Archive for February, 2011
February 23, 2011
One of the highlights of my last trip to Cameroon was initiating the “Who Are You?” project (details here).
Around the world, women are marginalized and left without a voice, yet they’re obligated to care for the family, work in the fields, keep the home, cook and acquire water. Such is the case in Cameroon.
The women I met were perplexed but excited that someone was interested in them as people. I was so inspired by these ladies and their pictures that I’m hoping to extend this project in other countries. Hopefully it will further demonstrate our universal similarities, regardless of location or conditions.
I’m looking for some women willing to be photographers for a day. We’ll send you a disposable camera along with a pre-paid envelope for you to document who you are. You can then develop the pictures and send us you top ten or mail us the camera and we will choose our top ten. Your pictures will become part of our “Who Are You?” collection.
If you’re interested in volunteering for this project, simply leave a comment below with your e-mail address and we will contact you directly for mailing details.
Who are you? We’re waiting to find out.
February 17, 2011
The work that we do with the Obakki Foundation is always rewarding, but seeing others take up our cause is particularly gratifying, especially when they’re children.
Jordan is a very special six-year-old girl. She recently donated her birthday money – sixty-five dollars! – to the Obakki Foundation.
Through Jordan’s generosity, two children in Cameroon will have the supplies needed to attend school. Or a medical centre will receive the basic provisions required to treat a village. Her contribution will have a major impact on many lives and I wanted to thank her publicly for her kindness.
Thank you, Jordan! And Happy Birthday!
xo
Treana
February 15, 2011
Hi Treana,
Thank you for all of your efforts to help us better understand all that the Obakki foundation does!! I have a follow-up question regarding the photo project you did in Cameroon last time you were there. I am really interested to see the Cameroonian women’s pictures. I would love to see their life from their own perspective. Once again thanks for keeping in touch!!
Tina
Hi Tina,
Thanks for following the blog! We will be releasing the pictures taken by these women very soon on our blog. You can read more about the original project here. The pictures are really great and it really makes you think about the things that make up ‘who’ we are. Imagine being given a camera and asked to show your life in 15 photos? What pictures would you take?
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Hi Treana,
Thanks for another opportunity! I’m looking forward and curious to read your answer to Tina’s question. Although I also would like to know, what is, in a general way, the most important thing for them that they share with you about their lives, now that they know and believe you can do so much for them. Once again, many thanks for your work, thoughts and dreams.
Alda
Hi Alda,
What a great question! The most important thing that people share with me is their desire to strive. I think there is a misconception that people living in Africa are helpless and dependent. They are not. In most cases, they simple need to be given a small start, an opportunity, an open door. I have seen an entire villages change after a basic need was met. We are simply there to provide an opportunity for a new beginning, and once that is met, they communities are developed by the people themselves. It is amazing to watch – and I have heard many times from people on my trips that they simply need that starting place.
Best,
Treana
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Hi Treana,
Well, I hope you don’t mind that my question is rather personal, I just really don’t know what to ask this time… So I just want to ask how are you? How is the family? I hope you all are healthy and everything is ok, you had a nice Christmas holiday (well that was long ago..hehe) …:) Well actually I have no idea how old your children are, but if they are young what do they think about this foundation? Or if they are older, are they thinking of doing something similar, I mean helping people? I am so really very happy you are back, I love reading about all these great things and I’m always amazed how wonderful you are, it’s like…it gives me faith and strength and I wish one day I’d be like you…(I’m 16)
Soooo sorry for the long comment and thanks for the answers,
Dorka
Hello Dorka,
I had a wonderful holiday with my family and I hope you did as well. I returned from Sudan a few days before Christmas, so it was an extra special time for us. Although they’re still quite young, my kids are very interested in the Obakki Foundation and I’m certain that as they get older, they’ll be involved. When my daughter was four-years-old, she offered to sell her bedroom to raise money (the price was $11.99) so they’ve wanted to help from a young age! Thank you very much for your sweet words.
Best,
Treana
February 10, 2011
Hi Treana,
Your trip journals are always the best part for me. Will you be writing about the Sudan trip in more detail with pictures and stuff?
Thanks,
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
I will definitely be writing about Sudan! Our trip was unbelievable and even though we had a hectic schedule, I was able to keep a journal. I look forward to being able to share it with you in the coming weeks. Stay tuned and thanks for reading!
Best,
Treana
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Hi Treana,
Are you going to be updating any more video footage from your trips? Is there any way that the interviews you guys have done for the Obakki Foundation can be uploaded so that people outside of Canada/US can watch and pass on to others? Many thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.
