Amazing people

So good so far and I’m in my fourth week on my placement in Burkina Faso. I have met so many impressionable people that inspire me already. They all make me realise how dependent we all are, with our facilities, our offices, our time, our space and our immediate understanding in a formal manner. These people literally make me stop and think so deep in thought, almost in a trance of culture shock.

I see Leonie every day at work, one day just talking to our manager and discussing Tigoung Nonma’s sales as well as looking after her 18 month old baby boy. He was trying so hard to feed himself, but as usual he did get it everywhere and all down his top. The little one took off his shoes and got really mucky but she didn't mind but laugh and kept on changing and washing him. All this in a day, every day actually, at work with her disability of being contracted from polio disease, she couldn't use her right leg any more but had a metal bar strapped around her whole leg with a sandal attached, she usually limped but sometimes crawled if needed to, but never used crutches or a wheelchair. Not to mention, this is in a place of 43 degree heat, I would have fainted as soon as I bent down the first time to pick the little boy up. This woman is just an example of how strong mothers are here, and how normal it is to care for their young every step of the way, having him/her strapped to their back or just by their side all the time. The night before this said day, she also made me and two other girl volunteers some dresses which was amazingly generous of her to offer after we bought some material. I’m so happy with my two piece, it’s like a strappy crop top and a high wasted pencil skirt, but all in African fabric called Pan.

I see my mama and sister cook, wash, clean by hand every day. They use no seats to wash, no seats to cook but just bend down to make it easier. If not doing the work, they’re usually carrying it on their head or their backs. Their posture is incredible and their muscles, wow. For example, my mama’s sister helped show me how to wash clothes by hand. I saw her wash her own and it was an amazing, thorough job, she really used her hands as tools with such strong grip to wash, rinse, squeeze over 4 times for each item of clothing. Every morning they awake around 5/6am to clean, cook and wash for breakfast and dinner. By the time were home, they’re already cooking tea. This is every day of the week. I think our family in particular have had a recent loss in the family, the father. There are many photos of him around the house, even in my room. His son Maric, is just the spitting image. They work very hard as family, I hardly see them rest but when I do I wish for them to take it easy. You can see they are strong and loving of one another, they all keep each other strong and happy and it’s so special to see.

A single photo taken of either your family, the children here, your work colleagues and/or friends excites everyone. The meaning of a photo is very much valued here. As silly as it sounds, once you see the true effect, it saddens you a little. Children will scream with excitement and enthusiasm to jump in photos, climb on you even. Family members usually stay really still and make the most serious smile, as what we would use maybe as a student photo. Friends, also seem it is very important to make the best posture and smile. Vanity is not known here from what I have learnt, the meaning of vanity is a mystery to them, yet they all would rather live in the moment or save portraits for events really. 

The national volunteers and our team leader are the friendliest people I’ve ever met, they showed us places to go after work, places to eat, shop, buy fruit and vegetables and always help with our French. I can’t believe already how I’ve become such good friends with them. I’m so in love with everyone’s personality, happiness and their generosity is incredible. When we went for dinner once, they all bought loads of pork, brought it all back to work and just let everyone share, I myself was too shy but they just laughed at me and was so stunned because I asked if it was ok. They just said, you can share anything with us, we always share! What kind of person could you love more? 

An outtake of Issa on the far right trying to be a bird and literally flew into the photo!

The first day I arrived, all artisans showed up to meet and greet us all, with such lovely smiles and charisma. (Note: I can’t say lovely here as no one has heard of it, and it’s probably my favourite word, damn.) I watched them work outside in the heat, some with wheelchairs and crutches, others using only their body strength to either crawl or steadily walk across the tiled floor. They were happy and laughing, and more polite than ever towards all us volunteers. They encourage us to teach them English every day and other IT and media skills. We are more than happy to work with such incredible people with amazing talent or tailoring, sculpting, hand-craft and ceramic work.

All these people give me such a good feeling about life in general and how precious it is to all ages, both sexes and all ethnic groups. 

African Safari weekend!

So this weekend just gone, all of us UK volunteers planned in advance to on a safari together. We had to fit it in at the beginning of our placement as this is the best period to actually see the animals before the rain season comes!

