activity at high school

Then today I went high school to educate about HIV/ AIDS.

“We will talk about AIDS～！！”
I and medical conference call students.

“ I’m OK”
“you disappear!”
“He is AIDS～！！ahahaha～”
“ I don’t know～”

they pass a side of the class where we intend to talk about AIDS

But once they sit down, and listen, they were surprised about this problem.
“ there are 6500 people dying because of AIDS in Africa!!”
When I ask “ Was it good for you?”, they nodded.

In this high school, there are a lot of students who had experienced.
I talked a lot, and felt tired

But it is very important thing so that we will not repeat the situation like Africa.

3 things which is needed for prevention of AIDS

I thought and thought then I found 3 things are necessary for prevention
That is ･･･

１．Use Condom correctly
It’s not necessary to say but we should use condom ”correctly”
When men enter, men should already wear it.
In Jaoan, there are 300000 abortion per a year. 1 abotion per 2 minutes.
It is matter of us. Let’s take care.

2. Not doing Oral sex
it make HIV enter , also Chlamydia enter.
If we get Chlamydia, you might lose system of sex and you cannot bear child.
There are a lot of patients of Chlamydia. Chlamydia

3. Relationship between partner.
This is also important thing.
We should have chance to talk about Sextial transmitted disease.
Without discussing Life or disease, it’s not a good relationship.
Chlamydia

I separated with my boyfriend recently but I had such relation with him
I said him don’t do Oral sex and make sure to use condom.
He understood.

It’s a very important thing, I think.

Tomorrow, I will write about our activity at high school.

“Don’t have sex with men, you should prevent!”～then we Japanese are??～

Hi I’m Naomi Hasegawa. When I went to Kenya for the first time, I said to AIDS patients that “ don’t have sex with men” and I thought why I say such a thing with arrogance?
Do you think “not sleeping with men” equals “preventing?”

No, now I can say that I was wrong in that day.
Let’s think as the matter of us.
I thought so strongly and I made “HIV/AIDS prevent sector” in our NGO, Tumaini Nyumbani.

Three people get HIV per a day in Japan.
In the developed country, the prevalence is growing rapidly than any other developed country.

How should we prevent??
I started to think deeply.

If Kenyan mama say like this,
” I don’t have any choice but sleeping with men because I’m poor.
You say don’t do with men then how you recognize AIDS problem?
How you prevent HIV?”
Then what would you answer?

in West Pokot, Kenya

"Poisho." "Karaam nyoman."
That is a greeting in Pokot language.

My name is Mayuko Shigeta,
studying gender and social sciences, at master course of the university in Japan.
I've been to Kenya in this August, for my pre-research about culture and women's organization in the West Pokot.

I had stayed with the community based organization (CBO) in Kapenguria,West Pokot.
Now, I would like to write about small things I found in my short stay in the West Pokot.

※ All people names are fictitious.

□■ Brief Introduction to the West Pokot ■□
West Pokot, is in the North Eastern part of Kenya.
We can see a border to Uganda here. It takes 10 hours from Nairobi to Kapenguria (a town in West Pokot) by bus.
People who live here (tribe) are named Pokots, most Pokot people are breeding cattle.
Population of Pokots is said more than 220 thousands.
We can also find the traditional decoration which is similar to Masaai,
using colorful, beautiful beads and shells.

Above all, it is very peaceful and quiet.
“It is very safe here. They sometimes steal cattle, but they don’t steel money.” Chairperson of the CBO (Community Based Organization) said.
There are a lot of cows, goats, cocks, donkeys and sheep everywhere.
Little boys and old men (Msee) are lead the cattle.
Girls are selling vegetables and washing cloths.

