Large-leaved and many-footed shadowing,
What god rules over Africa, what shape,
What avuncular cloud-man beamier than spears?
Wallace Stevens, "The Greenest Continent"
What god rules over Africa, what shape,
What avuncular cloud-man beamier than spears?
Wallace Stevens, "The Greenest Continent"
Greetings!
Thought I'd post a few pictures of our December 1st World AIDS Day event which I organized in conjunction with Diabo's lycée (high school). We started the day off with a foot race followed by a sensibilisation (educational lecture) on HIV/AIDS facilitated by two representatives from Action Sociale, a Burkinabé organization that targets a myriad of social issues and, finally, a soccer match at the lycée between teams of 1st cycle (Sixieme - Troisieme) and 2nd cycle (Second and Premier) students, with a few teachers playing on either team.
The organization of the day's events was a lengthy process but it all went off without many problems, much to my relief. The only letdown of the day was when the mayor of Diabo stopped in halfway through the sensibilisattion, interrupting the speakers to utter a few platitudes, thereby giving a number of students the opportunity to duck out, much to my chagrin. The interruption was so indicative of the excessive and often blind reverance of people in positions of power that pervades Burkinabé society, quite contrary to my democratic sensibilities. The mayor didn't even speak himself but had one of his assistants make a short, dull speech. One of the most significant lessons I've learned here is to be moderate in my expectations so despite the exodus of students, I was still happy that everything went fairly smoothly.
A few pictures of the days events...
The organization of the day's events was a lengthy process but it all went off without many problems, much to my relief. The only letdown of the day was when the mayor of Diabo stopped in halfway through the sensibilisattion, interrupting the speakers to utter a few platitudes, thereby giving a number of students the opportunity to duck out, much to my chagrin. The interruption was so indicative of the excessive and often blind reverance of people in positions of power that pervades Burkinabé society, quite contrary to my democratic sensibilities. The mayor didn't even speak himself but had one of his assistants make a short, dull speech. One of the most significant lessons I've learned here is to be moderate in my expectations so despite the exodus of students, I was still happy that everything went fairly smoothly.
A few pictures of the days events...
Students lined up for the footrace.
And they're off!
On the road...
Messrs. Lompo, Pacmagda and Coulibaly (administrator and teachers)
HIV/AIDS sensibilisation at the Maison des Jeunes(we had about 400 students in attendance!)
Monsieur Birba, one of the facilitators(using a megaphone as a microphone)
L'Equipe Rouge
L'Equipe Blanc
Action shotMedical and teaching skills were not lacking in Africa, even in distressed countries...but the will to use them was often nonexistent. The question was, should outsiders go on doing jobs and taking risks that Africans refused?
Paul Theroux, "Dark Star Safari"
Paul Theroux, "Dark Star Safari"
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