News 2008
JUNE 2008 NEWS BULLETIN
· Just in—VISA DENIED FOR BARTHOLOMEW
Such disappointment for all of us that Bartholomew’s status as a single African male was one of the reasons listed in the refusal. Another was political instability in Chad that may interfere with his employment there.
The planned tour of universities and high schools for Bartholomew will now have to be made vicariously through the newly chaptered DVD, From Under the Bushy Trees. Keep an eye on this page for dates in September of events at an institution near you.
For the rest of the holiday during the rainy season, Bartholomew will return to Chad to plant fruit trees on the site and train teachers. Our family is back in Sarh with big brother Tog. Haoua, now the only girl in the family, is staying with an aunt and uncle for now. WHISCA continues support with your assistance. Thank you!
Gerri
Geraldine Graber, Ph.D.
Coordinator of Development
Mardi, le 13 Mai 2008
· Objet: letter de remercierment á WHISCA
Nous, les éléves de l’Ecole le Nouveau Jardin de Manda 1, remercions trés infiniment l’ONG WHISCA á traverse son representant M. Mokuh Barthelemy . Notre plume ne peut d’écrire tous les efforts engagés par WHISCA dans notre ecole. Nous prions chaque jours pour que le Bon Dieu guide WHISCa dans dans le bon chemin . Grâce á WHISCA, nous avons trouvé des batiments, de table bancs et bien d’autre chose encore. Nous remercions et encourageons WHISCA dans ses efforts.
Avec nos sinceres amour
les éleves de L’école le Nouveau Jardin de Manda 1
(Translation of courtesy)
Tuesday, 13 may 2008
Subject: Letter of Thank you to WHISCA.
We the pupils of The New Garden School Manda 1 will like to thank the NGO, WHISCA through their representative Mr Mokuh Batholomew. Our pen cannot adequately describe all the efforts deployed by WHISCA in our school. Through you we we acquired buildings, desk and many others things. We to pray to God every day to guide you in this good path. We thank you and also encourage you in all your efforts.
With sincere love
The pupils of L’école le Nouveau Jardin de Manda 1
CHAD BULLETIN
With Bartholomew’s return to Chad in March, operations for WHISCA resumed and your contributions were sent in our usual quarterly installments. Thank you!
· April 2008
Dear Willing Hearts,
Our bated breath was exhaled in a collective gasp of disappointment when we learned on March 31 of our failure to procure a CIDA grant. The monies that were held in that hope chest as our contribution will now be disbursed according to our original plan: construction of the storage room, desks, and additional classrooms as well as scholarship programs. One of CIDA's objections was that our plans are too ambitious. Yes, they are ambitious, but how can any plans for Chad be too ambitious?
As you can see, your continued support is needed now more than ever. For individual fundraiser events, we suggest that individuals use the DVD, From Under the Bushy Trees available from Bear Productions (see description at the bottom of this page).
With heartfelt gratitude to you,
Gerri
Geraldine Graber, Ph.D.
Coordinator of Development
Willing Hearts International Society-Canada
· February 2008 – Updates
Dear Willing Hearts
CHAD BULLETIN
With the relative calm that prevails in Chad now that the EU forces are expected to arrive next month, Bartholomew is on his way back to Chad from Cameroon where he was coincidentally—or providentially—the first refugee. He had been called to an insurance claim hearing regarding his accident two years ago. Two days after he arrived, the civil war broke out. All communication with his UN connections are disrupted, but he expects an uneventful crossing.
· January 2008 – Little Chadian Seamstress
Thanks to WHISCA donors!
· December 2007 – From Under the Bushy Trees
This film had a very well received preview screening at the Powell River Film Festival, Saturday, Feb 9th, 2008.
The rise of local North American initiatives, propelled by passionate individuals, are reaching out to many communities in Africa. With these initiatives comes desperately needed help and a variety of problems. Much of what we in North America define as problematic in Africa is the direct result of our own actions.
A deceptively simple project connects the small town of Powell River, B.C. and the isolated village of Manda in the former French colony of Chad, in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Beautifully photographed and sensitively edited, the unfolding of this well meaning project becomes the central storyline through which we look at the delivery of aid, and the power of education to bring sustainable social change.
In From Under the Bushy Trees we journey from Powell River to Chad with Gerri Graber. In Chad, Gerri teams up with a young man, Bartholemew Mokuh. Together, with the support of Willing Hearts International Society Canada, they work with the people of Manda to build a school. Gerri returns to Africa for part of each year to live with Mokuh and the seven AIDS orphans Willing Hearts has adopted.
In N’Djamena, the capital city of Chad, we meet Honourary Consul of Canada, Lynn Whitehouse, originally from Dawson Creek. Lynn and her husband have lived in Chad for 30 years and have adopted fifteen AIDS orphans. Lynn believes there is an urgent need for the education of all children, within the context of their own culture. How can Chadian children imagine what is better unless they have a shared vocabulary that means something to them? It is only then that one can begin to understand a concept like human rights or democracy.
Along the way we experience the rhythm of village life of Chad. We then return to Powell River as Gerri’s sister Gina and Willing Hearts struggle with the increasing difficulties of sending a container to Manda. The villagers are eagerly waitng for the container full of supplies. But not everything turns out as expected.
At the heart of the film are the women of Chad. Madame Nadjianan is the head teacher of Manda’s new school. Taroum immigrated to Montreal so that she can perform with her brothers their inspired blend of gospel, jazz and hip-hop. Madame Nadijanan, Taroum, and others, explore the ongoing oppression of women in their communities. It is from Taroum that we learn that female genital mutilation is a devastating reality for most Chadian women.
How can aid be delivered with both justice and dignity? The filmmakers’ position is that we owe Africa, forever, for the centuries of imperialism that continues today not only in political and corporate exploitation but also in our daily use of resources. Hopefully, From Under the Bushy Trees is a small step towards understanding where to go from here.
DVDs will be available for personal use for $30 including shipping. $5 from each sale is donated to WHISCA. Institutional use price negotiable. Contact information for the video:
- Bear Productions,
- C7, RR#1
- Powell River, BC
- V8A 4Z2
- jpadgett@shaw.ca
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