■□ My friends in Pokot □■
In Nairobi, I was waiting at my hostel for a CBO staff, Chelimo,
she said she would come to Nairobi at 8:00 a.m. but It became 11:00 am.
I called Lily, a chairperson of that group waiting at the West Pokot, then she said,
“Hi. She will come to Nairobi at 8:00 tomorrow.”
… I felt I came back to Kenya.
but maybe I had special "Kenyan time" in the West Pokot. My pokot friends often said "pole pole (slowly, slowly)" to me, and just make sure, me too,
I like it better than Nairobi.

The next day, Chelimo came to Nairobi at 10:00am. We left Nairobi in the evening, and arrived at Kapenguria at the next morning.
She spent 20 hours in a bus to come and go back for me, a foreign, strange student.

“Karibu (Welcome).” Ms. Lily said and took me in her arms.
She resigned a local government, and now she works at the CBO, advocate campaign about traditional practices, dealing with HIV/AIDS and fistula clinic etc.
It’s a very small organization, and started by seven Pokot women, investing 200Ksh (about 330yen) each other.
It was really impressive to see their attitudes for the activities even in difficulties of money and some cultural things.

I was under the care of Ms. Lily, and many Pokot friends at Kapenguria.
“Here is your second home. Don’t mind anything. Just feel like at home.”
Lily said.
One day, Ann, one of the CBO staffs, treated a cock and chapati for me.
It got late and I said, “I am going back to (Lilian’s) home now.” Ann told me, “Why?? Stay here and sleep with us. You don’t worry anything! We are “family” right?”
We, three women (Ann, Cherimo and me), slept together in one bed that night.
We slept very well.
Here, I had many experiences like that.

We couldn’t suppress laughing when we were together.
One day, I had to send an important mail to Japan, and went to a cyber space in the post office. There are three computers, but two are under construction, and I couldn’t open the web page of the rest one.
Ann was looking at me, laughed and said, “Mayuko. Here, is Kenya. Ha, ha, ha---!!!”
I was swept up to her way to laugh.

“You should enjoy now, before you die”
Ann told me.


□■“Color” in Pokot ■□
Colors, in the west pokot are verrry beautiful.
You can see a lot of Kangas (African shawls), which are of many beautiful vivid colors,
at the street markets in Kapenguria.
Pokot Women tie their babies with those Pokot’s Kanga.
Sometimes 6-7 aged girls tie their brother or sister with this kanga.

As we talk about color in Pokot, I have to note the scenery on Sunday.
When you go to church, you will see Pokot women and girls in colorful dresses;
for example, women wear colorful dresses and sometimes ribbon of same color such as purple, orange and green. I saw a girl putting on white dress like the wedding ceremony.
Their appearances are really beautiful.
In fact, everyday, I was looking forward to meeting Lily,
because she also likes colorful cloths.

□■Different Life from Nairobi ■□
At Nairobi, I have stayed at the youth hostel in a plot of the University of Nairobi.
B&B was 900ksh (around 1200yen) per day there, with flush toilet, when I turn a faucet,
hot water shower came out vigorously.
In Kapenguria, I had experienced much different life from that hostel in Nairobi,
and it was really precious experience for me.

First, I had to think about an importance and value of water.
Most Pokot people use water from the river.
Both boys and girls carry large tanks of water. My friend boiled a bowl of water for me
to take a bath. Before each meal, we usually wash our hands pouring water from a pot above a bowl.
My friend says, water is one of the problems in Pokot.
Now is the better season because of raining. In December and January, water problem is serious.

I couldn’t help but rethink about much easier and wasteful my life in Japan.
At the same time, after coming back to Nairobi, it was the fact that I felt “comfortable” using the "vigorous" shower.

Simultaneously, life in Pokot is very beautiful.
Air is clean, and in the sky, there are a lot of stars. But in summer (from November to February), you will be able to see more stars, my friend told me.

There is no use to buy foods because they grow up them in their own farm.
“We buy only rice and flour.” Ms. Lily says.
Actually, there are maize, beans, fruits such as orange, pineapple, banana, and cows,
pigs and goats in farm. Also, one day Lily bought for me a very big tilapia. “I know Japanese like fish.” Every meal in Pokot was warm, very delicious, and hearty. I felt happiness.

