea (places I intend to visit during my service anyway!). Nevertheless, our safety is of the up most priority and we have a thorough plan and reliable means of communication for alerts & updates.

Fortunately, Joe, the PC bike repair man, is coming into town, and my originally issued PC bike will get fixed! There is also a house meeting (new house manager, will I suggest myself, maybe!), as well as a meeting regarding a Youth Summer Camp that I am looking forward to helping out with.