EuroAfrican voluntary service 2010

This is just the start...

2010-11-14T23:25:00.008Z

Hi EuroAfrican EVS volunteers,

today is a special day: Matshidiso, the last volunteer still around, is going back home.
Welcome back home Mariana, Modeste, Laia, Cristina, Biel, Prudence, Janet and Matshidiso!
I can imagine all the stories you are telling to your family and friends. Or when you alone remember a moment, a story, a person of this special chapter of your life. I do hope you enjoyed the EuroAfrican EVS experience.
But even if you finished your stay abroad... THE ADVENTURE FOR YOU IS NOT FINISHED, THIS WAS JUST THE BEGINNING!
And also the EuroAfrican EVS project continues a little more...about this I will write to you tomorrow.
Now now I would like to celebrate with you this end-start, in all the languages you can speak and with all the drinks you would like to drink, making a special toast to all of us and to the EuroAfrican EVS project!
Till tomorrow,

Davide

MY LAST ENTRY.

2010-10-26T07:26:00.000Z

Hola amigos´

the last couple of months have been hectic but as usual fun. My project took a sudden turn at the end of August due to visa uncertainty and I have been taking it one day at a time. But this is the last entry am going to make, spain has been really cool to be here, all the new people I met and the mountain of things I have learnt,During my intermediate evaluation in three weeks ago we talked about the footprints we are going to leave and I dont know about the rest of you Euroafrican volunteers but I do hope that our project has put a dent on the ignorance obscurity and stereotypes that surround our respective nations and continents. I hope that we leave somefootprints to be remembered by those we met and that we have in some way touched someones life, because I know for sure that mine has been changed for the better.

To Janet and Matsidishu, Good luck till when you finish.

To biel Mariana, laia,modeste,christina and all the respective tutors and coordinators.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!! especially for the pleasure of meeting you all.

kwaherini!!!

ola from Portugal

2010-10-18T13:18:00.002Z

ola meu amigas

so right now im getting more and more attached to Portugal and it breaks my heart to think that in a month and a half i will have to leave all my friends and workmates behind.my adaptation to Portugal took a bit longer than i had expected but finally it happened and now this really feels like home for me.the greatest thing i value about Portugal is its diversification in terms of cultures.there are so many people of different cultures that u an never feel strange or out of place.

the project is going well and i feel like i fit in well with my organisation.i plan to take some tie off and just explore this country since i havent done much travelling.a month back i went for mid-term training and i enjoyed it so much since i got to meet new friends are are also volunteers and i got encouraged to continue with what im doing.

i will post photos from midterm training soon.

ciao beijinhos

Matshidiso

2010-10-12T09:48:00.017Z

Hello my dear friends volunteer!!!
Just wish all the good end of service. My project comes to an end, on October 17th and I go in Ouagadougou into my country on October 19th.
Just before returning on October 16th, my association ABC and I let us organize an African day in the city where I live who is Blanquefort.
Besides on October 11th I was in Toulouse one of the cities of France with two friends to visit the city, museum, and the modern agriculture(farming) called " the culture under greenhouse ". By visiting this site it was a real shock to see another method of culture very modern and very diversified. (See the photo).
To finish I show you various photos which stood out a lot to me throughout my voluntary service!!!
Good wind in all for project has to come and good journey for return.

2010-09-29T18:57:00.000Z

Well, today I wants to show you some photoes of burkinabè women.
Here they works a lot, while men burkinabè love to do “siesta”, and take a lot of … pause with the traditional thè, plays cards, eat.. So, also in the traditional festivity african's woman play an important role. The women dance during the marriage, and often the “femme griots” are charged to make animation, as you can see in the photoes below. They prepare the food during the traditional funerals (this is considered as a festivity, not a “black day” as in Occident), that they eat all together in the courtyard (the “zaka” in traditional language).
During this months I meet a lot of mothers and women en disease that ask help to MJCA to pay the children's school or food to them. The majority of women here have no rights, they just work hard. The “cultura maschilista” is very strong here; for what concern the discussion and the decision to take in family, burkinabè women have no voice. Especially in the “villages” is still common the “mariage forcèe” and MGF, in spite of this is forbidden by local government. They have to thanks Associations that fights to preserve rights of women, and above all Groups of Theatre.Forum (theatre of the oppressed), 'cause after their spectacles of sensibilisation this practices are very decreased, and so the women often can change their condition of life in better.
Often women have no choice: they have to “se debrouillè” all days to find money to give to eat to all family, while the husband keep money with him. So, by the way, I show you also some photoes of traditional food burkinabè: “le ris gras, le tò (I tryd to ptrepare so with my friend Bovard as you can see in one of photoes), la sauce gombò, les spaghetti”; la veritè est que ces sont un peu collè par rapport a notre “maccheroni italiani”, but it's hard to believe, their taste is really good!....... The little black bunch that you can see in the photo below is the“sumbala”, il naturale dado aromatico africano!! unfortunately is often replaced by “Maggi”, that with “Nescafè, Nestlè and Cocacola” is trying to colonize all Ouaga.. When Thomas Sankara had the power, the burkinabè economy was triyng to increase a lot, but unfortunately now the “White money” and multinationals are going to replace the local foodstaffs..
So, it's all, good works at all euroafrican's bloggers, and sopratutto buon divertimento!!
Wend a sik lafi... Nanplè..
Cristina

2010-09-29T18:37:00.004Z

Voilà les photoes.. bill fu;

cristina

Hi volunteers around Europe and Africa

2010-09-12T09:29:00.002Z

Dumelang !!!! le kae

I 'm so happy to write. This last months I had the opportunity to travel around different south african countries. It was amazing discover, sharing time with local people and see the differents in every country.

