Time to insert a little bit of PR into my personal blog. Today it is my pleasure to introduce the new official Seed Southern Africa Blog!
https://southernafricaseed.wordpress.com/
Don't worry, I'm not abandoning this blog. You can still come back here for (occasional) personal reflections and stories as always. The Seed Blog however is a wonderful platform to learn more about the Seed Program as it unfolds in Southern Africa for the first time. As we get going over the next couple of months the participants will begin posting their own stories and reflections. Seed is not only about Agriculture, it is about learning, growing, reflecting, and sharing. This blog will be THE place to keep in touch with the fantastic changes happening in the region. In 4 short weeks the program will begin with MCC general orientation in Colombia. From there we'll have an extensive month long regional orientation in South Africa and Zimbabwe. We have 8 participants: 1 from Zambia, 1 from Mozambique, 1 from Swaziland, 2 from Lesotho, 1 from South Africa, and 2 from the U.S. Please keep them in your prayers as they apply for visas and make final travel preparations.
The Migration of the Chickadee
The headwinds and tailwinds; storms and shelter; seasons of abundance and seasons of trial that make the journey an adventure worth living
Friday, July 22, 2016
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Why I am excited about Seed
We’ve been busy conducting interviews for the Southern
Africa Seed program and are now done the selection process. Eight young
people from Southern Africa and North America are getting ready to join MCC and
serve with our partner organizations for two years. During the interviews, one
young woman asked us a question “what makes you (the facilitators) excited
about Seed?” It is a question I never get tired of answering.
The Seed program started in Colombia several years ago as two year
volunteer program for young adults with an emphasis on Serving, Learning,
Reflecting, and Peace/Advocacy. Now there are 4 active Seed programs in
Colombia, Bolivia, DRC, and Southern Africa. Here in Southern Africa, food
security is a key priority for many of our partners so the participants will be
placed with organizations involved in conservation agriculture activities.
So what makes me excited about Seed?
Seed is about getting young people involved in something
bigger than themselves. It is a chance to learn about a new culture, to travel to new
countries, to meet new people, and to learn a new language. Seed is an
opportunity to serve and give of yourself, and in doing so you will most
certainly receive more than you can imagine.
Seed is about getting young people involved in agriculture.
Agriculture is life. It carries a responsibility we too often neglect; to be good
stewards of the land God has given us. Agricultural practices can damage and
destroy the land or they can redeem and restore the land. The tools for healthy
and sustainable living have been given to us if we open our eyes to learn from
the examples of nature around us.
Seed is about connection. Taking a group of young people
with a common interest in agriculture and development and putting them together
to dig down to the root causes of food insecurity and injustice in their
communities. Young people motivating and challenging each other to be critical
thinkers, problem solvers, and change agents.
Seed is about young people having a say in the development
of their communities. If young people are involved in agriculture, and if
agriculture is life, then young people can shape the development of their
communities in a move towards sustainability, food sovereignty, and shalom.
What is shalom? What are the root causes of food insecurity
and conflict in our communities? What is the link between agriculture, food
sovereignty, justice, and peace? How do those four areas work together to
bring about communities where people know shalom, where people are in right
relationship with themselves, with their neighbours, with God, and with
creation?
The Seed program is a seed- a seed of transformation planted
in the participants, in the communities where they work and live, in our
partners, and in MCC herself. It is a goal that at times seems lofty beyond our
means, but that is the power of relationship and working together. To see young
people motivated and inspired to lead their communities towards food
sovereignty and shalom. To see farmers, communities, and partners with the
capacity to do the same. To see MCC set priorities where the needs are most
strongly felt and to use to the greatest advantage the strengths, abilities,
and passions of young leaders from Southern Africa. That is where we are headed
over the next two years, and that is what makes me incredibly excited.
On the way to visit one of MCC's partners in Zimbabwe (Binga district) we stopped by the road to see the hot springs. Who knew?
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Sunday, April 17, 2016
I am a feminist
I had started writing this post over a month ago, meaning to
post it on International Women’s Day. However, I kept re-writing parts and
delaying, worrying it sounded too angry or reactive. After being harassed on
the way to church today by a man who tried to convince me that I wanted to have
sex with him (once you are black you never go back, and have I ever tried dark
chocolate??) angry is exactly how I felt. It is time to stop re-wording things
and post it as it is. If a little emotion peeps through, so be it.
What does it mean for me to be a woman and a feminist in Southern
Africa? I present to you my own thoughts, stories, and experiences of what it
means to me, respectfully acknowledging that other women, and men, might come
at this from a very different set of experiences or perspectives.
The term “feminist” has some extreme references that are not
necessary reflected in this blog, however, I choose this word because nothing
else quite fits. I choose it in order that I might begin exploring what
feminism means to me at this time.
