RADD Graduation

On this past Wednesday 17 students graduated from my Riders Against Drunk Driving program. It was a very successful event. I was incredibly happy to have so many participants and to have all of them do so well. 

The program covered the effects of alcohol, ranging from its effects on driving to risky behaviors like unsafe sex and violence. The number of riders who reported never drinking after driving went up 20% after completing the program. Similarly, the number of riders who reported never carrying passengers after drinking also increased. 100% of riders stated it was unsafe to drink after driving. The amount of participants who reported using contraception increased. In fact, there was a 20% increase in people who reported always using condoms, with 0% reporting never using them (compared to 18% before the program). Additionally, a total of 69% of participants reported using a condom the last time they engaged in sexual activities, an increase of 22%. Previously, over half of the participants reported not using a condom the last time they had had sex; this number dropped to only four people after the class. Upon completing the course, the riders received certificates and bumper stickers to put on their bikes signifying that they were graduates of the safe driving program. I’m incredibly grateful to the riders who attended the program for being so engaged and making it such a success! 

Akid This Week

The engineer for the water project has returned to Cameroon after a month break and things are back in motion. We went up to Akid and stayed there from Friday to Monday to do work. Unfortunately, the water project has suffered several setbacks recently. The main problem is that the river from which we are supposed to collect water is incredibly strong as it is now rainy season here. It pours every singe day. This makes it very hard to create the stone dam necessary to divert the river water to the filtration system. The people of Akid have created the dam several times, only to have the river break it apart in the following days. The engineer worked with them to correct the dam and altered the building technique slightly so that it won’t fall again. We were only able to start the corrections, but the community should be working on it for the next week or so to complete it. We also discovered a problem with the constructed water filter. Our local technician slightly misinterpreted the plans, and put a pipe in the filter where it is not supposed to be. He will have to patch it and put the pipe in the proper location. Not exactly what we wanted, but at least it’s easily remedied. Other than those alterations, we were able to map out a new part of the pipeline near the dam site and were able to design a path that saves materials. The community will also continue to dig and modify the existing pipeline. Hopefully the work won’t take too long and the engineer will be able to come back soon so we can connect everything and finish up!

Truth be told, however, my favorite part of visiting Akid is not the project, but rather the level of hospitality shown to me and the knowledge I learn while there. I walk up there almost everyday of the week, but the people are always especially excited to have me stay the night. They never disappoint. This time, a child killed a viper on Friday, I saw a chameleon on Saturday, and I had my hair braided by a group of girls on Sunday. 

Whenever I stay the night, I stay with the family of the Chief’s brother. They have a traditional outdoor kitchen, a plank house, and an open-air latrine. The village is without water and without electricity. I normally sit in the kitchen with the children and the mother and “help” prepare meals. Mostly I just sit and stay warm, as they don’t want me to work, and, let’s be honest, am not very good at pounding fufu. At night, I share a bed with the mother. They heat water for my bucket bath, which I take behind the house in order to bathe. They are some of the most welcoming people I have ever met. They are unbelievably kind and friendly and attentive. They always try to prepare my favorite dishes and collect my favorite fruits from their farm. The father is always willing to discuss local traditions with me, which is a good thing because I’m always fascinated and ask a thousand questions. This time, he told me about the ancestors.

People here believe in the spiritual powers of their family’s ancestors. They pray to them and ask them for guidance. We had been discussing a traditional remedy for being poisoned, which included some sort of terrible sounding step in which you created a system of dots in your skin with a razor and then filled them with the venom of a stinging caterpillar. I joked that if I were ever poisoned I did not want that treatment and he should just take me to the hospital instead. He said that that type of poison witchcraft wouldn’t work on me anyway. This then led to the discussion of why I would be immune, which led us to the ancestors. He told me that I would not be poisoned because the ancestors would protect me. They would not allow it to happen. They would not permit the poison to work. I have my own ancestors, but while I am here, the ancestors of this village are also responsible for me. My own ancestors do not fully understand or cannot fully protect me, and so the ancestors of his own family or other families here team up with my own ancestors to aid me. Any time that someone is poisoned or harmed, it is because the ancestors allow it to happen. The ancestors here know that I am important to this village and won’t allow harm to happen to me. He communicates to his ancestors during dreams, and they have asked about me, and he has explained my role and what I am doing. He even had to ask their permission for the water project. Ultimately, they approve of me and my work and will take care of me while I am here. When I go back to the US, my own ancestors will take over again, and I will no longer be under the protection of his own ancestors. The way he explained it, it’s like they don’t have jurisdiction there. 