In One month and half i'm going to Barcelona ( my city) I can't beleive pass almost seven month and half in this place MAUN ( Botswana)

I don't want to do an evaluation yet, but i'm feel so really lucky to have the opportunity of participate in this project. You know all of us we are in the big and unique project and hopefully is the first step to develop more projects with Africa in the future

The only I can say is ka leboga ( thank you)

Soon i'm gonna add some pictures from Maun, My friends,.....

Go Siame

2010-08-31T21:55:00.001Z

Hola, Salut from Ouagadougou to Euroafricanbloggers!
Well, MJCA this months closed their activities, the volunteers finally can take their merited rest after a long year of full and intensive work. I also took my time finally to take a pause. Now I would you present just a bit of crazy friends burkinabè that I had the chance to meet during my stay at Ouaga. JahAhmad, performers of theatre, danse, traditional masks and marionettes; Saidou Traore, a musician of goni, the traditional instruments burkinabè. Ouda, a musician that you can see in the photoes with his guitar. Afrocadetjeunesse, a troup very shock whom the leader is a Rastawoman! Mamadou Diabatè, a djimbèfolà burkinabè, that you see in the photoes talking to Ernest, a commedien burkinabè; then the big family “Theatre du progres” and Spiritthing, a reggae singer. My “maman africain” Fofanna Bibata, a strong women that manage an association of women's rights at Kokodogò, a village burkinabè (most of all she's a great cook as you can see in the photo). Ali, (I yet introduced you the Troup Zen Thuwa who he dans) you can see him in the photoes with is paintings... but most of all the Troupe of musician Sijnikama a family of griots that came from Bobodioulasso. Here the Art and most of all the Music play an important role, it's very very important; so it's considered as a richness to preserve. For this reason it's very common and easy to meet artists and crazy people of all kind. I'm still here at Ouaga but I yet imagine how I will miss them before my departure. If someone is interested to their activities, or have some ideas to plan meetings to African or intercultural Festivals, don't hesitate and I'll give you more news and contacts..
Then, don't forget that this months David Tonon and Pablo (Nexes) came at Ouaga to join us and MJCA staff!! They're been here just few days but very very intensive. I take advantage of the Euroafricain Blog to thanks them and say them a big “Ciaoooo”.
Kisses kisses, and Bill fu my Euroafricain zoà!! (a bientot).
Cristina

2010-08-31T21:22:00.004Z

The photoes from Ouaga..

2010-08-19T15:06:00.000Z

Hello dear voluntary friend! Wherever you are I hope that everything takes place well for you? When to me, for one and a half month, we have to work with the young people of my structure, of the animations of holidays, summer camps in stay. During this July-August, we have to liven up with approximately 120 young people and all this very well took place. And afterward I had 2 weeks of vacation, and I get ready now for the mid-term seminar with all the present volunteers in France next week. I wish you all good courage in your activities. I kiss you!!!
Modeste en France salut!!!

2010-08-16T16:19:00.002Z

hello fellow bloggers,entao finalmente percebo quando as pessoas falam português,meaning just 3weeks ago i was helping an oldwoman down on to the elevator,she started talking to me and i realised i could understand her very well.After almost 5months of frustration out of no where i could clearly understand when portuguese people speak,im so excited and wanted to share that with you. so 15weeks before i go back home and im a bit scared,i want to make my time in Portugal count in a big way,i dont want to look back and wonder what did for 9months,i want to feel that i left a piece of me with my association and everyone i was in contact with. I know from here i have learnt a lot and matured a lot,the experience was not all smooth i had challenges and frustrations and still gained a lot.

anyway this week we there will be an event called festas do mar,festivals by the sea and gues what our association will have its tent there and i will be volunteering there while enjoying the festivals for free.my other regular tasks are going well.so in short i am well and having a great time here in PORTUGAL and promise u more photos.ciao for now

2010-07-25T22:56:00.005Z

Hola à tous le monde! Ny Zabrè, Hello, Ciao, Aye boe, A nj sogma, Djam iri…
Finally I give you some news from Ouaga…
This months MJCA gived the best as it can ; the programs and the activities planned by the DUNIA LA VIE had been very charged. The schools closed, also ‘cause the rains start to fall very hard and frequently. The street here are not asphalted, children often make long distances to reach the schools, and now with the mud it’s not easy to shift.
So the children are in holiday, and MJCA organised a lot of different “club de vacance” to them; they can have fun and gain educational project at the same time. Then the Association go on travel to satisfied all kind of their needs; so they leave the streets and learn to grow up together. MJCA is just a small building, and the children that wants to participate at it’s games and activities are more than the Association can reach or host.. So in this months we bill the classroom of some different lyceum and schools of the sector 19 of Ouaga, (Aurema, Wagadogo C, etcc..); there we developed all activities as it’s possible. Seven different groups of French volunteers came at DUNIA LA VIE to exchange friendly and new skills to burkinabè animators. Estelle et Frederique, then Anais and Emma, then Jeanne et Carole; then Joelle, Charlotte et Pauline, then Alexandre, and finally Stephane, a French teacher that live in Italy.. They planned courses of informatics, plays and games, writings, French and English, courses of music with traditional instruments burkinabè.. But it’s not finished! At the same time more than 12 animators burkinabè continued their activities of social welfare, educational, games, for other groups of children. It's clear that African and europeen animators works together to exchange and developed their activities. Then the 23th july, finally, me and my friends Ali, Ouda and Dioss (musicians and dancer) presented “JAMUEKRE”, a special musical with about 30 children. We’ve choose them between more than 150 children, after a long, long casting during 4 months...We played a piece that talked about “Tenga” a young boys that leave his village and start to travel to reach adventure and gained his dream: became an artist of modern-traditional music. Thanks to his success, Tenga finally will have the chance to open an Association to help the children of the street, as DUNIA LA VIE/MJCA: it's a sort of Samarcanda or African Macondo ... At the end of the show we make a little party, and we eat all together with the children and inhabitants of the sector 19. It’s been a crazy and joyful experience, as usual here..
I show you some photos, and I hope that a bit of joy that I have the chance to gain here can reach all of you!! A special thanks to my tutor Yasmina, David Tonon and Emiliano Bon of Xena, and a big kiss to all euroafrican volunteers and friends,
A bientot
Cristina

2010-07-20T11:06:00.007Z

Salam malekum, ma nuyu waa EuroAfricanEVS !