There’s more to the story I told last month, the one about
the taxi driver wanting to marry me for 20 cows. First of all, we forgot to pay
him for the ride and he forgot to ask, which is kind of hilarious. But that’s
not the part I want to tell. It is this; the next day we were with some
colleagues of Keke’s and she was telling them the funny story from the day
before. Her male friend exclaimed, “Only 20 cows!? Next time you take a taxi
bring me along and we’ll get a better deal.” Later that day he started joking
that I was his girlfriend, and that didn’t stop even when someone pointed out
that his fiancé might not be too pleased.
Here is my dilemma. This type of joking conversation seems
very normal here. Even not-so-joking declarations of love and requests for my
hand in marriage are every-day occurrences in my life. It gets so that I can’t
develop a professional relationship with young men because before the day is
out they are asking to marry me.
So, just because it is normal, or just because they are “joking”, does
that make it right? I can think of plenty of examples from my own Canadian
culture of norms that are oppressive, discriminatory, or demeaning towards
women.
Just because it is normal doesn’t mean it is right.
I had a whole speech ready to hand it to this guy, ready to
challenge him as a young leader in his country to set an example of respect
towards women, challenge him to re-think the implications of such social norms.
What does it say about his views towards women when his whole demeanor
suggested I should be happy to “pretend” date him because he thought it was a
good idea, not because he asked me. As if I couldn’t do better than an arrogant
prick like him! I had the opportunity to say all these things, but I choked. I felt too alone, too aware
I’d just be brushed off as an uptight girl who can’t take a joke, and what
business did I have commenting on Lesotho culture anyway?
What does it mean for me to be a feminist in Southern
Africa? This is a question I often ask myself, and there is no easy answer. It
is easy to be a feminist in New Brunswick. Other people can write the provoking
blog posts and I can nod in agreement and go on with life. But now it is my
turn to write.
I am a feminist.
Sometimes being a feminist means refusing to let random
teenage guys take my picture when I am at the beach in Mozambique. I ask them
if it is respectful to try and take someone’s picture without even greeting
them first, in a culture where greeting is very important. They look embarrassed
and leave me alone after that.
Sometimes being a feminist means stiffening my shoulders and
focusing my eyes in the distance as drunken men hiss and call after me on the
street.
I am a strong woman.
Sometimes being new to a country I would do anything just to
fit in. I find myself carrying my male colleague’s bags that he handed to me as
we walk out of the store together. At first I feel happy that I belong, happy
that he is treating me, a foreigner, like any other woman. Wait a second. What
am I doing?? I don’t want to carry his bags for him! I am too embarrassed to
give them back. Am I a strong woman?
Sometimes people ask me if I think it is better to be a man
or a woman. Sometimes people laugh at my idealism when I make a point about
woman’s rights or equal opportunity. But at least if they join in the
discussion the first step has been won.
Sometimes the divide in the debate is generational, not
gender based. Are teenage girls who wear short skirts somehow to blame when
they experience sexual violence? The room is split and it is not men versus
women. There is hope.
When I moved to Machanga in Mozambique last year I had the
chance to pick out the motorcycle I wanted. In a place where few women know how
to drive, having wheels gave me freedom and independence. I knew exactly what I
wanted: a cute little scooter with the tank under the seat and electric
starter. Totally impractical for the rural roads I was driving, but very
important for me for three reasons. The tank under the seat instead of between
the knees meant I could wear a skirt while riding. The electric starter meant
no kick-starting, which requires sturdy shoes (not heels) and more weight than
I’ve got. The small scooter size meant I could easily push it up a wooden plank
and into my house every night for safekeeping. I am perfectly capable of riding
a big Honda XL 125CC bike much more suited to rural sandy roads, but I didn’t
just want freedom to get around. I wanted freedom to get around while rocking heels
and a pencil skirt. People are always well dressed in Mozambique and it is
important to look nice and wear smart shoes. Quite seriously the second thing I
bought for my new apartment was a clothes iron (the first being a toaster). My scooter
let me dress how I want and still have the freedom to get around. The
definition of independence shouldn’t mean to be like a man.
I am an independent woman.
Here, when you meet a new person, instead of asking what you
do, people ask if you are married. An elderly man, when he heard I was single
at 26 said to me, “Don’t worry, God will provide someone for you.” I asked him
if God is not providing for me now when I am single.
I am a strong woman.
I see other women who are strong, courageous,
loving, independent, strong-willed, compassionate, caring, genuine, and
generous, and I am inspired.
I am a strong woman. Sometimes I feel it, and sometimes I
don’t. Sometime I laugh, sometimes I cry. Sometimes I feel intimidated and am
angry at myself for it, because I am strong, right? Sometimes I am vulnerable. Sometimes
I am victorious.
I am all these things. I am a woman. I live with hope, not
bitterness. I live in this world
but I try to live so that tomorrow, even in the smallest of ways, it might be a
better one.
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