jaimeinpc.blogspot.com

As I am now going to serve the Peace Coprs in El Salvador ... I figure my current blog is misleading and no longer appropriate! So please follow me at my new blog (jaimeinpc.blogspot.com) and my journey in El Salvador, Central America.

:)

Peace Corps GUINEA SUSPENDED

Official News Release

Sooo I just got the call from Peace Corps Headquarters- Africa region. My training class originally scheduled for staging December 2009, is now postponed at least 90 days. PC wants to wait until after the Guinea elections (Jan. 30, 2010) to send us to the country. That means the earliest I will depart for Guinea is February 2010. PC is going to monitor the situation until that time and let us know if we can even go then. pretty crappy. There IS the possibility that at some point in the future PC and the US will rule that Guinea is too dangerous to re-open the country AT ALL in the near future. In this case, PC will contact us and let us know our options for a new program, in a new country. If this does happen, I may find out sooner than Feb but it is extremely unlikely that the new departure will be anytime before Feb. And if I get a new country, I will have to re-do a lot of paperwork! =more time! ahhh, Which makes me realize, my medical may expire at that time!! I have to look it up but I'm pretty sure your medical evaluation is only good for 1 year from when you submit it and I think I sent mine in last March. So if I am not out of the country by then, I have to get all checked out again...which takes forever. i may throw up thinking about all this sooo I'm going to stop now.

Just sucks because I originally was planning on going to Cape Verde July 2009, a couple months outta college. And then that fell through. And then Guinea December 2009, and now that fell through too. And something tells me that Feb 2010 isn't an extremely likely possibility either...since I find it hard to believe that everything will run smoothly in Guinea after the election. I just feel like I'm postponing my life for another year.

On the bright side, I'm happy to have more time with friends and family. Thanksgiving will be a little more relaxing now since I'm not leaving the week after. I get to have Christmas at home. I can learn more French and hopefully spend my time preparing myself for other things that come along with Peace Corps...i.e. HIV AIDS awareness & counseling courses, acquire some more applicable SED job skills, buy some more headlamps & bug spray or something. ahh i guess you have to hope it all happens for a reason.

Putting it Into Perspective

Recent Article of Guinea Trauma

Guinea makes front page of NY Times

With all the frustration I am dealing with, sometimes it's easy to overlook what really matters. The mission of Peace Corps volunteers is to help people in need. Now, unfortunately, all of the potential help is being withdrawn from the country. On top of the fact that innocent people have been killed, families are struggling to cope, and the country is struggling- the wrong message is being sent. Suddenly, a country that few people even knew existed before, has tons of negative media attention. The misconceptions that all of Africa is a dangerous place is spreading. While the majority of Guinea is full of friendly and welcoming people, many outsiders view the country as a violent and forbidden place. And it is unfortunate.

It is sad because another mission of Peace Corps is to help Americans have a better understanding of the foreign places we serve. I was excited to bring back the Guinea culture with me in hopes of showing many Americans that we do not need to fear foreign places for it is usually just about the fear of the unknown. And now when you think of Guinea, the presidential candidacy of military ruler Captain Moussa "Dadis" Camara and his attacks are the first thing to come to mind. And that is Not representative of all the people in Guinea and all the countries in Africa.

Chinese Military Deal Article

Also, the recent news about China's Mineral Deal with Guinea raises concern. While a $7 billion dollar investment into the Guinean economy would greatly help the country's infrastructure, it may cause problems. For one thing, I think it sends the wrong message that if you can get the world to see you are distressed by a violent military attack on pro-democratic demonstrators, you can solicit money from countries. It is likely the military rulers will reap revenue gains from the Chinese investment and they do not deserve to be rewarded for their terrifying actions. As said in articles on the matter, while it is important to do business with other nations, upholding respect for human rights is primary.

It is a hard time and I hope the best for Guinea. I hope Dadis and the military junta will step down and that the Jan. 30, 2010 elections will have new hope for democracy in Guinea.

Oct. 5, 2009-- Peace Guinea evacuating to Mali for next 2-4 weeks.

Current volunteers serving are all safe, but are given 1 day and 1 suitcase outta there. I mean I'm bummed for myself but I feel terrible for them! Their other possessions will be sent back to their families in the US in case the Guinea program never re-opens. The worst part is, with the uncertainty about the program, the volunteers have an awkward goodbye session with their host families and friends.