However, it is also the fact that WFP is coming to inner Pokot for supporting food in this season, because it is winter, and there is shortage of food now.
“Life is very difficult here, but if someone feel suffer, we give directly. We help each other.” Lily said. “We still have a good culture.”


“Mayuko, you shall come back soon. We are waiting.”
My Pokot friends saw me off, and we say bye at the Eldoret.

I thank Ms. Lily and many friends, "family" in Pokot.
(They called me a member of "family".
Now I have "dad","mom", "sisiter" and "brother" in the West Pokot.)

What can I give back to them??
That is a question for myself.
Now, I am thinking this.

Just one thing I know is, that I will come back there soon.

Mayuko Shigeta (JAYN Tokyo)
Ochanomizu University

Fair－Trade

【Wheelchair　Board:this board used for people who want wheelchair and people
who want to suppurt these people.】


【Making　Wheelchair】



















■　Africa　Need　Employment ？？
I　thought Africa need Employment.
I payed attention to Fair-Trade.

Seeing HP:IFAT,
in kenya there several Fair-Trade
partner group.

I visited Bomlulu in Mombasa.

This is for phisically disanabled.
I saw making bag,wheelchair,recycle-accessory.

■　Fair－Trade　and Souvenir
I wonder if there is diffent between
goods of Fair-Trade and souvenir.

Bombolulu
IFAT
COFTA

Enjoy Egypt

【Egypt　in　Africa】
I have a friend from Egypt.
When I was freshman,I live in Dormitory
and met Egyption,Amur.

My major is Swahili,
but swahili is spoken in mainly Kenya,Tanzania

and these countries belong to Sub-Sahara Africa.

On the other hand,surely Egypt is a country in Arica Continent,
but Egypt belong to North　Africa differt from Sub-Sahara Africa
in languague,religion,cultural,economics

- the Sahara Desert divide Africa!!-

I was trouble to find common thing between
Egypt and "Swahili" through Africa,
so we didn't chat about Africa well.

＊　　＊　　＊
【Visit　Egypt】


I' visited Amar,friend of Amur.
He lived in Gizza,famous by Pylamid.

I did homestay,but daytime
I go to Cairo City alone because
he has to go University.

In his house,
many peole welcomed me.
They teach me Arabic
game,and even laughing me
for foreigner.

They might recognize me
as A FOREIGNER not PERSON.

So I was unwilling to
remeber their names.

I was afraid that
people in Egypt see me
as foreigner from rich
country.

＊　　＊　　＊
【Not to trust Human】

I came not to trust human around me in Egypt.
I don't want to say anything.

Amar see me not as foreigner but as person.
He often asked me "Why didn't say anything?"
"Why aren't you happy?"

I who 19 year old,the first time for visiting abroad, can't answer clearly.
I just make smile on purpose and "habby".

The most shocking event was that I go out to watch movie with Amar'brother and his friend.
Thet payed for bus,movie,dinner instead of me.

After all,they required me 20 dollar.

In Egypt,

20 dollar.

I asked them "why so high cost?"
"I want to buy NIKE"

I thought Egypt is country
where people can buy "well-being" by money.

***
Go OYAMA

++

I can go

Hello、I'm Go.
I'm a student in Osaka University of Foreign Studies.
I major in African Study(especially Swahili).

I've visited 3 countries in Africa Continent.

From today,for 3days,
I'm in charge of writing.

I will write below things from
my experience.

1.Enjoy Egypt
2.Keep Kenya
3.Tongue in Tanzania

Habari yako?
Ninaitwa Go.
Mimi ni mwanafunzi katika chuo kikuu cha masomo ya kigeni cha Osaka.
Ninajifunza somo la Africa (hasa Kiswahili)

Kutoka leo,nitaandika muda wa siku 3.

