Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category
April 23, 2012
As one of the last remaining animist tribes in the world, the tribal people of South Sudan value cows above all else. They provide milk for food, and in a society that has little use for money, a family’s wealth is stored in cattle. The number of cows a family owns determines their worth and standing in society, and people have been known to die before selling a precious cow to pay for health care.
For young boys, the camps are an education of sorts, where they learn the skills necessary for their traditional way of life, such as cow herding or how to burn cow dung to keep away insects and use the residual ash as a skin protector. They also learn how to make a paste from ash, dirt, and cow urine, and spread it over the cows to prevent insects from biting the cattle.
The camps are rough settlements: full of dust and fire, teeming with cattle, manure and insects. People sleep on the ground under the stars or buried in manure and dirt alongside the bonfires with only their heads poking out. Long surrounded by controversy—80% of the internal conflict in South Sudan can be attributed to the cattle camp raids, which are part of tribal tradition. Herdsman will protect their cattle to the death, and young men must be part of a successful raid before being made a full adult member of the camp. During the dry months from November to May, tensions can rise even more as camps compete for prime grazing land and limited water sources.
With the recent referendum, a new way of life may soon take hold in South Sudan—the future of cattle camps is uncertain. In a number of years, life in the cattle camps may be a thing of the past.
January 26, 2012
South Sudan is a nation with 70,000 internally displaced returnees. These people blur the line between refugee and survivor as they return to a land ravaged by civil war. The joy in returning is that they have a nation to call home. The challenge is that they must rebuild from the ground up.
The UN refugee agency UNHCR is tasked with the first step in relocating the returnees. Camps are established to provide temporary settlement; however the need is often far greater than resources can provide. While these camps fill an urgent demand, the lack of water and sanitation is a potential breeding ground for illness and aggression.
Many families travel for weeks carrying their belongings across difficult terrain, only to settle in a field amongst others awaiting placement. The Obakki Foundation has been an active partner in the relocation process – drilling clean water wells to accelerate the resettlement of these displaced people.
Today is a day of celebration as the Obakki Foundation has drilled water at the location of a new home – the village is called Giir and it’s first inhabitants are 300 families eager to take root.
Our team takes a snap shots amongst the people and belongings waiting to be transported to their new location.
January 24, 2012
I remember this flight all too well. 5 passengers, beaten up old Cessna, flying at a bumpy 22,000 feet over the Kenyan grassland on my way to Rumbek. It was just a short year ago when I made this trek, and I remember now that I promised myself to find another mode of transportation! However, every passing moment means I am one minute closer to touching down on that dirt airstrip and so, for now, my excitement trumps my fear.
Thoughts of this trip have been circling though my head for months now and even though I am excited to set foot back on South Sudan soil, I have no idea what to expect. I know that I will laugh and dance with villagers in celebration of their new water wells. I know I will see many people in need and that I will hold the hand of someone who hasn’t eaten in 3 days. I know my heart will beat faster as I pass a truck carrying 50 or more SPLA soldiers. And I know that I will go home inspired and even more committed. Everything else is unexpected.
November 21, 2011
To think that you could catch a plane and land in a place that is completely unrecognizable and dissimilar to the life you live. At the same time there are many similarities. We are all connected simply by humanity. It’s a small world after all.
September 8, 2011
Pick up the September issue of Vancouver Magazine (or read it online) and get intimate with Creative Director, Treana Peake’s busy life in the world of fashion and philanthropy.
Writing and Styling: Luisa Rino
Photography: Robert Kenney
July 13, 2011
Tina is part of our “Who Are You?” campaign, which began in Cameroon, Africa and has spread around the world. We gave her a disposable camera to give us a glimpse into her life. Tina is another long-standing supporter of the Obakki Foundation. Tina’s faith and family reassure her that she can take on anything life can dish out. Tina is striving to leave her kids with a greater and deeper understanding of the world—how important it is to find their passion in life because this will allow them to also give back to those in need. Tina is inspiring the next generation.
My favourite part of spring! I love the calmness, curiosity and sheer goodness of interacting with animals.
One of my least favourite parts of spring: mud!
My daughter, Grace, reading a magazine.
I rely on my computer for recordkeeping, family pictures…I’d be lost without it!
Feeding a calf by hand is very rewarding but also heartbreaking when you put everything you have into saving one little life and it still doesn’t make it through. It helps to keep moving forward and looking at the next life that can be saved.
Being home when my kids get off the bus is a blessing. I love hearing about the activities of their day. Their energy and enthusiasm is inspiring to me.
I recently learned how to play piano and now I don’t know how I ever living without it!
My faith is an important part of my life. I don’t know how I would have gotten tackled obstacles without the faith that a greater power is helping me out.
I’m so happy that the kids enjoy the farm. Grace adores working with the animals and Grady loves the farming. It’s amazing to see their nurturing tendencies coming out. It makes me feel I’ve done something right somewhere along the way.
Teaching religious education to my kids’ school sets an example of community involvement to my children while spending time with them.
My day seems to go so much better when I can grab a bit of serenity first thing in the morning.
June 16, 2011
This sign from the school speaks for itself!
April 26, 2011
After a very successful book fair and bake sale, in conjunction with online donations at www.obakkifoundation.org, the amazing kids at Monsignor Clair School have raised close to $3,000 for the Kuber William Well Project!
The kids are not done yet – more events are in the works and the well will soon be drilled. A huge thanks to communities near and far that have contributed to this amazing cause.
January 26, 2011
During my May 2010 trip to Cameroon, we came across this boy in Bechati standing in a mud hut with his grandfather. “Who Is Rich?” was written over the doorway. Aside from the bench shown in the picture, there was not a single other possession to be seen. Yet the old man was happy. Unbelievably happy.
He was clearly impoverished by our North American standards, but it soon became apparent that this man was genuinely rich with all of the things that matter most: friends, family, health and a humble offering of a daily meal were all that he had ever needed. What more could he want? In his opinion, he had it all. In mine, he did too.
Now I want to hear from you. Leave a comment answering the question of this sign: What does “rich” mean to you?
January 21, 2011
Visiting the Hotpec Orphanage is always a highlight of our trips to Cameroon but also something that I dread. It’s home to 91 children who live in horrendous conditions: sleeping in shacks, four in a bed with no sheets, no electricity, and very little food.
It’s also where I met Docas, the little girl who stole my heart. Working with these kids to give them a future is a huge part of why I come to Cameroon, but leaving them at the end of our trip is almost unbearable.
I’m so happy to pass on these most recent pictures, taken by Jeff on his November 2009 trip to Cameroon. As you can see, the conditions of the orphanage have improved greatly.
There is a nutritional program in place to ensure the children are adequately fed, the kids now have beds with proper linens and they’ve begun a micro-livestock program with pigs and chickens. Addressing their basic needs has had an immediate impact on the children. These photos really do speak for themselves.
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