Bonjour tout le monde EuroAfricanEVS !

So many stories intersect in the blog, it’s great! So many smiles, so many colors!

I'm spending an incredible time in Louga, Senegal. Gradually the integration in the Fesfop team becomes more and more reality; ndank-ndank, despacio pero sin pausa, I feel at home and I start talking and doing really like Senegalese people.. as they say "eé, la Laia, c'est finit, c 'est unrecuperable”.

..in the city, with friends, every day I feel more within this madness of colors and smells, heat and now, also humidity and rain. Just twenty days ago they started the first rains, and Louga has dressed up in green, so fast… What amazing storms… What was a desert now looks like a astroturf ;) it’s a new pretty Louga appearance!

…the activities with Fesfop departments continue with senegalese rhythm, now in rains period with really problems of power cut… but come what may, life goes on, and Euroafrican experience goes on too!

…followed by courses in dance, party nights, some tours, Sundays at family’s home around a big bowl of "cebu jen"...

Naarees ag jamm!

Jamm ag jamm! Peace!

MY NEW FAMILY!!

2010-07-08T11:42:00.001Z

2010-07-08T09:08:00.002Z

HOLA EVERYONE,

So now am better accastomed t my enviroment here in Spain, its the best place to be especially now with the world cup mania! So who do you support?

Some pretty funny stuff have been happening to me.You know the things you learn outside of school and people tell you its useless? Well I have been finding that stuff very useful. Well the thing is am working with young people and I find little things that connect us like those silly games you played as kids.We usually play a little game before classes especially the ones we are meeting for the first time and it really breaks the ice. I also loved the art of grafitti when I was in highschool and who knew one day it would someday bring me closer to people who would otherwise be strangers!!

Attended on arrival training and loved every moment of it.EVS was great reading about in theory, but its even better in real life!!!Four more months to go with the project, I hope everyone is having as great a time as I am.

Am posting some pictures, of the things I have dome so far.......

ola again

2010-07-05T16:04:00.003Z

Hello again my fellow EVSers

Now what can i say it has been three months already and hei im not home sick anymore,(well maybe just a little).its summer and im having more fun things to do,im working on doing my own personal project either by end of July or beggining of august.I must say i am scared to be undertaking something like this because i have to take all the responsibility and this is a new thing for me.but with all the support i have im sure i can make it work,i cant tell you yet what i will be doing but in time you will all have the priviledge of knowing.so now i feeel like i own Lisbon,(hahaha) well mainly because i can get around on my own.Then there is the house i live in,as older volunteers leave new ones come in and that means im meeting new people all the time and its such an adventure because you never know who is coming and what they are like but its still fun.i am working on a little exposition about my country so people will learn more about it,im doing some project for Leonardo Da Vinci Internship programme,over the weekend i volunteered at a music festival since my organisation had its own tent there,then there was there was the event done on sunday 04/07/2010 to help raise funds for Haiti held here at Rota Jovem my host org,i helped make some jewellery to be sold there,so you see i have a lot of fun things to do.anyway keep reading as i keep blogging

life at ouaga1

2010-06-28T14:46:00.002Z

Hi from Cristina to all euroafricain friends!!

Zaka ramba??!! Here time is great, the rains started to fall, the climate getting fresh and it’s very fine now.

Todays I wants to introduce you the place where I live, Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso. It have a population of about 1 million, and it’s the ancient capital of the Mossi Kingdom, the most common group ethnic that reigned from the 15-19th centuries. The Mossi were one of the few tribes to effectively resist the Fulani armies and their call to become Muslims en masse. Today, Islam is increasingly strong there, but there are also many Christians, both Catholic and Protestant, and the religions generally live peacefully alongside each other. The centre town today is developed and there are of course the banks, hotels, restaurants, swimming pools, etc. But just a few meters of the centre town you can start to see the real suburb and way of life of burkinabè peole. I live in the sector 19, unplanned sprawls of mud-brick or cement houses. The yards (zaka in mossi language) are filled with communities of family members and friends, and this reflects the values of hospitality, respect, and community typical of the village. As Modeste says, Burkina Faso is one of the most poor country of the world, but solidarity and life in community are ordinary, unlike of our “occidental” and individualism way of life; this it’s been a very positive lesson of life to me. At 5h30 in the morning the little general shops of the road starts to open. Women at the board of the streets prepare the food in the large container to sell in little plastic bag for less than 1 euro (rice with tomatoes or peanuts’s sauce, beans, athieke, fish fries, etc.. ). There are also a bit of “restaurant”, the “maquis” where you can eat rice with meat or fish, spaghetti (!!) and the “sagbo”, the traditional plat made with mais or manioca’s flour. It’s easy to see also in the street woman’s crush grains in the typical big bowl to made flour and sell in in the street’s of Ouaga or at the street market of the sectors-town. Then the man travel often at the “boutique”, very little shops where there are all sort of things (soap, food, drink, phone card, radio and ironmonger, etc..). In the place where I live there are not a lot of car’s, but just “ancient” bike and motorbike of course, and as you can imagine, there are a lot of mechanic’s man in the streets..:) In the evening the men’s like to meets and join amongs them in their “zaka”, or in the street . They talk and pass the time drinking the traditional thè burkinabè, or card; it’s a sort of sacred ritual here.. This remind's me when I lived in my little town in Sardegna (Italy) when I was just a children..The young women’s like to meets to talk each other’s while making nice braids in fronts of their house. In the night at Ouaga joung people (that are affords to pay) goes to dance in the “maquis”, a sort of disco’s bar where you can drink “Brakina” the most common beer here, and have fun with ‘coupè de Calais", the musique dance burkinabè. But I really appreciate sure the Dolo (chapalo in mossi language), the traditional African beer made with “sumbalà grains”. It’s usually drank in calibass during the “kermesse”, the evening-party joined in the old streets and sector’s of Ouagadougou.

