Let’s all take a second and laugh at my last post. This is what happens when you are dead tired, the internet sucks so you have to keep stopping and starting, copying and pasting from word to gmail and back, and are overwhelmed with everything that had happened in the last two days. Sorry it was so incoherant, but this one probably won’t be much better…. but I did meet the Emir of the state of Katsina….he’s kind of a big deal. So that has to count for something.

I also visited a very rural village near the Emir. It was surreal. I really wish we could have spent longer there. We were escorted by their local traditional ruler who received training from LDM, part of IIE who does leadership training for people in the field of reproductive health and rights. Before, he didn’t believe in AIDS. Now, the village has its own ambulance, a clinic with someone attendant 24 hrs, and they are currently building a a small maternal health center. I’m not really sure whether or not they have enough trained professionals to work there, but the point is that the community is coming together to make maternal and reproductive health a priority in their village, with the blessing and financial support of their leader. Before, if a woman had birth complications the best that they could do was put her on a donkey and take her to the nearest village. The chances of her or her baby surviving that are slim to none.

In addition, the state government is funding a huge modern maternal and early childhood health care center in the city. It was currently under construction, and they said it would be ready in a month. We toured the site, and it looks obvious that it won’t be ready by then. Some of the LDM leaders there were concerned that there would not be enough trained professionals. There is a lot of uncertainty with projects like this, but it is a really important first step.

Today I finally had the opportunity to see the CITAD offices, where I will spend the majority of my time this summer. They do trainings on computer software and hardware in their own computer lab, with satellite internet, which is very impressive. We were a bit confused after the meeting because after looking at their publications, it seems that they (their staff) wanted training in the skills that they have already taught in the community? We aren’t really sure how this can be, and want to look at their training materials to find out. I was impressed that they have a position for a Gender Officer, specifically concerned with issues of women and technology. I can’t wait to speak with her more about the work that she does.

This will be a difficult summer for me because 1) I may be a bit out of my league in terms of the technical knowledge I can bring to the table and 2) Many of the major issues facing these NGOs are a reflection of the poor infrastructure in Nigeria, not necessarily something that someone like me can address. How do you run a successful NGO (or any kind of business for that matter) based on IT when power supply is cut off multiple times throughout the day? It is SO expensive here to get an internet service provider as well as to power the offices and computers since generators are constantly running.

Food. Lot’s of it. I feel like I’ve spent 50% of my time eating. Mostly its been Indian, Lebanese, and Chinese. AND ITS GOOD. Definitely eating better here than I was in Santa Cruz. Haven’t really have any authentic Nigerian, although I did try a Nigerian beer. They serve alcohol at some hotels and restaurants, but only those that can afford to pay off the police.

These meals and the entire conference I’m getting to (kind of) be a part of is coordinated by DRPC, which is a reproductive health (RH) advocacy group here and is funded by LDM. They are hosting a meeting of all the country managers for LDM which includes the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Nigeria. They all basically connect LDM funds to worthy local leaders so that they can recieve leadership trainings all around the world (and as you can tell from the example I gave above, it seems to really work). Now the managers are working on networking their local leaders and creating a community that can take action on a wider scale. I’m really in awe of all these people I’m around, they all are incredibly educated and experienced and I can’t help but feel very out of place. But I’m learning SO much from all the conversation and places we have gone so far. It reminds me of all the travel, learning, and people I need to experience in my life and it makes me confident that I am in the right place..

I’m pretty pampered here at the Tahir Guest Palace and I should appreciate it while I can, but I’m sort of anxious to really get out into the town, buy my own food, etc. They are all scary thoughts but it’s going to have to happen within the next week and a half, and I need to break the ice sooner rather than later.

Also, if you want to call me (yay!), my cell phone number is 0803 049 0745. I don’t know how you get connected to Nigeria or the best calling card to use, but if somone successfully figures it out, please e-mail me so I can share it. The best time to call me is after 9:30 pm Kano time, which is 1:30pm in California.

Sai an jima,

Scott