Cotonou

Wednesday we went to visit two schools to practice doing the outcomes surveys at the school. I taught on Monday and Tuesday about quantitative research and then Wednesday was the demonstration to see how well they had been paying attention. Well, I was quite proud and I love visiting schools and children all around the world. We had a little bit of extra time and so we touched on qualititative research going over how focus groups can be very useful for all types of projects. Especially for training, i think that it's so helpful to see qualitative and quantitative research working hand in hand and the participants were quite excited to see the strengths and weaknesses of each. Both schools didn't have much spare room and had hundreds and hundreds of students. We wanted to do a bit more work on the product design for the digest sized version of the Book of Hope and so Timothy and his team from Togo conducted focus groups with children in the courtyards. It was such a joy to watch him interact with the children. The kids gathered in a circle, ten in all and they started talking about something silly before talking about the books. What they liked and what they didn't like. They took the smaller version and the larger version and compared them and closed their eyes and were asked to raise whichever version they prefered to use. Other kids wanted to join in and the kids included felt quite privileged, especially when they found out that their information would contribute to changes made in a book that will be given to millions and millions of children around the world. Research is a way to give children a voice and be heard. This is one of the things I love most about research. We found out that a major research project Book of Hope hired us to do for Togo a year and a half ago was never translated into french. I felt like crying when I hear this, how can you make people do all this work, tell them how important this is, and then not give it to them in their own language? Are you just doing this to say you do research? What message of value and worth does it send to the national staff? The whole goal of research in ministry is to collect the right information so that you can make better decisions that will impact more lives. If this doesn't happen, research is a waste, and something that we will be held accountable for in front of God. The classroom training was two days and I was a bit more focused on concepts rather than logistics. The participants were able to recite the 5 concepts clis (5 Key Concepts) from memory and I felt quite proud. Pastor Gideon said that he was just going to take the engagement survey and start using it now by himself and not wait for Togo to be funded for anything. I was so proud of him when he said that. I always like when people take things into their own hands and circumvent beaurocracy and apathy. Kimberly kept me from getting too rebellious in my suggestions, but I am just so amazed at the resilience and encouragement that I received from these pastors who have been frustrated and disappointed at times by people making decisions thousands of miles away without "clis" information.

Both schools we visited sat on a hill in Cotonou and looked down over a delta looking expansive body of water. We had the privilege of going to visit this place afterwards. It is a fifteen minute motor boat ride from shore to reach this village on stilts. I have no idea how long it would take to actually row, as nearly all of the residents are forced to do. You'll quickly realize that the overwhelming majority of those rowing this extensive distance are woman and children. The men fish, harvest and make things and the women row to the shore to sell it. Talk about progressive feminism and gender issues. I don't think i could make the round trip and it seemed like cake to them. The village is rather remarkable as tens of thousands of people live in these ricketty houses secluded way off the beaten path. Unfortunately tourism has made that path significantly traveled, but it still exudes an originality like few places I've ever been. Many kids and people were eager to wave, lots of children begged for money from boats and some people yelled things and screamed at the sight of our cameras. The boat ride was relaxing and it was so nice to enjoy the afternoon with Pastor Severin and his wife, Timothy and Kimberly. After the training was finished, Pastor Severin gave me a typical print outfit that men wear in Africa. It's red, grey and dark green with fish and various symbols. The shirt looks great, but I'm a touch nervous about wearing the pants. When in Ghana... (or francophone africa)