The journey altogether was very tiring, I think everyone would agree! We started at 7am on our way to Bobo, to take a surprise visit into the village, Tibele where all houses were traditionally painted from the war. All people who lived there new French but spoke another language within the tribe, something I’ve never heard of before and isn’t a written language, but similar to Moore.

There was so many small huts and houses, all doors being very small, below your waist pretty much. So to enter any home, you have to get on your hands and knees. This was invented and made during the war to protect the community. For example, if the enemy arrived to attack the village, all families would stay inside, and for the enemy to find them he must bend down to get inside, which then was easier for the villagers to chop off their heads straight away. A little grim, but it most certainly worked. The designs on every hut all stand for specific sacred animals, rituals and traditions from the tribe and what the chief believed in. We learnt that huts with straw roofs were mainly for single men to live in, the cylinder houses were for women after leaving home but to now live with her grandparents before starting a family of her own then she would live in a small rectangular/square house with her husband and children. The open/cylinder houses with no roofs are tend to be used as kitchens now or, if in rain season they have a small room inside with no window but only a chimney. We went on a tour around the village and also went into one of the houses, which contained 2 bedrooms and kitchen, the space was very tight and I also felt very claustrophobic, plus there was no windows, so I kept finding it hard to breathe in there.  Anyway here’s some photos of Tibele Village:

All the people living within the village were very sweet and happy, especially the children who kept playing with us! The whole place inspired me, taught me a lot more of the reality and poverty people are faced with today still from the acts of war.

We headed onward in our journey to another town, to grab dinner which was very filling, contained a lot of rice, just carbs really, the usual then a fruit salad! A few hours later and we arrived into Nazinga Safari park around 3! A very bumpy ride the closer you get out into the wild but with still houses along the way and families throughout their day, collecting water, wood and or donkeys/chickens etc. Every child we drove past shouted NASARH and we all waved, they went mental. I’m so used to waving at everyone here already and saying hello, how are you? It’s so heart-warming.

What you have all been waiting for...

These a few of my favorite photos over the course of the two days we stayed. We went out at 4-6pm the first night, then 6am-8am the next morning. Was an amazing experience to be so close to all of them. Sorry for not many crocodile or baboon pictures, people who were also staying there decided it would be a good idea to walk right up to them and scare them away rather than keep peace, so I didn't manage to capture them much. Although, the elephants were always in a big group, were hard to spot at first but as soon as we found them they were very peaceful and happy eating from branches, feeding their young and scratching each other with a branch haha. It was so magical. We also woke up at 5am to go watch the sunrise, but it was too foggy, but it was still beautiful to see the sky lighten up and the monkeys all come out to play.

I walked off for a while just before we left and sat on a rock near the crocodile reserve and I was so content, I didn't want to leave. I kept thinking, I’m in Africa, I can hear the elephants and monkeys, I feel the African sun on my chest and I’m so happy I made it here. So our little trip out for the weekend was totally worth it and now I feel attached, I have a soft spot for Burkina and the Burkinabe people. 

Artisan's Workshop

We visited the National Artisan’s workshop to interview a woman named Dao Djeneba, who makes clothes for the Tigoung Nonma shop. We congratulated her on our most popular product of the week, which won most likes online. We then asked her many questions about why she chose this career, what inspired her to, what difficulties she has as an artisan with a disability, what customers are like when buying her products, what she wishes to improve and more.  All volunteers participated in the interview either taking notes, filming, asking questions and or reviewing more of her work. It amazed me how hard they work, and what gorgeous clothing they make from scratch. She and her colleagues dye all material first starting from white with the use of many substances like plants, seeds etc. They showed us what tools they use to print, using simple crafting tools and no machinery. 

Dao Djeneba who is sitting and her colleague, Farika. 

We couldn’t help but wonder and take a look at all the shops, workshops, craft stalls and galleries whilst we were there. I also, cannot begin to mention how friendly everyone was with loads of smiles and enthusiasm to show us there lovely work!

 All of our Tigoung Nonma Team who contributed in the interview and Dao Djeneba in her very own workshop.