The process of development is arguably one of the most difficult and painstaking projects imaginable. It really comes down to teaching an entirely foreign world view, set of concepts, culture, and language to a population steeped in centureies of tradition. Changing peoples' awareness is one thing, but modifying behavior is incredibly tough.
The language of development (action plan, accountability, time based goals and objectives, feasibility, indicators of success) and the endless flow charts and venn diagrams NGOs use to communicate these terms are as foreign to Senegalese villagers as eating with your right hand and wiping your ass with the left are to us.
Imagine you are at the meeting I am attending right now to create a community action plan. The room is filled with village chiefs wearing long kaftans, adorned with scarves, prayer caps, sunglasses, and big rings. Local fisherman with calloused hands and sandy feet are seated near the door. National park agents in full camoflauge fatigues sit near the front. Beyond them are the five white French experts in development and conservation , armed with power point presentations and notebooks, pens, and folders for an audience overwhelmingly illiterate. The room is hot and besides the Frenchman, no one is wearing deodorant.
As a sign in sheet is circulated, one of the local volunteers at the park follows it to write for those who don't know how, making sure they "sign," or make a scribble next to their names.
The objective of the meeting is to start the creation of a community driven plan for managing the national park; start an appropriate qualifier as making such a plan will take months. The presentation begins and after 30 seconds, the first Frenchman is interrupted by three latecomers who not only provide the expected "Salaam Allekum" to the group, but proceed to begin greeting members of the audience individually. The presenter is not pleased. I'm not surprised and sit back and wait. As presentation continues each bullet point of each slide must be translated. The translator steps in to say in Wolof what the Frenchman has just said, but to do so takes twice the time.
For instance action plan or "un plan d'action" in French would be translated in Wolof to "a conversation among all of us about what we want to do to change things here." The presenter seems frustrated but maybe it's just the heat.
The language of development (action plan, accountability, time based goals and objectives, feasibility, indicators of success) and the endless flow charts and venn diagrams NGOs use to communicate these terms are as foreign to Senegalese villagers as eating with your right hand and wiping your ass with the left are to us.
Imagine you are at the meeting I am attending right now to create a community action plan. The room is filled with village chiefs wearing long kaftans, adorned with scarves, prayer caps, sunglasses, and big rings. Local fisherman with calloused hands and sandy feet are seated near the door. National park agents in full camoflauge fatigues sit near the front. Beyond them are the five white French experts in development and conservation , armed with power point presentations and notebooks, pens, and folders for an audience overwhelmingly illiterate. The room is hot and besides the Frenchman, no one is wearing deodorant.
As a sign in sheet is circulated, one of the local volunteers at the park follows it to write for those who don't know how, making sure they "sign," or make a scribble next to their names.
The objective of the meeting is to start the creation of a community driven plan for managing the national park; start an appropriate qualifier as making such a plan will take months. The presentation begins and after 30 seconds, the first Frenchman is interrupted by three latecomers who not only provide the expected "Salaam Allekum" to the group, but proceed to begin greeting members of the audience individually. The presenter is not pleased. I'm not surprised and sit back and wait. As presentation continues each bullet point of each slide must be translated. The translator steps in to say in Wolof what the Frenchman has just said, but to do so takes twice the time.
For instance action plan or "un plan d'action" in French would be translated in Wolof to "a conversation among all of us about what we want to do to change things here." The presenter seems frustrated but maybe it's just the heat.
posted by Nat Parker | 7:05 AM
3 Comments:
I must concur with our friend Brant - we miss you. Your writings are inspiring, if not purely gifted. I was worried there for a moment when you seemed a little overwhelmed by the loneliness and were asking for hamburgers. I'm glad your spirit was able to soar above the clouds to the brim of the continent and bring some serenity. You are doing something extraordinary - I hope that keeps you going strong.
That, and some scotch every now and then...
Your friend, Casey
Hey Natty!
With Thanksgiving here it makes me cry with thanks for my experiences and friends in Senegal. You are giving me those memmories a freshness that I had forgotten, especially revealed in the language. It seems so restricted at times but captures the simplicity of the momment. It is a real gift to me. thank you.
Cathy
Damn, man you are a decent writer. And your pic, does not look like you at all. I take it that's a pre-Africa pic. Thanks for the Sierra Leone info, hopefully we'll get up there to see you sometime soon.
Bests, Kari
Post a Comment
<< Home