Photovoice - using photography to advocate for gainful educational attainment for girls in northern Nigeria

By Badriyya Yusuf, 2nd Year MDP student

I am undergoing my practicum with the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative (IWEI), a local NGO in Kano State, northern Nigeria. We are collaborating on the organization's Safe Space Clubs program which is an intervention designed to retain the girl-child in school - at least, up to grade SS3 (equivalent to grade 12). The program entails providing 98 secondary school girls in different rural areas with a forum in which to meet  and discuss their challenges and opportunities. Training is provided on human rights advocacy and issues such as water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), maternal and child health and nutrition are also introduced.

For my practicum, we decided to focus specifically on using Photovoice as a research method. Photovoice is a form of participatory action research which involves community building and dialogue through photography (Wang, 2006). Fifteen schoolgirls aged between 13-16 from three different rural areas were selected as participants in a 10 week project. The objective is to enable them to take pictures using digital cameras, of their perceptions of challenges and opportunities to gainful education and to advocate for their rights. Interestingly, none of them have ever held a camera before - really! There has been much enthusiasm, particularly on the workshop session when they were introduced to cameras. Who'd have known that a zoom lens could be such a fascination!! 

Badriyya (2nd from R) explaining Photovoice to participants

Our first few sessions of the project were centered around orienting the students to its specifics, and the rules of Photovoice - informed consent of the person to be photographed, how to use and care for a camera, time frames and expectations etc.

We've received overwhelming support from the community as all duty bearers and stakeholders were involved in the process - all but 2 of the girls have been attending workshop sessions. We found out that the absentees were denied participation by their brother. In a patriarchal society such as mine, this is unfortunately, not unusual. The unquestioned ability of a male figure to dictate the livelihood of a female child, sibling or spouse was among the main obstacles to education identified by the girls during our focus group discussions. This is evidenced by the high rates of early marriages in the region where 48% of girls are married by the age of 15 (UNFPA.org). For many of the girls, the pursuit of education dies when they get married.

As it stands at the moment, the girls have been given full possession of the cameras for the next few days. I eagerly await the pictures our rookies will produce.

                             

Africa in Northern Canada

By Douglas Baba, 2nd year MDP student

                           

Douglas (L) & fellow MDP student Naomi Gichungu (R)

My Canadian field placement took me to a town in Northern Canada which is a popular international tourist destination called Churchill. Generally, the ways of living in western societies is far different from Africa where I hail from - the communal versus the individualistic way of life. 

Fort Churchill Cairn

Churchill started as a  trading post in the 1700s and the fort in the town will remind every Ghanaian who visits of the numerous forts and castles dotted along the coast of Ghana from as far back as the 15th Century when the various European powers started arriving in Africa. The historical nature of Churchill and as a polar bear and beluga whale centre of the world makes it a very attractive place to visit. However, not many Canadians can afford to visit there due to the expensive nature of airfare which is pretty much the same fare as going to Ghana or any other African country from Canada. 

My five day stay there gave me the sense of feeling that I was in a typical African community or town where  everyone knows each other, the friendly and smiling nature of the people, and exchanging greetings. Shockingly, I also saws children selling fruit drinks on the street which I was compelled to buy some not for the taste of it necessarily but for the feeling of showing that I was in Ghana buying roasted corn or plantain from children in the street.  At the health centre, I unimaginably saw some children giving way for an adult man to pass before they entered the door. This is a typical way of how African children show respect for the aged and the elderly in the society.

At the hotel where I slept, the owner, John was so nice that we would sit together in his dining room to have breakfast together and in one morning I accidentally spilled corn flakes on the floor, he jokingly said "Douglas you will have to pay $3 dollars." The memories of this trip to Churchill and the opportunities the MDP field placement has created for me will continue to linger forever.

Farewell, Botswana

By Alison Everitt, 2nd year MDP student

CEYOHO's Basha Youth Center in Tlokweng

I am now finishing my ninth week with CEYOHO in Gaborone, Botswana and getting ready to head home to Canada. During my time with CEYOHO my work has mainly focused on ensuring the sustainability of the organization. Like many small NGOs, CEYOHO is largely dependent on outside funding for specific projects and initiatives. As a result, there is limited funding available for the day-to-day work of the organization. In an effort to become more sustainable in the area of resource mobilization, my work has been mainly focused on finding long term, ongoing, donors and funders. 