Sudan

Hi! My name is Shige. I’m living in Sudan since last summer. I studied Arabic in Syria. I have a passionate concern for Islam, but I can’t forget the enthusiasm for Africa. I came to Sudan, because this country is located between Middle East and Africa. What a simple reason!

When my friends learn of my living in Sudan, many of them ask me the security. Since there are few information and little interest about Sudan, they think Sudan is a dangerous country. If someone has interest in Sudan, probably that is in negative things like poverty, civil war and Darfur. This kind of things is featured on the mass media.

We should consider Sudan from every aspect, so I want to write about daily life of Sudanese. It is my role.


Below is basic information.

Sudan lies south of Egypt, north of Kenya and west of Ethiopia.
See the picture.

The population is about 35,000,000.
Sudan is around 70% Muslim, 10% Christian, and the rest believes traditional religions.

Khartoum lies the confluence of White and Blue Niles. White Nile stretch to Lake Victoria, and Blue Nile rises from Lake Tana. The length of the river is 6.550km! If you drive along the Nile at a speed of 65km an hour, you have to drive more than 100hours. Can you imagine this incredible length?

The climate is very hot. Even in the winter, the diurnal temperature goes up more than 30℃. Humidity is low, but the heat is hotter than body temperature. It means terribly hot! Moreover in May, Jun and July, sandstorm sweeps the town every few days. I’m afraid that my PC will be broken. Already my CD player and MP3 player were broken.

Total land area is 2,510,000 sq-km.
Sudan is the biggest country in Africa and the 10th in the world.
1-Russia, 2-Canada, 3-America, 4-China, 5-Brazil, 6-Australia, 7-India, 8-Argentina, 9-Kazakhstan then 10-Sudan

Next time
“Sudanese normal life”

Arabic interpreter
Shige

HighSchool Life in SouthAfrica( School)

This picture shows above is my maths class in South Africa.
This was the day we did not have to wear school uniform!
We had given a theme respectively and we had to disguise ourselves.
And my theme was..."Sumo Wrestler"!!!!!!!!!!!
I wore my dad's Yukata.

Although we were dressed up, we had a "Normal School day"...
It must be looked funny for our teachers!
We also had the days of "pajamas" or"Hero or Heroine in the movies"etc...



My school is one of the local schools in Johannesburg.
It was not public but private school.
90 percent of students are white.
All students wear school uniform.
we have the chapel services twice a week.
There are no school bus and parents take us to and from the school.

★There is the disparity in wealth　South Africa.
Black people usually go to the public school.
A handful of black children can go to the private school.
There is the difference in school level between public and provate school.
There is not enough teacher at public school.
We sometimes visit these schools and teach maths, science etc...


In my school...
there is a 3.6km road making a round of the school.
at the time of school starts and finished,traffic congestion always happens.

There are grounds,tennis courts,pool, field hockey grounds...
many school buildings
music block,chapel,library,boys boarding house,hall...

There are many places I had never visited in my school because it's too large!!

★On the other hands, there are many schools with not enough equipment.
There is not enough textbooks and stationaries.
No blackboard.
No clean school uniforms.
The students at public school go to school by walk or mini-bus.
There are many differences between rich people and poor people close to me.


School life.
We have schools Monday to Friday and from the morning till the late afternoon.
We always sit in the sun at lunch time.
and we do each activities after school.

South African people like taking exercise.
There are many people walking or running in the school.

There is a state examination called "Matric"which we take the end of Grade12.
The score of Matric is the key to the students who wish to go to the university.
Therefore most of students aim to Matric since when they enter school.


★I also took Matric exams.
Of course, there are all in English.
I could not speak and write English well when I went to South africa.
It might be the only time I studied so hard in my all life.
But I believe my efforts was not useless.
I was supported many teachers, friends and my family.


I am often asked "how is the school life in South Africa?"
There is not many differences between Japan and South Africa.

Only thing we have to remember is...
"there are many students who cannot be educated same as us"
There is still many disparity in wealth in Johannesburg.