Then, the children’s goes to school very late in the morning, and then they help’s the family to clean dishes, houses and habits. They plays with poor’s materials (they love football of course), but a lot of them have to work hard to help the family (it’s easy to see them to hang hand-carts, to do mongering peddling or to manage caravan of cow or donkeys). It’s impossible fill up the blog with all photos that I would show you, but very soon I will publish other’s one of course. At least I want’s just to mention the orphans that walk in the street of Ouaga with a little tin. They stayed near the client’s table of restaurant’s and wait patiently to peak or “sweep up” residue of food to the plat’s of the clients. Also this is Ouaga, here poverty is very very developed, but thank’s at Association as Dunia la vie children’s can take care of them and find a place to start dream again…

In one of the photos you can see the future artist’s of Mjca, the childrens whom I'm preparing a musical to play in tournèe at Ouagadougou. They listens with attention the precious recommends of our mentor Yasmina Badolo, my tutor and President of Mjca..

Then, bill fu (see you soon), and take care!

Joy- Cristina

life at ouaga2

2010-06-28T14:24:00.004Z

LIFE IN MAUN

2010-06-28T09:24:00.002Z

Dumela volunteers around Africa-Europe !!!

Le kae ( how are you) !!!!

Finally the winter start!!!! but only it's cold during mornings and evenings!!!!

My life in Maun during this five months it's really great!!! I'm so happy to participate in this amazing project. I had the opportunity to a met the Batswana people, the culture, the language ( unfortunately i can't speak fluently) and the gastronomy !!!!!!! I love pap, seswa, magwinya,... you know perfectly Matshi and Janet what i'm talking!!!!!

Maun is a special place, in the middle of the bush. Here you can find people around the world, is the most important place of safaris in southern africa and there are a lot of people to try to find a job here !!! Most people told me this place is unique and now I understand for what, you need to come and discover for what reason!!!!!!

This place is a litlle United Nations !!!! Is a contrast between the modern and traditional life in this country.

I have the opportunity to work with kids in the schools, it is really amazing!!!!! They learn me a lot about lifeskills, is a kind university of life.

My first Globalito for June is that!!!! I will continue to explain my life, comunity, friends in the nexts months

I want to add some pictures
Take care and enjoying your life !!!!

Tsala Sentle
Biel Martínez Lorca

2010-06-21T11:22:00.004Z

Hello to everybody my dear volunteers.
I hope that all takes place well some is the place where you are; and I hope that to gather in to you a lot of enormous experience.
I from my part it is a beautiful and big experience and I consider this year, a light year for me, and I do not know if I would have this opportunity in the future but above all I gives thanks to God for every these experience which I lives.
What a big pleasure to live in another world, other culture and other lifestyle!

France occupies the eighth row world with regard to the indication of the human developpment compared with the Burkina Faso which is the last one. French does not stop complaining for the life professional. Very individualistic they worry only in their own problem, here, inFrance it is each in sound eachand it is necessary to adapt it self has their behavior.
The city in which I live counts a population of 15000 inhabitants, very modern city in the which is organized several cultural and sport events of the region.

Quits recently in this june is organized the music festival, a party conscript called "échappée belle". All these events are moment very friedly for the inhabitants of the city.
To finish june was a little bit difficult for me because I was at the hospital and I underwent a surgical operation but to day I'm very well.

2010-06-03T09:11:00.000Z

Blue skies

BARCELONA!!!!!

2010-06-03T08:13:00.002Z

Niaje waseeee!!!,

So finally am writting!! Barcelona has been keeping me busy trying to see understand and now put in to words the reality of th eworld around me!! What a city, so many beautiful works of art, I think the city itself is a work of art! so much to see and so much to learn.Well my work has started but with so many ideas and so much inspiration its overwhelming!!Well here is to all of you volunteers, your work, hopes and dreams!!

conte+burkinabais

2010-05-19T13:54:00.001Z

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EVS France 2010

2010-05-19T08:31:00.002Z

Hello, to everybody! you had the greetings of Modeste since France. It's with pleasure that i inform you about my news. Then after two workweeks with the young people during Easter holidays (from 19 till 30 april). The animators of my structure and I, we had been able to realize a show(entertainment) of tale, of dance and percussion in the tour(ballot) of an african tale what give this result we had to film. See this link...

Then i was in the seminar of traning of the volunteers in France from 30 till 06 may in Montpellier at the edge of the Mediterranean sea called "seminar on arrival" whith 27 volunteers come from various countries in the world.
Throughtout this seminar many many subjects were detailed to us on the voluntary service generally.
I assure you that it was a strong time time for everything the volunteers one lived one time of userfriendliness (conviviality), of sharing and learning( apprenticeship) of the other cultures. Here is the video about our formation in Montpellier in mai 2010. Shall see you what we lived together...