One project that I have been working on in particular is the “Friends of CEYOHO” initiative in which we are looking for donors in the community and internationally who would be willing to donate time, resources, and funds on a regular basis. While it is always challenging to work in the area of resource mobilization, my time at CEYOHO has given me the opportunity to learn a lot from the people I work with and to better understand the issues of funding that small organizations face every day.

At CEYOHO I have been very fortunate to work with some truly wonderful people. They are always happy to take the time to answer my questions and to invite me to participate at different events and workshops that give me a better understanding of the HIV/AIDS sector in Botswana. I’ve had the opportunity to attend national workshops and to participate in community-level trainings and events – all of which have given me an invaluable experience that will greatly benefit me in my future.

Madikwe Nature Reserve in South Africa

While being in Botswana I’ve also had the opportunity to travel and see many of the amazing sights that southern Africa has to offer. From driving to Johannesburg (terrifying) to traveling around Cape Town (breathtaking) I have been able to see so many beautiful sights that I would not have been able to, were it not for this placement. In my last few weeks I will be traveling up north to Kasane – which I am told is the best place in the world to safari – and to Victoria Falls. I can’t wait!

Thank you to CEYOHO and WUSC for bringing me on this incredible journey – it is one that I know I’ll never forget!

From Mountains to Lakes: Learning Development in Nepal

By Naomi Happychuk, 2nd year MDP student

After an eventful and enriching three months, I am now in my final week of my MDP practicum placement in Nepal. In Jumla I conducted a study on changes in food habits and the value of dietary diversity, with the help of my LIBIRD companions, Epsha and Laxmi. It was an incredible and enlightening experience, conducting eight FGDs (Focus Groups Discussions) in four communities of the district, and learning about the lives, and particularly the food habits, of people in this mountainous region of Nepal.

 

Naomi in FGD with farmers in Depalgaun, Jumla

We often walked for hours to meet with community members and once we were up at 5am, making roti out of local millet flour to bring for a kaaja. I learned much about the complexity of the food system and the challenges of access and availability of both local and imported foods in Jumla, as well as the persistent habits which influence people’s diets.

I also got the opportunity to take a six day hike to Rara Lake, the largest lake in Nepal, and get a greater understanding of how people live far from the main bazaar area. I came back limping in agony from the steep climbs, but with a new appreciation for the people of Jumla.

 

Hiking to Rara Lake with another student and her research assistant

Just last week, after a 30 minute walk in the heat with my ginormous bag, a confusing and hectic departure from the Jumla airport, a 15 hour local night bus, and an early morning taxi ride, I was back at the hotel in Pokhara. It was heavenly to have cold drinks, hot showers, and so many tasty foods! I was also shocked by the number of people who could speak English, and by the intense heat and humidity that developed since I had left. 

Not long after arriving I left to conduct another study around Rupa Lake, just 45 minutes outside of the city. This time I was conducting FGDs with locals involved in community-based management of the watershed, particularly looking at how it was including and impacting women. It was very interesting learning about the support and benefits that women have acquired from being in cooperatives and women’s groups involved in management of the watershed, but also the challenges and barriers they continue to face regarding gender equality. The area is very beautiful and I was lucky to enjoy a good share of fresh fish from the lake!

Rupa Lake

This week I will be presenting my findings from both studies to the staff and executive directors of LIBIRD and then saying my goodbyes to Nepal. Despite the many mental and physical struggles I had with adjusting to living in a remote area, in very basic living conditions where few people spoke English, I am grateful to have had that experience. I already miss cooking and chatting over dinner with the LIBIRD girls, staring out the balcony and watching the peaceful town in the evenings or gazing at the stars at night, and of course all of the kind and generous people I came to know. I have learned so much this summer, about the challenges and complexity of development, about learning from and connecting with people, and about myself. It was truly the perfect way to apply and reflect on all the knowledge gained from my years in the MDP program.