★St.Stithians College HP★
http://www.stithian.com/

Africa and Coco

"What remind you of South Africa?"
Apartheid.
Lion!Elephant!Giraffe!
Diamond☆
Cape Town!
Dangerous place...
Drakensberg?!
National Park☆
Mediterranean Climate?
Developed Country in Africa.


Hello!
This is Coco.
I have received the baton from Naopoppo☆


I am a student at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.
I have lived in South Africa for 3 years when I was at high school.
And I returned to Japan 2 years ago.
There is unchangeable thoughts towards Africa.
I wish all people who read this blog to feel the distance between Africa and Japan closer.


～Africa and Coco～
It was 5 years ago that I first set my foot on Africa.
I had been a normal high school student in Japan.
And one day, I have heard of my dad's transfer to "South Africa".
I have never been in interested in Africa...
How can I live in Africa??
I left Tokyo with many uneasiness and hopes for Africa.


Johannesburg is a developed city.
It is not as developed as Tokyo.
There is no train.
It is hard to say there is a safe place.
But there is people, life and smile.


My handle name "coco" is given by my friend in South Africa.
I am going to introduce ”South African students" that I have experienced♪

Kenya2

■Process to establish this NGO
our NGO, Tumaini Nyumbani is established by Kyoko Onishi who was a student of Osaka University of Foreign Studies and by Winnie who is a stuff in Kenya on 2003. all of Kenyan member except for Winnie is AIDS patients and most of them are single mother.Purpose of this NGO is hepling to be independent of AIDS patients and their children. from when this group was established, 3 members died of AIDS left their children. For those children and another children who has mother of AIDS patient, we went to kenya to build orphanage on september of 2005.

■Construction of orphanage by Hands.
We were constructiong orphanage by our hands. we carried heavy stones by our hands and our hands became horny. "Hey ourcarpenter... should we still carry stones?" " Not yet Not yet. you should carry at least this amount of stones!" " Oh no!" i was tired but kenyan mamas were making mad tappig soil and water. they were serious and not being afraided to be injured leg by small stones, they steped mad steadily with black strong legs. mamas who were living with ugali given by men, who were making noise shouting "i'm suffering i'm suffering more than her... from when, did you become strong? while we were in Japan, they were doing meeting and were united and became strong so much. when i pour water and clean their legs, they seemed so happy and laughed with big smiles.

■ Difficulty to understand each other.
one day i asked winnie a question that i was thinking all the time.
" hey winnie, aren't you save money?" when she heard so, she just laughed and said to me.　"Ah～～Naomi～～you can never understand me...."
"it's so hard to live even just one day. there are no money to save. paying house rent and buing milk for my children and payng fee of hospital for mama... then i can't save. i don't eat lunch every day.
"really?!" "yes! i go to town because of working of Tumaini every day, if i eat in town, it's bit expensive, so i eat heavy breakfast and goingback home with tireness then just eat dinner. that's all." she laughed again and said " Naomi , you can never know" i couldn't talk to her and feel sad then i bended my head sadly.

■fee for orphanage which was not enough
on the way of construction, money which we brought from Japan was almost finishing. i decided to lend money from my mom and called to Japan.
" we were constructing orphanage and we are in lack of money... so i'd like you to send money to my account.
"Ok! i send to you in ywo days!' after calling i told winnie about it and she said to me that " thank you so much!! then it will be OK!!" i don't know why. at thyat time, some strong feeling attacked me and cried alone. i really don't know why. it probably because i didn't want to give money from me, it probably because i thought such a feeling is selfish and felt guilty. it probably because i was thinking about Tumaini from now and got lost. it probably because i was surprised so much by defference between kenya and japan where people who can send big money soon. anyway i suffered by strong feeling and even now, remembering at that time, i feel like crying. and from that time, i never want Tumaini members to feel such a mad feeling.