2010-05-18T13:51:00.005Z

Dumela Rra/ Mma
Le kae!!! ( How are you )
This language is Setswana, from Botswana, the country of Janet and Matshi !!!!!!
I'm in Maun, the little village in northwest of Botswana. Is the most famous place of Safaris in Africa!!!!
My time here is great and now in this days start winter !!!! Some people told me in June Maun it's so really freeze!!!
In this three months I did a lot of differents things but I haven't got time or space for explain all!!! Im working with kids in the schools, we do it differents clubs about HIV-AIDS and sexual education!!! I shooting different videos for that NGO about HIV, the impact of migration to the families,...
My life here it's so really diferrent than in my country, but I like it because is quite and relaxing !!! The people it's so relly friendly, and with some friends every weekend we organize some dinners, a kind of intercultural nights!!!!
I want to sharing with you some pictures about my work here
This blog is a great idea!!!! and it's so really important to sharing our experiences, life in the differents 8 countries.

See you soon people!!!!
tsamaya sentle

Biel Martínez Lorca.

2010-05-14T16:18:00.000Z

Hola euroafrican friends!!
Sa ka ramba????!!! (How are you??!!)
Hi from Cristina and all sector 19 of Ouagadougou!!
Here time is great. I still didn’t understand the reason why the “europeen people” talk a lot about Africa just in terms of economy, poverty, lack of money, need of charity or opportunity to gain profit, etc.. Yes, this is true, the economy and the capitalism is not developed as in “Occident”, (maybe this s not totally a pity), but in terms of culture, good mood and habits, the Burkina Faso is a land rich, precious. Also from the point of view of the protection of cultural roots and tradition, the solidarity, the friendship among the people (also with the “White nassara”), I really think that they are more developed than us.
Well, today I wants to introduce you the activity of Mjca named “Parascolaire”. There are a lot of professionist and animators involved in this Project: sometimes the children have the chance to meet artist of theatre, and also griots and storytellers. The activities are always introduced by a session improvised by musicians and animators of Mjca (djimbè, singers, dans). In the 2nd and 3rd photoes below you can see my friends Jah Ahmad and Bovard: they entertein well the children with their crazy marionettes, djimbè, African songs and acrobats. Then, there is a time for amusement and to have fun for the children, but also to learn and to do “sensibilisation”!! This is the reason why Mjca is always busy to promote social theme as “The journèe mondial du paludisme”. The volunteers organised a petit show to sensibilise the population about the malaria (it’is more developed here). We also gaved out to public the brochure with info and contact with the medical facilities. In the 1rd photo below you can see my friends Safi, Margot, Madame Rabot (they travel for Mjca), and then Jasmina Badolo, my tutor and president of the association Dunia la vie. Last but not least my friend Denis and me went often to local schools to promote activities of Mjca, and… what a surprise!! We had the chance to attend the “journèe of defilèe”. So in this festivity the schoolchildrens have the chance to dress in traditional habits of the different ethnie burkinabè (Mossi, Bissa, Gourounssi, Peull, etc)... What you see in the last foto is a dress of “Mossi people”, the ethnie more common at Ouagadougou.

2010-05-14T16:03:00.004Z

2010-05-14T15:15:00.001Z

Here we are, me and my super super friend Alino: we drink from the calibass, the traditional cup burkinabè..
Now for me it’s time to go ‘cause here the travel here goes on, and on…
Cheers and wend sik lafi!!
cristina

Todo corre bem

2010-05-10T11:02:00.004Z

hello Everone from Matshidiso in Portugal,todo corre bem,that means everything is going well,im having such a great time.We had the intercultural party wich was wonderfull,then visited a place called Sintra which was such fun and we got to visit old palaces and see how royalty used to live in Portugal.There was Fado night when we went to listen to Portuguese singers and so many other things,visit around Lisbon and visit to a theater.Ok let me not make anyone jealous. I am now able to get around on my own which is a great accoumplishement since i was so worried about it because the transport system here is different from the one in Botswana. I must say im still not satisfied with the weather,i cant wait till its very hot and no rain whatsoever. Its been two weeks since i officially started work. Portuguese classes just ended and now the challenge begins for me to practice. I am so sorry i still dont have photos for you but promise to post them in a week´s time.

2010-04-29T20:55:00.008Z

Other photoes from Ouagadougou...

_cristina_

2010-04-29T18:58:00.005Z

Hi everybody of the Euroafrican Project!!

Salut from Ouagadougou, MJCA-DUNIA LA VIE!

Here time is great. As I say you yet, the travel run fast, the volunteer are every day very busy, ‘cause the cultural activities here go on and on, and on..

Two weeks ago Dunia la vie welcomed a Troup of French artist that played a spectacle of cabaret-cirque: les Magiciens du monde. So as you I saw you yet, here cultural exchange between artist and volunteers europeen-african are played frequently. This is the precious richness of MJCA.

A webpage is not enough to list all new activities promotes this month by the animators of MJCA(theatre, storytellers, debates, cirque, cultural exchange). Next day I will show you more photos of this wonderful socio-cultural community.

Now I wants to introduce the Troup Zhe Tuwa, a collectif of great percussionist and dancer burkinabè (Ali, one of the component of the troup is a cool animators of MJCA as you see in the foto with two children). They are are born in a small village de l’etnie Gourounssi, au Sanguie à Reo, Burkina Faso. You can find more information on the blog of the association Dunia la vie.

dunialavie.burkina.free.fr

The Troup gained the first Prix de la SNC, a great national Festival played at Bobo Dioulasso. Then they travelled and performed also in Europe, France (Loire). Now it’s time that they came also in Italy, isn’t it? Than if you are interested you can contact the web of Dunia la vie, or this adress mail: ali.bado85@yahoo.fr ,and very soon The troup will open a URL on Myspace; I will give yoou more news next month.

En mars 2010 they opened the ceremony of inauguration of “FITD 2010” a very important International Festival of Theatre played at Ouagadougou (www.atb.bf). I would show you that video today, but i have a lot of problem with the internet connection. Next days I gotta find the way to show you more video; so in this way you can really understand what kind of professionist travel for Mjca:

Now a special super thanks to Yasmina Badolo, Emiliano Bon and David Tonon that gave me the chance to live this wonderful dream here at Ouagadougou:)

Good luck and Bill fu at all volunteers of Euroafrican Project, and especially to Modeste at Bordeaux!