Final Reflections from Inari

By Lisa Dixon, 2nd year MDP student

I am in the final week of my international field placement and it’s hard to believe that in a few short days I will be leaving Inari.  Reflecting on my time here, I can say that while the placement was not without its challenges, overall it has been a great experience and I’m grateful I was able to come here and meet many people who allowed me to learn from them and ask unlimited questions!

L-R: Anna Morottaja, Lisa Dixon, Heli Huovinen, Suvi Kivela at the CASLE gathering

As I mentioned in my previous blog, my main project in Inari has been developing the English website for the CASLE program.  The project will continue in the fall with development of several documentaries and other video-based content. My partner and I wish we could of have been involved with some of the video content but we were able to accomplish quite a bit during the ten weeks.  My last night in Inari, we hosted a gathering that reunited students and Language Masters from the CASLE program to give updates on what they were doing since the program ended, in particular how they were using the Inari Sami language in their everyday lives. It also gave Heli and I an opportunity to showcase some of the work we had done on the website.  Although the content was in English and many of the Language Masters don’t speak any English, they seemed quite pleased to have some of the documentaries made during the cultural courses on the website.  We also greatly expanded the section on the Language Masters to include a biography, photograph, and an edited audio clip of them speaking Inari Sami. 

Mortensnes, Norway

Lisa presenting at Sacred Sites conference

 

Since my last blog post, things have been very busy.  At the end of May, I was able to go to Norway for a two-day trip with the Inari Sami Language Program. Inari is not very far from the Norwegian border but it has an incredibly different landscape, with mountains and water everywhere.  We went to museums and visited some beautiful sites on our whirlwind trip!

Inari was the host of a three-day conference on Sacred Sites and Culturally Important Landscapes in the middle of June.  There were Indigenous peoples from Canada, the U.S., Finland, and Russia involved in the conference as well as researchers from all over Europe.  The conference was an amazing learning experience and I was able to meet some great people doing some really important work.  I was also able to give a short presentation on the topic of Indigenous language in Canada and our program and the response was quite positive!

Blue Quills First Nations College and Permaculture

By Dulce Maria Gonzalez Ramirez, 2nd year MDP Student

“Hunger in the world is created by man and not by nature”

Sepp Holzer

On my second day of field placement, carrying and transporting over 100 straw bales from one farm to Blue Quills First Nations College (BQFNC) was not just a “good exercise” for that weekend in my mind it is about learning from scratch about the beautiful work of permaculture that we have been doing here, which later will be a food security project. I’m doing my field placement at BQFNC which is the first Native-administered post-secondary education institution serving the needs of seven First Nations and other students from across Canada. I’m amazed with their work, and I have the privilege to be a part of this strong and diligent “peaceful battle” for First Nations education which they have led since the 70’s. In my own experience, working with Michael Hollihn, the Natural Building-Science Apprenticeship Program Coordinator, has been a truly rewarding experience. 

The word permaculture originally referred to "permanent agriculture”, that is to say using multiple crops in the same space in imitation of the diversity of natural ecosystems, and avoiding large stands of single crops. In other words, it emphasizes variety, not uniformity as used in monoculture.

 Positioning straw bales to design the lines of the garden.

For the Blue Quills permaculture program, our work for the first stage is creating a 2 hectare-garden around a natural pond and a forest in about another 2 hectares within the compound of the College. One of the principles of Holzer’s permaculture that I’m learning is finding and managing natural areas for water retention from the rainy seasons and melted snow. The basic idea of having a natural water body is because you need to feed the soil rather than only feeding the plants.  

Close-up of straw bale rows

This year the soil is merely being prepared (oxygenated) and we are planting seeds and trees. Over the winter, the mulch that’s been added will decompose creating natural fertilizer for the plants in the future.

Dulce working on the permaculture garden

The design for the first row (in between the straw bales) is for perennial trees that can give nuts or fruits and will also protect the rest of the plants from the wind. From the second row to the left of the straw bale, seasonal perennial trees and annual plants for veggies and herbs will be planted.