Anonymous
Hello,
First of all, thank you so much for following and supporting the Obakki Foundation! We’re actually in the final stages of editing a short film about our trip to Sudan and you’ll be able to view it on our site soon. We also have many small video clips and photos that we will be sharing with you.
Regarding the interviews, we just haven’t been able to get them up on our site yet, but we have plans to do this in the near future. Keep checking back – we should have some new postings up soon!
Thanks,
Treana
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Hi Treana,
First of all thank you for the card and your very kind words. My question is when I first heard about the Obakki Foundation you predominantly worked in Cameroon. What made you decide to spread further afield into Sudan and in particular working with other organisations? Thanks for blogging again. It’s good to hear what’s going on.
Juliet xxx
Hi Juliet,
Our partner, Ed Smith, is in the Canadian Armed Forces and he is part of a special envoy in South Sudan working with the United Nations. When he heard about the dire situation and lack of funds regarding access to water, we offered our services. An opportunity came up last December for me to go there and see the projects first hand. After being in Sudan and spending time among the people, there was no question that we would continue working there. More details to come as I share my journal from the trip in coming weeks!
Thanks so much for your support,
Treana
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Hi Treana,
I don’t really have a question, but want to say Thank YOU again for all that you guys are doing. Not only do you help people far away, you help people at home, like me, to have a way to teach my children about the good in the world, as well as the bad. Not only do they appreciate what they have more, they see what it is like for other children their age, around the world, who find joy in simple things. They also know that THEY themselves can make a difference, through helping you guys. We would love to see some more pictures of the children with the school supplies that were sent in.
Thanks again, I hope everything is well with you are yours!!! Keep up the blogs!!
Cyn~
Please let us know, when we can help again!!!
Hi Cynthia,
Thank you so much for your kind words and continued support – it’s so encouraging to have people stick with us for so long. We’ll continue to post more pictures of the children with their supplies because I know how motivating it is to see that your hard work is having an impact. I’ll also be letting you know ways that you can help as projects progress – thanks for enquiring about that! I plan on returning to Cameroon in April and I will take a lot of pictures! I’m so happy to hear that our work is giving you an opportunity to teach your own children. I’ve found it tremendously helpful in educating my own kids about the world and our place in it.
Best,
Treana
February 7, 2011
While Cameroon is a very lush country – and drought is not the issue it is in other areas of Africa – having access to clean water is a constant concern. Having water within close proximity is essential and one water transportation systems can reach thousands of people in surrounding areas ; however, the water is often not fit for drinking.
One of our volunteers, Jeff, visited Cameroon in December of last year and brought back reports from a region that has 37,000 people without a clean source of water. The area includes: a college with 500 students; 12 primary schools with 9,000 students; two secondary schools and six nursery schools (the youngest children must resort to using water from a nearby swamp).
In addition to the regular fears of typhoid, dysentery and parasitic infections, this community has recently suffered a cholera outbreak and they are highly motivated and unified in their pursuit of clean water. Their dedication – seen in independent fundraising and preparing the land for construction – makes them an ideal partner for the Obakki Foundation.
February 4, 2011
Now that we’re back no track with our blog postings and we’ve giving you some updates on our projects, this is a good time to let you ask some questions.
What would you like to see more (or less) of on our blog? Is there anything you want to know about the projects we’re working on? This is your chance – leave a comment with your question and I’ll answer them next week!
February 1, 2011
When we were in Bechati last May we saw children being taught outside a school, under a tree. At first it looked idyllic, but we learned that they had no other place to go. This was their classroom.
In this region of Cameroon it is common to see overcrowding in the small schools. As a result, the youngest children get whatever is left over, which often means being relegated outdoors or pushed into older, derelict buildings nearby.
In the past, the Obakki Foundation has built extra classrooms onto existing schools, giving the younger students a better start. We have a plan to help change the future for these children, too.
One of our volunteers, Jeff, visited this school in November. He boiled down the red soil of Cameroon into a paint-like consistency and collected the children’s handprints. These prints represent the uniqueness of each child. They say to the world, “I am here. I deserve an education. I will I have a future.”
We’ve framed these prints and soon we will be selling them online. All of the proceeds will go towards building an addition onto the school so these children can have a room of their own. When you buy a handprint made with the red soil of the village, you will be telling the kids that they are not forgotten. You’ll know that you are giving one of these children the gift of education. And in Cameroon, knowledge leads to possibilities.
Stay tuned for more information on our handprint project.
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