■Hard reality
i was said by teacher that "You are so hardworking so i feel small but the time money has gone is the finish of your group isn't it?
i can never think about it. Winnie continues Tumaini Nyumbani because she can never forget saying of mama who died, that is, "never forget my children and plase take care of them." like that i knew pain of mama so i can never separate from this activity forever. but the sayng of the teacher was on the point and i think we can't maintain orphanage not knowing how we should manage NGO. not only with passion and strong feeling but also with learning many things, we would like to continue this activity.
"Welcome！income of this market will be used for people who are suffering!! please look around～～！”
free market which is held in Banpaku kinenkouen, we sell our close and add income to our fund. we were selling a shirt 800yen but a customer was attempting by 100 yen. my jounior said to him "we cannot send this money to africa with only this 100yen... " then he just said. " it's none of my buisiness."
sometimes world is too cool for us and we are astonished so much.
i was said again and again that "you will be blessed" but i was about to start to feel that it may mean "you will be brought to the hell"

■the meaning of Helping Independence
like that i was negatively thinking but i meet new idea. that is, i meet Teruko Kikumoto who manage orphanage for long time.
"don't give help soon although they are suffering. then they ask and you help, they ask and you help again and again. and yu will fall into the hell of help. finally they will be used to be helped and we will be tired. about our group, a quarter of our money is earned by our orphanes. they are proud of living by themselves. if japan get Tsunami, then sending money can be stopped. in that time, they know how to survive. what i can say is that they have ability to think how to survive and they know how to carry out.
i was surprised mentally so much. when the money for orphanage was about to finish, winnie, also i just thought we should get money from Japan.
in the first place, we set our purpose that is helping INDEPENDENCE. not only people in kenya but also our NGO itself should get independence. then they can be proud of our group, Tumaini Nyumbani.

■th end of this NGO
for the achivement of independence, we try to do microfinance, but it's possible when this NGO is economically stable.
so firstly, we want to sell sisal bags they made and to improve their sisal bags, so that we can be stable economically. at the same time, we want to broadcast about this AIDS problem actively so that more people can know about this problem.
thank you

kenya

spring summer on 2005, i went to nairobi in kenya to build orphanage. not only orphanage but also to see education of AIDS, and to talk with orphanes, and to have a meeting again and again. the most impressive thing is the conversation with mama. in the conversation, they use the word "kufa" which means "die" in swahili. so firstly, i hesitated to talk with them. one day i talked with mama sunya. she was taking medicine of AIDS, except for her, nobody was taking medicine in our group, tumaini nyumbani. i asked " how much is it to take that medicine?" "1500sh per month. it's so expensive, who pays that money?" "i don't have money." "but you take everyday. who gives you this money? because we don't give you such money yeah? are you searching job?" " i'm searching man." i couldn't believe my ears. "what?" " if i sleep with man, i can get money." " but if you sleep with man, you give him virus don't you? you shouldn't do such a thing!" "it's a problem!" "you should search another work." "there is no work here." " are you going to sleep today also?" " i can eat here today in this meeting, so i don't sleep today." "does Onisi know that?" " she doesn't know. it's a secret between us." of course i told about it to Winnie and Onishi. they were shocked.
almost all of mama was affected by HIV through prostitution. when Tumaini started, Onishi and Winnie explained mama not to prostitute again and again and on that time, they shouldn't have prostituted. in the next meeting, i told mama sunya to search steady job and importance of being independent by swahili language hard because she doesn't know english, having a big qustion that can i tell her such a thing with arrogance because i don't know such poverty... i never know...
after going back to japan, winnie told us she doesn't come to meeting.
it's hard to understand each other.
their life and our life was quitedifferent. moreover, this group Tumaini Nyumbani has just bagun by Winnie and students in Japan and we have so much things to think about. but i have a hope because from last year, many Tumaini members joined and we took a lot of knowledge and after going back to japan, mama is going well in their buisness.

the reason why i remind the word "thank you" all the time is that i can live happily and freely so i have some guilty.the reason i look to Africa all trhe time is, because of this guilty.

today also, 6500 people died of AIDS in Africa.