Cheers from Cristina

2010-04-17T19:54:00.002Z

Hello everybody. Bonjour à tous...
I think everyone is well. During the holidays of february i worked with the young people on the particular animation the percussion, the dance and the song African. The animation that are spent well but at the beginning i assisted the progress of the animation in the France culture which impressed a lot of me and which is completely different from the culture of Burkina Faso. Here in French the right (law) of the child is very to respect what gives (certain) authority to the young people to choose in their appropriate (clean) distraction? The animation are governed in the French law of the presence of the cultural center and the leisure where take place our animation.
I consider that he (it) will be very difficult has a country for the Burkina to live a life as the French otherwise even. The young french people "crunch (outline) the life which beautiful tooth". The young are very civilized in animation there and view (sight) of the professionalism of the presenters i think that in term of the animation i would have an experience beautiful during this project and to have also a relation whith the other structure who are in relationship with the Burkina.
Now i (prepare) the holidays fellow man who is from 19 till 30 april and during these holidays i shall participate more as presenter (driving force) and it resume in my personal project of my voluntary service. All 1st week long i shall make of percussion the singing, the tale, and the african's dance. And on wednesday of the city to live with African rhythm.
From april 30th till May 6th i shall go participated has a voluntary meeting of the young people in France in a city of the country (Montpellier).
To end i wish you all discovery and of acquisition during the voluntary service. Good bye...

2010-04-16T20:53:00.004Z

My Economics classes are going from strength to spare! I found that I can fly over everything I have learned over thousands of years and bring key concepts in a very practical and accessible to most interested Kenyan heads. My classes have a rigid structure, but is effective. I'm almost at the level of those pills that make you lose 20kg in 20 days! I undertake to teach economic principles that seem essential to awaken critical thinking in 3 days (2 hours per day). And you know the funny thing? IT WORKS! Thanks to colors, permanent interaction, technical simplification and repetition syrup Marian puts in a little bottle the old pills!

# Class1: BASIC CONCEPTS #

Demand

Supply

Market

Stock Markets, Goods & Services, Foreign Exchange and Credit Markets

Indicators: Inflation, Exchange Rate, Interest Rate and stock value Market Failure and Redistribution

Economic policies (financial and fiscal)

# Class2: REALITY #

Reviews and inquiries

Calculation of Inflation and numbers

Interpretation of the interest rate and numbers

Interpretation of the rate of Interest

Speculation and Arbitrage GDP

Cycles, Recession and Expansion

The crash of 1929

The subprime crisis

# Class3: ECONOMIC PRACTICE#

Reviews and Questions

Interpretation of the "National Plan for Development"

Basic Accounting

The parliament of the people is an area of Nairobi created by and for the community where people meet to exchange views on the state of Kenyan politics. It is open to the general public, mostly consisting of men and has no certain time, only local (Jevengi Garden). My organization is a platform for organizations - the "parliament of the people" is part of KENGO as an institution.

Starting the work

2010-04-14T05:56:00.003Z

Hello,

Wow!

Finally y work is starting!

My main project has to do with tranning youth and provide them with knowladge on the national budget so that we can built proposals toghether for the 2010/2011 document.

I also have finish the draft of the pesonal project! Please take a look at it here:

http://amihnoquenia.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/informal_house_market_and_conflicts.pdf

I'm letting you with some movies. The first one was shot on a weekend near Nairobi, the Second one in a slum and the third one in a city called Kisumu, right next to Lake Victoria. My times in Kenya have been hard but with a lot of coulours and good surprises in the way.

Ola

2010-04-05T13:32:00.002Z

Ola everyone from me Matshidiso,i am finally in Portugal and it has been more than a week here.This place is beautiful i love it already.I have a great family here at Rota Jovem and they have been taking good care of me and making sure my transition here is smooth.i was so excited to finally get here after such a long struggle and now that i am here reality is sinking in,physically i am settling in well but emotionally it is challenging.Being so far away from home,the people i love and all that is famialar to me is a bit hard on me emotionally,that is why i am glad i have more time here to adapt.im trying to get used to the cold since in Botswana it was summer.i love the food,buildings and mostly the people and learning the language.my on arrival training starts in a two days so i am excited.i will keep you all posted.

Laia from Louga, two months later

2010-04-01T20:22:00.003Z

saalamalekum

..how beautiful stories are read by here, and even more how smiles on the few people who write them, eh!?

Our adventure began more than two months ago ... that's crazy!
Man yaaq na fii naari weer, two months in Louga!

And how quickly all it happens, at the same time that many things happen in so little time ;) Every day I feel that multiculturalism reaches deeper levels, I know better Wolof, and that means not only that I can communicate and express myself better but the most important thing is that I can understand more of what is happening around me. It’s as if few doors had been opened, showing, allowing me to see inside.

For me it is not so much as the fact to uncover a secret but the fact to guess a riddle with which you can then laugh sharing the solution with the person who approach it to yow.
Here in Louga I’m really feeling it. When I find a key (which may be a word or expression, or a way to do something...) and then I ask "well then here is it ...? " Or maybe I say nothing but I implement some point in my action, then the responses, the effects, are always complicity surprised faces, smiles, laughs, laughter and " ahaaaaaaaa, yow, yow xam nga eh?! Tu connais bien toi, eh?!” And more laughs! Here, people are always willing to tell you how things are here, how things are lived, how they do this and that and that... I feel it like a very rich learning and I really enjoy it every day.