Best Day Ever!

I just had an awesome day and figured I’d let you know what constitutes “awesome” out here. I woke up and had a cup of hot chocolate. Power was on. I got to watch a TV show. I had sunflower seeds for breakfast. It stopped raining! I hiked out to my water project site, which is about and hour and a half away. It was all misty and beautiful and not hot, which makes for the best walking conditions. I met a bunch of people I knew on the way and even got two marriage proposals (along with the offer of a plot of land, should I accept).

            “What did you bring me?”

            “Nothing, what did you bring me?”

            “I have a plot of land for you! You can garden it.”

            “You know I don’t know how to farm.”

            “That’s why I’ve told you to marry me already. I will teach you how to farm your plot when you marry me!”

Then I reached the village and the entire community was doing labor for the project! Every single person was working! Then a boy killed a viper! They cut it up and cooked it and I got to eat it and it was so nice! Then, the Chief and a few other “big men” (very important people) showed up! I was given a glass of wine. They took me back in their car! I got to ride in a car! They gave me bread! And 5 cans of soda! Then I went to see my counterpart and she had prepared me my favorite local meal, ndole! It was fantastic.

Also, I can’t wait for the days when some bread and soda aren’t the basis for an awesome day. But for now, it’ll do!

Riders Against Drunk Driving Program

After a long wait, I have finally unveiled my latest project—one that combats drunk driving amongst motorcycle riders. I have wanted to work with the drivers, or “okada men,” since I arrived, but, as usual, faced several setbacks along the way. The okada men are a very important group to work with because they are considered an at-risk population. As young men with a certain amount of income and a means of travel, they are more likely to engage in risky behaviors. They are often known in communities as big drinkers and players. Often they have not completed school, but are still young and are open to information. They also interact with many people every day, and can serve as a source of education to others.

They are also responsible for nearly all transport in and out of town, and carry many people every day. Despite this fact, they have a strong penchant for drinking. Often while still on the job. It is not uncommon to see a driver gulp down a beer so that he can jump on his bike to take the newly arrived passenger— or even to see a rider with a sachet (a baggie of hard alcohol) hanging out of his mouth while cruising around. The fact is, most people in Cameroon have very little alcohol education. Growing up they never get any lessons in school on the subject— certainly no “Every 15 Minutes” simulations. They don’t even receive any campaigns against drunk driving or the affects of alcohol. There are no TV commercials condemning it, no billboards denouncing, not even any prosecution by law enforcement. Many don’t realize that certain alcohols have higher concentrations than others. And while they certainly have experience with alcohol, they have never had its affects laid out for them. They don’t know the health affects it has on the body. They haven’t specifically been told the influence it has on driving abilities. And they haven’t necessarily stopped to think about it before.

I have started a program with them that covers attitudes towards alcohol, the affects of alcohol on the body, the affects of alcohol on driving, the health affects of alcohol, the economic consequences of alcohol, alcohol myths, and related risky behaviors associated with alcohol (like violence, unprotected sex, HIV, etc). Around 20 men attend the weekly sessions. The lessons are discussion based and interactive, but also have some lecturing involved. So far, the okada men seem very interested and appreciative. After each class they thank me and have told me they have learned something new, or that I have given them something to think about. Ultimately, I hope that drunk driving will decrease, but at the very least that these men will be able to make informed decisions regarding their lifestyles and that they will increase their knowledge on how their actions affect their health. 

The Water Project Goes On

The community of Akid continues to work hard on the project. We have now completed the water tank, but are still struggling to finish up the filter. Everything seems to take longer than expected. Like, a lot longer. But it’s going, that’s the good news. Everyday I walk up to the village (it’s about an hour and a half from my house) to oversee the work and help motivate the people there. They are always encouraged to see me. The men have been learning how to mix concrete, how to do the formwork for the structures, and how to pour the concrete. 