An important aspect of this project is creating terraces or different levels for growing plants and for better control and distribution of water. Similar work can be seen in Asia with rice terraces or in my country, Mexico, with the Chinampa System, an old Mesoamerican agriculture method used mainly before colonization by the Aztecs in the old Valley of Mexico Tenochtitlan. These were “floating gardens” or artificial islands which consisted of rectangular fertile arable land to grow crops on the shallow lake beds, and were separated by channels wide enough for a canoe to pass for transportation.

In general, I have learned that permaculture helps to restore the soil and create food security without hurting Mother Earth, understanding and cooperating with nature rather than attacking it. For instance, monoculture consumes more water while permaculture helps to harvest and keep water, bringing life where different plants and animals live.

This project will need very low man power when all the seeds and plants are growing because chickens, pigs, geese or farm worms, as predators controlling the population of snails, rats or mice, and other animals that can harm the garden, will do the job of weeding the soil and providing manure. Therefore, this eliminates the need for using pesticides or fertilizers.

I’m looking forward to coming back to BQFNC in few years to see the results of my hard work during evenings. Most people in Blue Quills say that whatever they do now will affect the next seven generations. We’re part of a new generation, and by learning and working on this project, we are already impacting the future generations.

Indigenous Development in Kenya

By Stella Rakwach, MDP 2nd Year Student

Stella (L) & Doreen (R) at IIN office

My field placement is in Nairobi, Kenya with frequent visits to indigenous communities in various parts of the country. I am glad my MDP journey is nearing the end with my final practicum halfway done. I have been working together with Margaret (MDP student) at the Indigenous Information Network (IIN), which is an NGO founded in 1996 that is managed by a few professionals with the help of several volunteers/ interns. IIN works with Indigenous People (nomadic pastoralists and hunters and gatherers) in Kenya to provide them with information through the media and Nomadic News Magazine which is published annually. IIN provides information about Indigenous Peoples, their livelihoods, opportunities and challenges they face in relation to development. 

I am enjoying my time here very much, not only am I home, but I have also had the chance to meet family and several friends. There are many activities going on at IIN and everyone has been eager to involve me in various programs and field visits. At the moment IIN has several projects ranging from climate change adaptation, education of girls, human rights, advocacy to environmental issues.

On the way to Narok county

We visited Narok County, home to the Maasai courtesy of IIN’s climate change adaptation project dubbed “Changieni Rasili Mali (CRM)” to attend the project launch. CRM will address illegal logging, charcoal burning and afforestation of Indigenous forests in the Narok region. The CRM launch was part of the World Environment Day (5th June) celebrations whose theme was “raise your voices not the sea level.”   

Girls performing a traditional Maasai dance

The highlight of this trip was getting the opportunity to immerse into the rich culture of the Masaai through art (beautiful handmade beadwork, paintings and colorful fabric) which are sold in various small galleries all over Narok town. It was also interesting to hear the Maasai native language (Maa) spoken and listen to their beautiful songs and dances which was entertaining. Also as part of the climate change programs we attended the annual PACJA (Pan Africa Climate Change Justice Alliance) awards which are held annually to honor journalists all over Africa who excel in reporting on climate change and environmental issues. As part of the awards ceremony several interesting stories were highlighted to show the diverse ways in which African communities were adapting to climate change.

Stella at the launch of the Global Oceans Commissions Report at UNEA

Finally, I also got a chance courtesy of IIN’s Director to attend the first session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) of the United Nations Environment Programme which was held at the UNEP headquarters in Nairobi. The meeting was attended by several participants, including Environment Ministers, Government delegates and representatives of major groups and stakeholders.  The theme of the first session was “Sustainable Development Goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda, including sustainable consumption and production”. The outcome of this discussion and other ongoing discussions will be useful in the formulation of targets and indicators which would succeed the Millennium Development Goals. Also key on the agenda was the discussion on the issue of illegal trade in wildlife, which has had adverse impacts on biodiversity globally.

Kenya help me think of a good title for my blog post?