TANZANIA

the first travel to Africa! it was TANZANIA!
People are so poor but their smile was very NICE!!

In the very old house, old grandmother and three children were living there. I was so tired after walking a lot though it's not a lot for people living there.
grandmother told children to bring chair. a child brought chair and put it next to me saying "sit here". two children brought basins. one child has basin with water, the other child has empty basin so that one can pour to the other in front of me and i can wash my hand without standing!
Now grandmother is cooking for me banana dish though she was preparing for their dinner until now. in front of me table was put milk was put and was served burned banana.
Let's pray i was told by grandmother and with children I put my hands together. I felt very good point of Africa and impressed so much.
i thought that people in Tanzania are good at welcoming people.

Through NICE which is NPO, I was going there to do volunteer. I climbed mountain for 45 minuits to build up forest again. in old days, people cut tree in a bad way and tree was growing slantingly. so we cut trees from the root so that they can grow up well people in Tanzania was so powerful as i expected.

i was in a village in the root of kilimanjalo, and walked everyday. one day headache and stomacheache attacked me.

"Are you OK? shall we go to hospital?"
what?! Hospital?! from here to the hospital how far it will be.... firstly i should walk to the bus stop for 30 minuit and from there i should go to town by jammed bus for 1 hour... i was scared so much. though i recovered by medicine but i felt it's so hard without convinient things like in Japan.

Moreover, when i was in bed, i was told " You should pray!!!" again and again. " Say amen, Naomi otherwise you can't recover." in that village, people believe in God so much. on Thursday, it was unbelievable for me. about 10 people come together in one room and and they pray so much more than 30 minuits! saying " No i can't my God... please forgive me, please!!" i couldn't believe that situation and i look at each oher with another japanese who came here with me.

the first travel to Africa was so impressive for me and i remember everything so well.

Relay Blog Africa that Naopoppo felt

Relay Blog Africa that Naopoppo felt

Naomi Hsegawa will write 4th blog. My handle name is Naopopo. I’ll try my best.

I’ll write like this

1st chapter “Warm Heart of Peoople in Tanzania”
2nd chapter “Construction of Orphanage in Kenya”
3rd chapter “People in Kenya”

i'll write this blog for three days.

～Profile～
I entered Osaka University of foreign Studies in April 2003. In August 2004, for the first time I traveled Africa, Tanzania. In October 2004, I met Kyoko Onishi who was doing activity of Tumaini Nyumbani whose aim is to help for independent of AIDS patients in Kenya. In February and March, we went to Kenya to have a plot of orphanage and we made fence of that plot. From April 2005, Kyoko Onishi went Tokyo to work there so, I inherit the representative of this group, Tumaini Nyumbani. In September 2005, I went to Kenya with Tumaini members and built orphanage. In February and March, juniors went Kenya to build equipment of orphanage. From April 2007, we welcomed new members and continue our work actively.

africa and the media

As I am getting older and older day by day, my childhood memories are fading away. But I still remember some funny stories; so let me share it with you.

I was born in Tripoli, the capital of Libya, as my parents were stationed there because of work. And I spent the first five years of my childhood there. Those days Libya was one of the better off countries in Africa. Owing to the black gold they had good infrastructures, better access to health centers and education, and relatively better social amenities.

One thing I shall mention is that I was born in the early 1980s, the days Africa was portrayed in the media as the land of famine and hunger, and home for millions of poor people. Those days, you turn on your TV, and what you see about Africa was dark colored women and children, covered with dust, flies on their faces and food, and so much more. Since then, every one from the planet earth, if he or she hears the word Africa, all those images come first.

When it was time to go back home, back to my country Eritrea, I was around 5. Since we settled in the capital, life was not that much different than that of Libya. However, as we went to a remote village to visit relatives, I saw images quite similar to the ones I saw on the screen before. And I remember to this day, I came closer to my mother and whispered on her ear “mom… is this Africa?” and my mother burst with laughter.

