Posts Tagged ‘Togo’
Holding My Breath
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010I have been holding my breath for days now. Togo had it’s second (ever) election March 4, 2010. The country has been ruled by the same family for the last 43 years. First the father, and now the son.
Faure Gnassingbe has been declared the winner. http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=88337 He is the son on the dictator who ruled Togo until his death five years ago. Union of Forces for Change — the opposition — has declared an unfair election. Their candidate, Jean-Pierre Fabre, has been calling for protests
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This requires that I still hold my breath! I can only hope that the protests can go on peacefully, and that the Army will not use lethal force against the protesters.
From what I have seen and heard, Faure Gnassingbe is what I would call a negligent Dictator. He neglects the needs of his country and people. He neglects the infrastructure that would make life there better.
No matter who ends up being declared the winner, our work will continue. The people want change for the better. They want a better life for their children. I believe that change will come through education. Once a population has the ability to think critically, and to articulate these thoughts, it becomes much harder to “dictate” to them. Therefore, our mission continues — village by village.
One more piece of information — we have raised to date $29, 900!! We need to raise $1,000 more to be 100% funded for Phase I of the school building project. Thank you to all who have helped us get this far. If you would like to help, now is definately the time to do it.
Cheers.
After They’ve Seen Paris?
Saturday, January 23rd, 2010
As we get closer to the day of ground breaking on the school, one can sit here pondering what next? I have been thinking about questions and issues critical to LeapingStone as it is today, and as we hope it becomes tomorrow. After reading this, we would love your thoughts and comments. Because we are immersed in the project, we worry about losing sight of the big picture — the forest-for-the-trees dilemma.
Change, even so called progress can be harmful. Likely, we will be changing centuries of customs. With a well and a self-sustaining economy and a school, we will be helping the people of Dédékè to interact more with the greater world around them. No longer will they have a relatively isolated existence, nor a subsistence economy. This may change some of their culture.
By schooling the children, we will (most likely) be encouraging the children to further educate themselves and perhaps leave the village. As the song asks: How you gonna keep ‘em down on the farm after they’ve seen Paris? And what happens to a village that loses its most ambitious and adventurous young adults?
The answer to this is: we are not parents or patriarchs. We are not magical fairy godmothers who know best and grant wishes.
The people of Dédékè want this change. They are adults who know their own culture best. They have an aquaintence with 21st century change in Africa and what it implies. We are providers as per their requests. We are not parents of backward children.
They are different, but they are our equals. In the case of self-determination and village choices, we are the ones who are subordinate to their wishes. We do not get to dictate terms.
So what next? On optimistic days we can look on this as our training ground. Next we find another village. Perhaps we train others to build schools. Perhaps we get apprentices (grad students etc.) to work with us to multiply our effect.
On less optimistic days, when we can’t seem to raise one penny, or it seems like we are talking into the wind, we just have to push forward and keep working. This is something we are committed to wholeheartedly.