The women are typically responsible for the transportation of materials to the site. They use the baskets they use on their farms to carry stones, sand, and water to the site so the men can mix the concrete. 

Together, they all dig pipeline. Work is going to have to start moving a bit faster if we expect to finish in time for rainy season, but I expect it to happen! The engineer has returned home for a bit and won’t be around again until July, so we have the rest of June to finish things up. When he does come back, he will connect the pipes and do the finishing touches, and hopefully we’ll have a functional water system then!

Stranger Things

I have just about seen it all. Motorcycles transport almost anything here. I have seen live goats, pigs, dogs, and chickens carried on motorcycles. I have seen numerous crates of beer. I have seen mattresses, I have seen tables and chairs. I have seen entire couches strapped to the back. I have watched five people squeeze onto one. I have seen heavy things, I have seen many things., I have seen awkward things. But today was the first time I have seen a corpse go by. That’s right. The body was wrapped in a shroud and then wrapped in a thin layer of foam, and tied to a wooden plank with rubber straps, which was then attached to the front of the motorcycle. I suppose it was just a sensible way to transport a body, but after that, I’m not so sure I want to know what I will see next!

A Day in the Life

This morning, I woke up when the mothers began cooking in the kitchen outside my bedroom. They clang pots and pans and shout at their children to bring this, wash that, and generally make a lot of noise. Power has also just returned to village after a month hiatus, and people are happy to begin blaring their music at 6:00am. By 6:30am I finally accepted the fact I would not be able to fall back asleep, and I should just get up (this battle occurs nearly every morning). I had work to do for my water project, and had to go to the nearby town of Tombel to purchase some materials. I went out to find a bike rider to drive me. I saw several, all of whom were eating at the local “chop mamas,” women who serve food out of coolers at little roadside shacks. I approached them and asked if any would take me to Tombel. All of them said no. This I will never understand. Why are you a bike rider if you refuse to take me where I need to go? Where I am paying you to go? It’s your job! It is what you have decided to do as a career! I pleaded with some of them. No, none of them wanted to go to Tombel. I went to wait at the health center for a bit and played with babies. Then I tried again. I new rider had arrived, and he was willing to take me. I climbed onto the motorcycle and off we went… for two hours. After the two hour motorcycle ride, I arrived in Tombel. There is another PCV who lives in Tombel, and she said I could stay at her house while I was in town. I go to her house and discover a random Cameroonian man inside. I call her. She has hired a man to look after her dog, and he has apparently interpreted her dog-sitting invitation as a house-sitting invitation as well. I drop my things off and say hello to the man. I then go out on my mission: to buy an empty propane tank, which will be used in the pump system. I go to the first store and ask for one. We cannot sell them empty anymore, the man tells me. I ask if he knows of another shop that is still willing to sell the empty bottles. “You cannot find them in Tombel,” he replies. While a bit daunting, I have learned never to take what someone says as the definite truth in this country, until you have explored every aspect yourself. So I went to the next store. No. Next. No. Starting to possibly believe him…. Next. Yes. I buy the bottle. Now, I have to get someone to weld iron rods onto it. The things I do in Cameroon. And strangely enough, I actually know a welder. He is also a driver and has transported materials for me already. I take the propane bottle to him and he fixes some iron rods onto it, no problem! I’m now done with the things I came to do. I decide to go to the tailor and order some clothes. I have been holding onto some fabric for a while, but have not had anything made out of it. I bring it to the tailor. She takes my measurements, I make a few sketches of what I want, and then I go. I come home and the man is still there. He is taking a nap in the spare bedroom. Power has gone out and I’m a bit bored, but since my friend is away I’m not sure what to do. I decide to go get some dinner. I walk out of the house and pass a bar, and who is there but the welder! “Allely, come buy me a drink!” This is not a rude thing to say here, people are always asking for you to buy them drinks, and it is just as appropriate for you to ask the same of them. I normally try not to buy drinks for people, however, but he had definitely done me a big favor today, so I accept. I sit down and have a drink with my friend the welder. Where else would this happen? He then goes and buys fried pork from a roadside stand with plantains and brings it back for us to eat. I eat my dinner and then go home to go to bed. And that’s the end to a day of my life here.