During these two months, my work experience has focused on the tourist village of FESFOP, my first experience in this field. So I can not figure what I have learned about responsible tourism, tourism management, accounting management, bla bla bla … but if I must to stay the most relevant of all of them, undoubtedly I would say the initiation into the "work in Wolof mind", it seems I’ve approached the concept of “the work” here, the way they work, how they feel and live it. A great lesson! When I see the way they take the time, their concepts such as efficiency, effectiveness, probability ... then I see also mine, my way to work, my concepts, what I’ve learned in my life until now… And certainly I show it just because I do like this.

I thought about the bilingual dictionaries,

and all the side effects can have…
Our “work” really not seems the same of their “work”

Then, I’ve seen the challenge: work team going together to the balance, to the adaptation for find the point where maximum good is made. It is an amazing (and not so easy) experiment!
The other volunteers, are you also feeling these differences and experimenting with them? What are your feelings on this?

My best wishes to euroafrican team!
Long live interculturalism!

Jamm ak jam

Laia Pibernat to Louga

The Great Janet in Italy

2010-03-16T16:05:00.003Z

Ciao everyone out there. Guess what? I arrieved safely in Italy particulary Padova via Guardı no 12 my home. Guys i want to be fair Italy is good and the food is superup i have settled in quite well. I meet my tutor Emiliano and the the rest of Xena staff they are cool. I meet the tutor from Mimosa called Roberta, but i have not yet started because i am still doing my Italian course.Posso parlare un po'Italiano,allora,ci vediamo,ciaooo :)

Dumela Rra / Mma

2010-03-04T11:58:00.002Z

Hello everybody!!!!! How are your days in Europe and Africa!!!!

In Maun it well but it's so hot, because now it's summer!!!

I've started to work with youth in public schools!!! for me it's a great experience and I learn a lot !!!!

I send a picture to Zhie, she's my mentor!!!!!!

Bye Bye

2010-02-19T12:17:00.002Z

This is the activities of animation made by Aristid and Madame Awa, two great animators and professionist of storytellers de Dunia la vie, Burkina;
http://dunialavie.burkina.free.fr/guppydunia/index.php?lng=fr
Cristina

2010-02-19T12:13:00.000Z

2010-02-19T12:05:00.001Z

Holaaa, laa fi!!
I find a good cybercafé next my house (in the sector 19, where is located the association Dunia la vie), and finally I can give you more news from Ouagadougou. I arrived here just 2 weeks ago, and up to now there are 2 things that impressed me so much: the welcome of the inhabitants towards the strangers and to the nassara (white people), and the wonderful organisation and competence of all professionals and volunteer of Mjca (House of young people, culture and associations). They give the best they can to reach their aim: to give to young people who live here all that is necessary to grow up the better as possible. Dunia la vie is a no profit association, and there are a lot of activities here, fundamental for the inhabitants of the suburbs: the Library (with Athalie et Delphine); l’Etude libre, where young people can study even in the late evening with the help of Dianda et Denis. Then there are cultural activities and debate, discussion about topical matters avec Monsieur David, the Permanence sociale avec Safi, that take care of families in disease (for the health, the studies, etc..). Then there are laboratory of dance, theatre, traditional tales managed by Aristide and Ali, deux great performers burkinabè. Next time I’m going to describe you better all activities made by Dunia la vie, and there are a lot!!
Now I just can say that here I’m going to learn more than I ever thought, especially from the human point of wiev; yet they give me a fantastic baggage of cultural and professional skill. For more informations you can also see the web of Dunia, it’s really really worth while!!
www.
Cheers to all volunteers of Euroafrican Project, and a super super kiss to Italy
CristinaJ

Dumela-Oi-Ciao volunteers

2010-02-15T15:27:00.003Z

The three wonderful volunteers Janet, Matshidiso and Biel in Botswana (Maun)

Ciao everybody

2010-02-15T15:00:00.002Z

Hello everybody out there!!!!

It is a great privilege for me to introduce myself. My name is Janet Gadzanani Mahumba, I am a female of 28 years old. Guess what? I am easy going and hard working in every activity that i find myself involved in. I have volunteered for the Youth Council in Botswana, YWCA and also for a christian pre-school. I am eager and excited about going to Italy i believe this is a great opportunity for me to learn, explorer and experience. I believe this is an opportunity that comes ones in a life time so i WILL GIVE IT MY BEST.

Ciao

Oi everyone

2010-02-15T14:11:00.002Z

Oi everyone i am Matshidiso Precious Pelotshweu

I am 24 years old and i am from Botswana. I have been doing my bachelor of arts degree in Psychology and English from the University of Botswana during which i have done voluntary work at places like Botswana Baylor Children´s Clinical Centre of excellence. I am so excited to be starting this great adventure and i am ready to learn from the people of Portugal and offer them my services too.Hopefully they will learn a lot from me too.I have never been out of the African continent so that in itself in nerve-wrecking yet exciting.I am so grateful for this wonderful opportunity to experience Europe.

2010-02-10T18:03:00.006Z

Hello everybody, Bonjour, Ni yiibeogo

I come to give you some news. . In France all is great. It is difficult to describe all the emotion I’m living at the present time in Bordeaux. It’s very fantastic to me because my daily life is stronger than I believed. Today except my skin color I am more European than African. Thanks to my tutor Samuel who takes care of me and changes myself. In the organisation with the team workers and youth workers, I’m very happy in this project and I know I will learn many things. Next to the organisation there is a public library, a cinema where I spend my free time. Also, I share my house with a Venezuelan trainee Miguel (who benefited from an EVS here in 2007), he stays in France for his end studies. Thanks to him I discovered lot of European and South America recipes. Moreover this Saturday I participated in his cooking workshop within an adult activity of the organisation and it was very funny. In April it will be my time to share my African cooking culture especially from Burkina. In the organisation I learn to use computer, internet. In Burkina it’s a bit expensive to learn it but now I’m more and more self confident with this… and as you can read now I’m learning English!!!
I wish you the best in this wonderful experience. See you.