But still no call from headquarters as to what that means for me!! Nov. 30 still on?? I don't know :(

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/world/africa/30guinea.html?ref=world

"Guinea's Capital (Conakry) Fades Into a Ghost Town After Soldiers' Rampage"

Scary. Not sure what this means for my Peace Corps program but I'm trying to think that everything will happen for a reason. If my program gets suspended, I have faith that Peace Corps will find a new, suitable & safe place for me to serve as soon as time permits. I know that it will be in my best interest. If I still am sent to Guinea, I will be careful to avoid areas of such protest. I hope that current Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Guinea are in safe hands and that the nation as a whole finds a way to cope. It saddens me to read this news.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_3122.html

Oct 1, 2009

The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Guinea due to continuing civil unrest and the unpredictable nature of the current security situation. U.S. citizens are advised that the Department of State has ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and eligible family members of the U.S. Embassy in Conakry, Guinea.

Mailing Address:

Jaime Posa

Corps de la Paix Americain

B.P. 1927

Conakry, Guinea

West Africa

What's Going On...

On November 30 I will have orientation for my position as a Small Enterprise Development (SED) Advisor for the Peace Corps/Guinea. I will be in Guinea for 27 months, the first 3 months being training where I will live with a host family in Forecariah, and then serving from Feb 2010- Feb 2012 at my site (to be determined). This is where and how I will keep in touch with everyone at home.

I have been told to expect to be living without running water and electricity and contact with home may happen as little as once a month. Internet access is sporadic and unreliable. For that reason, this blog is an important way to keep in touch with as many people as possible in limited time. I hope everyone will keep in touch with me and follow along this exciting experience :)

About my Project

As an SED volunteer my program will focus on developing economic capacity in rural and urban communities. Target groups are entrepreneurs, cooperatives, associations, NGOs, women and youth. I will be working with a specific host country partner to support one or more of these groups. The program focuses on three major agency-wide initiatives:

1) empowering women

2) promotion of information technology

3) working with youth (particularly entrepreneurship training for young people)

Specifically, the project designed for me is to create and revise regular action plans based on the needs my partner organization has determined and from my own observations. My primary responsibility will be to work with my partner to conduct one-on-one and group technical consultations including topics such as basic accounting, feasibility studies, business planning, marketing & financial planning. My work will focus on capacity building through skills transfer that can lead to improved business management processes in my community.

Secondary Projects

I have learned that secondary projects are often another important part of volunteer service. Examples such as youth clubs that engage women and men in sports & discussions about their career development and mentoring programs in HIV/AIDS education are just a few of the ways I hope to further benefit my community.

Why is SED Important?

Non-financial services (such as business planning, accounting training, entreprenurial motivation and development, etc) are not available to the vast majority of small-scale entrepreneurs in Guinea. Presently, non-profit or volunteer organizations offer the only viable means of providing rural entrepreneurs with non-financial assistance.

About Guinea

NOT Papua New Guinea. Guinea, just plain Guinea, is located in West Africa on the lower part of the bulge. The main language of Guinea is French but there are many different ethnic groups that have their own local language (so I will be learning French + the local language at my site). I have heard it has a beautiful & diverse landscape ranging from the tropical land on the Atlantic coast to the desert to mountains & forest. The people are known to be extremely friendly, welcoming and accepting.

That being said, Guinea is one of the poorest countries in the world. Less than 40% of the people are literate (18% being women) and there is a large under supply of teachers. Diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, yellow fever, schistosomiasis, etc. plague the country and people's lives are frequently touched by death due to poverty & inadequate medical care. Running water, electricity & basic equipment are hard to come by & public transportation is very dangerous.

This isn't meant to scare you (or make you think I'm crazy), after all every place has it's dangers. But this is reality. And while it will take some adjusting & preparing on my part, it is most-important for me to keep up my emotional health. Messages from family & friends back home will be an immense support system for me, especially when times get tough. So please either follow my blog, make comments, send mail, write emails, facebook me, send a package or tell me the news back home. It will make me very happy!

I am eager to learn all about Guinea and life as it is lived there. Becoming accepted as part of the culture of Guinea will be my most challenging & exciting experience and an important part of making progress in my SED work. I am happy to help contribute to the Peace Corps goals...

Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men & womenHelping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples servedHelping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans...and I am hoping to make a difference for someone(s) out there!

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This website is unofficial and not-for-profit. All views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the opinions, policies, or position of any institution or individual(s) mentioned herein, including the United States government, the Peace Corps, the government of Guinea, or its citizens.