Although I am an "agroforestry" volunteer, cross sector collaboration is highly encouraged by Peace Corps administration. The nearest volunteers to me (creating our "work zone") are "community economic development," "sustainable agriculture," "eco-tourism," "health." We have worked together by doing seed extension (vegetables, field crops, and trees), tree sack distribution, painting world maps at schools in our villages, as well as general helping one another since we are all Americans living in a similar area. However, the region of Kedougou now has 33 volunteers. A health volunteer in Fongolimbi (SE Kedougou), Ben, did a project to demonstrate how much money is spent on malaria in that area. Rice is a staple food in the region and he decided to purchase rice sacks and fill them with grass to visually represent the number of rice sacks that could be purchased in comparison to how much money was spent on malaria treatment (e.g. highlight the importance of prevention).
These sacks would lead up to the health post where there would be a net sewing station, a washing station, a neem lotion station, and a net modification station (square to circle, and stencils of marabouts (it is a Muslim country) and the Senegalese flag to spray paint on the net). After doing this in his village, he wanted to scale it up and do it in the city of Kedougou (with help from volunteers across the region). Recalculating the numbers the same preparation was done (of course on a larger scale). The Stomp Out Malaria Project came down to document the event, as well as hold an action plan meeting afterwards. It was quite a success and I was contribute my efforts to a worthwhile project! It was also great because now I am more informed about what I can do in my community with the rainy season (and peak in malaria) coming.
Net sewing
Neem lotion
Stenciling
Kedougou Volunteers who helped on this project
Hey Jackie-
ReplyDeleteI'm from Colorado-but I'm in Kedougou doing some malaria/mosquito research with my boss and another colleague. I'm a grad student at colorado state myself. As there's so few americans around Kedougou we should meet up some time in the next ~45 days we're here, if nothing else just so we can talk to someone who doesn't call us "toobop"(sorry I don't know the proper spelling.
My local number is 77 682 95 10, though the phone has been horrible.
Hope to see you and the other peace corps people, we drive by your compound almost everyday going out to the villages!(dambacouye and nathia).
tre beau se que vous apporte a la communauté kédovin j'admir
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