By Rachel Bach, 2nd year MDP student

Rachel (L) with other interns

Hello! I am completing my second, and final, MDP Field Placement in Nairobi, Kenya this summer at the Population Council (www.popcouncil.org/research/kenya). The Population Council is an international, nonprofit, non-governmental organization that conducts research to address critical health and development issues in more than 50 countries. The Population Council mentors ‘interns’ every summer and this summer I am one of the six international interns completing Reproductive Health projects.

My Project:

My project aims to understand the barriers affecting women’s access to fistula repair in order to inform the design of possible interventions. Obstetric fistula is a maternal health morbidity that persists in the developing world despite its near eradication from the developed world decades ago. Prolonged pressure from obstructed labor damages the tissue between the vagina and bladder and/or rectum leaving her incontinent, trickling urine and/or feces through the vagina. More than 75% of women with obstetric fistula have endured labour that lasted three or more days and unattended obstructed labour may up to seven days.  In most cases, the baby does not survive.

Although obstetric fistula is caused by obstructed labor, it is a condition rooted in poverty, as it predominantly affects marginalized women who lack access to high quality obstetric care.  In settings lacking proper care, fistula can lead to lifelong ostracism, isolation, stigma, and shame.

It is estimated that between 2 and 4 million women and girls currently live with fistula worldwide, with at least 50,000 to 100,000 new cases every year. Fistula is both preventable and treatable, and in recent years various initiatives, campaigns, and programmes have been established to both prevent and repair fistula. However, women experience delays in seeking repair due to a number of factors beginning with a lack of awareness that repair is possible, and if aware, then lacking resources to seek care, and if resources are available, then receiving adequate and appropriate repair by skilled surgical team at a properly equipped facility.

Barriers to health care are a human rights concern and an important challenge of sustainable development. It has been said, “women with fistula are a living indicator of a failed maternal health system”. Strategies and interventions to prevent and repair fistula need to be an integral part of the global- and country-level post-2015 sustainable development agenda. It is an honour to be involved with this project!

Nairobi:

Nairobi National Park

Rachel and a friendly giraffe!

Living in Nairobi has been a lot of fun. I am sharing an apartment with fellow MDP student, Margaret. I brave my way out into the hustle and bustle every morning to take the matatu to work. There are numerous things to see and do on the weekends. Our taxi driver told me that three months is not long enough in Kenya; that I could be here for six months and still see a new thing everyday! He is correct!

In close, I am going to copy an idea I saw on another blog—a Q & A!

SOMETHING I WISH I BROUGHT FROM HOME?

I hate to say it, but my iPhone. Not only do I just miss it but also I realized after that with the right plan I could have used it as a personal hotspot to get wi-fi on my laptop!

WHAT WAKES ME UP ASIDE FROM MY ALARM CLOCK?

There is a pesky mosquito that hides in my room. It buzzes by my ear but I can’t seem to kill it. Even if I get up and turn on the light, it flies up too high for me to reach and disappears. I hate that mosquito.

GUILTY PLEASURE?

Lattes! At home I am a tea drinker, but the coffee is delicious here and I have apparently starting drinking lattes… regularly—don’t even need sugar!

SCARY MOMENT?

I was almost run over by a boda boda (motorcycle taxi). I was crossing the street… it seemed safe because the cars were actually all stopped, but then the boda boda came out from behind a truck, along the shoulder right as I was about to step out!

WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARD?

A lady took pity on me and walked me most of the way home. Every time we crossed a street after that she would hold on to my arm and usher me across. Oh but I must confess, I have since taken a boda boda to work—so much faster than the matatu!

BEST THING YOU ARE GOING TO BRING BACK HOME?

Memories! Oh and also… jewelry...

EPIPHANY?

I have had a learner’s license for 11 years. Driving has always made me anxious. However, after being here and see the driving… the driving at home seems a lot calmer. I am also becoming quite the bold pedestrian. Just the other day as I was maneuvering my way through 4 lanes of traffic I thought to myself, if I can do this I’m sure I can drive at home!

TWEET OF ADVICE?

Way back at our MDP orientation in Fisher River, Joe Stern gave us my favourite piece of advice that has certainly proven true—to always approach our development work with humility, optimism, and respect.

More updates at: http://rachyluu.tumblr.com