It seems a side track but I have a reason to tell this. Since long time ago I have been much more concerned about the issue of Africa on the western media. How many of us have thought of this issue before? Why do you think western media are always ready and hungry to hear or even sometimes make sad stories of Africa? The last time I went to Nanzan University to give a lecture on anthropology for undergraduate students, I showed them very “ugly” pictures from Africa and nearly the same “ugly” pictures from the “rich north”. Most of them were familiar with the images from Africa, but not with the ones from the “rich north”. And I asked them “why is that you always here about the failure stories from Africa and exclusively success stories from the so called “developed countries”? I may ask you all the same question.

As for me, Africa means much more than that. What would the world economy be like without the existence of Africa and its resources? Africa feeds the world industries with raw materials and man power. Not only this but also, what is the potential of Africa as a niche market for the world manufactured goods. In Africa we drive Toyota, Honda, BMW, Volkes Wagon, FIAT, and many other brands of cars; we wear Nike, Adidas, Calvin Klein, and many other brands of clothing; we import medicines, processed food stuffs, manufactured goods and to the worst weapons. Nonetheless, no one dares to talk about this golden contribution of the continent Africa.

May I ask you to make a pause for a second and ask yourselves “why?”

All the failure and sad stories from Africa made some people have an image about Africans as “lazy” and “irrational”. Although I am confident to say Africa is home for millions of intellectuals, rational and intelligent people, I will never say it. All I may say is “please think critically and check the content of the information that you get from media before you chew it and digest it and it goes to your body.”

I have so much more to talk about Africa and the Media, but let me stop it here for today.

Talk to you next time

Essam Yassin

Beginning2 Mio Yamasaki

First, MORNING.
So Second NOON.
then Last,NIGHT!!

NOON

It's amazing hot in noon.
more than 30℃、４０、５０！
If it's so hot, I can't cycle.But it is not so easy.
'If you stay under the tree,Snake will fall down! '
Don't get out of main road, or main is there!

So I cycle and cycle and cycle...

What do African people do???

They sit down,lay down,
under the tree, in front of their house,on the mat...
(of course some people working.)

They wake up early, and take a rest in the afternoon.

I called, welcomed many times.
[Welcome, welcome!
come on!
Would you like tea?
I'll introduce my family!
and so on.

and many people surround me.
Foreigner is eating mango.
Foreigner is drinking tea.
they look look look.
ask ask ask many questions.
sometimes just wisper.

It is a lot of fun, and greatful.
but, too much is stress.
someday, my stress was over capacity!!

OOooooooooooonooooooooooo!!!!!
Don't disturb meeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!


but it was a chanse.
To notice that It is happy for me to enjoy anything!!
It is no use to make someone feel bad..

Just enjoy.
anytime, anywhere.

Beginning!

I'm MIO YAMASAKI representitive JAYN.

I feel MORNING through Africa.

I wanna travel africa by bycicle to feel africa.

What!?
A cute(!?)girl cycle africa!?
amazing!crazy!no way!impossible!

I tried to make my dream true.
Many people gave me hands.

For half a year I was in africa.
Finaly,I cycled Kenya to Cape of Good Hope.

WHY??

Because everyday,it's got morning.
It is not as usual.
It is special.
This special happens every day!


I'd thought,Africa is too far.We are so different.
What is their pleasure?Is it fun for them,just sitting down just alive?
We never understand each other.

But it may be simple.
In Africa,
I saw people smiling,
singing,
dancing,
Walking with crying,
They live their life.

Every day it get morning.
even if we don't want to.
Sometimes it is not hoped.
But whenever, wherever, whatever.
Morning.

I felt morning, in Africa.
When I miss something, I remember Africa ,where I feel morning.

[Over the Rainbow]

Coming soooooon!!!!!

MIO YAMASAKI

Traveled all around Japan6000km,Kenya to South Africa5000km(8countries) by bicycle.