News from Mariana, in Kenya

2010-02-03T20:26:00.003Z

Hi everyone...this is my 8th day in Kenya and I cannot yet describe all the feelings I've been through. The clime, the environment, the beautiful colours, everything is different and I'm still digesting it.
The first days were the most difficult. I jumped directly from Porto to Kibera, a complex area from Nairobi, and my daily life immediately started to change. getting used to the food, the language (a part from English the main language is Kiswahili) the habits of the family who received me, were the first big challanges.
Now I'm living with Wangui Mbatia, my coordinator from Kengo. I've been getting more inside the projects of the organisation and trying to adjust myself as better as I can.
Hope to hear from you soon,

Mariana

Laia from Barcelona (Catalonia) to Louga (Senegal)

2010-02-02T12:13:00.002Z

Bon dia a tothom! Hellow everybody !
Salaam malekum !

I’m Laia, the volunteer from Barcelona who’s traveling to Senegal.
I was born in Catalonia the 2nd July 1985, but it is just a coincidence, one random fact…;)
I could also be called Mame Diarra and be born in Senegal 24 years ago. I’m arrived the last week in this crazy colored country and once again I feel at home. The country of the Teranga, as the Senegal open and warm hospitality is called by the Senegalese people.

The first days at work with FESFOP (Festival International de Folklore et des Percussions de Louga) have been so grateful! As Modeste said in his rapport, I also enjoy by the reception, by the meeting of the FESFOP team.. I’m just start feeling all we can share and learn together, and it makes me feel so so happy to be in this big EVS project inside Globa-l-inks network!!
As Cristina said, now it’s the moment to learn new fantastical languages, Mooré in Burkina, Wolof in Senegal. And it is not just the language but it is all around the language... the crossing salutations in the streets, great dealing in the market, friendly dealing with the calesh’ boys (donkey carts’ driver), …

The adventure has just begun…!
The best wishes from Senegal to all of you, EuroAfrican-EVS team!!
Jamm ak jamm!

Laia

…wuàla Mame Diarra… ;)

2010-01-31T17:39:00.003Z

laa fibé! salut! ciao!
I arrived at ouaga just a week ago. now I can understand the reson why who came here in Africa for first time can t spend a long time without come back again. It s a flashing experience; the landscape, the colours are very different from ours. for sure I will come back in Italy more rich as I ever thought. from the 1st moment I had a great welcome from my tutor Yasmina, Ablaissé, David, Sandrina, Norbert and all burkinabé I met. I have a strong feeling that here cultural differences are considerated important resources, not a problem. This is a very very important thing, an important teaching. People who works at Dunia la vie are very nice and helpful; this is the reason why it's not so much hard to be far from family and friends. Here cultural exchange are welcome, and I think I' m gonna learn a lot of great things from all of them. First days I had to face a bit of pratical difficult to adjust in in a new place. As normal there are some differences between us and burkinabé, but less than I expected. This is the first prejudice that we broke down:)
Now I'm gonna learn how to speak mooré, so I say you again Laa fibé!
I give your more news and maybe some photos next days.
A bientot!!!
Cristina

2010-01-29T10:46:00.005Z

Hello everybody,
My name is Modeste Goumbani, i was born in Burkina Faso on 24th february of 1984. I'm 26. I'm study right in Burkina. There is problems with the study so i have chose to work in association field. I'm a member of the association "Dunia-la-vie". This project is very important for me because it allow me to learn and share experiences in other continent of Africa. After few days in France, i'm enjoy by the reception. Now i'm in Bordeaux, i'm working to the ABC association which is a MJC ( house of young and culture )in Blanquefort.

I began to visit the town of Bordeaux and I think that it incomparable to Burkina Faso.
Thank you for the opportunity to be here, so thank to Globalink project for the think of people of Burkina Faso.
I wish you so lucky and courage.

2010-01-25T10:23:00.001Z

Hola!
I'm Cristina from Italy. As Biel I studied cinema and art history in the university. I like juggling, theater, but above all I have a deep love for african continent. This is the reason why I choose this project.
I'm going to Burkina Faso, in the association Mjca, Dunia la vie.
I will give you more news from Africa next days.. I'm happy to share my experiences with all of you.
Now wish you a very very cool trip!
Bye:)
Cristina

2010-01-25T10:22:00.002Z

Hello everybody!!!!

I'm Biel, from Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain)
I have 23 years old, and Im study cinema and art history in the university.

I'm so really happy , because this project start in a few days.
And It's a great opportunity to sharing this blog with the people of the project EUROAFRICAN

Im going to botswana (Maun) in 29 of Janauary!!!

Wish everybody a nice trip, and you will be happy!!!!

Hugs and bye bye ( adèu- in catalan)
Biel.

2010-01-25T10:12:00.002Z

Hello!
How do we say hi in Setswana? :D...

Let me start with a small introduction. I'm Mariana from Portugal.My hometown is Porto, I have 23 years old and wish to studdy the roots of Economic Development, that's why I chose this project.

By now my bags are packed and my arms open to embrace a complete new experience!

Wish everybody a nice trip.

Hugs
Mariana (My friends call me Mih)

Euroafrica interactive map

2010-01-21T15:15:00.002Z

Welcome to the EuroAfrican voluntary service 2010!

2010-01-17T11:07:00.008Z

Dear volunteers,

I wish you to enjoy this space of sharing, exchange, discussion, learning and fun. It will be a blog where you are invited to share the experiences of your project, stories in different languages, images of colours, tastes and smells you discover, issues you like to discuss among you or with other interested people in the world.
It is a space for you but, first of all, it will be created by you!
Also the actual structure is just provisional, so we invite you to propose changes and decide together how you want to shape your common space.

I wish you a rich, fruitful and unique experience.
And let's keep in touch :)

Davide Tonon
Coordinator of the EuroAfrican Voluntary Service project