In the thick of it...

Oh geez, what a couple of days. Rollercoaster. So, yesterday, I met with members of MORFA (the Moringa Farmer’s cooperative) to discuss plans for the funds raised…it went well, the plan hasn’t changed much from when I left. Today, meeting with the Sunshine family in the morning at the office, except- oh noes!- surprise meeting of the local cooperatives at the same time! I guess they meet once a month here at the office, and today was the day…so I got to tell them all, as a group, that the office was closing and that effective immediately they would not be receiving any more assistance. Fun! No, it was awful. And then I felt like a sneaky cheat, because while they were having their meeting in the main room dealing with this bad news, I was in the next room over giving another group money!

I just comforted James, my friend and a grown man (in his 40s), who was crying because he’s so upset about how things are going. It looks like his and the night security guards’ unemployment insurance never got paid, or at least that is what the ministry says, so they are super worried that they won’t get any national unemployment benefits (there are some, surprisingly). James’ wife is 7 months pregnant.

So, despite the good news for MORFA and the Sunshine Family, at this particular moment, I’m not pleased. I’m getting some heavy lessons in how not to do things, learning what to avoid. It’s not currently motivating me to be involved in non-profits long term, though admittedly this will probably pass.

It frustrates the hell out of me too because I’m the one that gets the brunt of people’s anger, and yet I’m the one here trying to support them all through this, totally voluntarily. I’m here on a grad research grant, I don’t have to do this AT ALL. I’d walk right now except then who would take care of things? When people direct their anger at me I start fuming, and I want to tell them to watch their mouths, because I’m so close to walking every single second. But then how can I not understand…I’d feel the same way as they do, in fact I’d be angrier and would probably behave worse.

Solace…there is some. I still love this town, and I am embracing the challenges presented to me. Hanging out with Sunshine is as good as ever, in fact his English is improved and my Krio has improved, so conversation flows much better.

More solace in the people I’ve met…I met a charming young lad who works for UNIDO in Freetown, and he’s in Kenema next week (not too far away) and has invited me to come down to stay with the UNIDO team for a few days, to hang out in the city (Kenema is the 3^rd largest city in Sierra Leone) and eat things that are not fried doughballs (the current specialty in Koidu). I’m excited, that will be fun!

If anyone who attended the fundraiser in September is reading this, both MORFA and the Sunshine Family send huge thanks for the support- they are very touched, I showed them pictures of the event and they were actually shocked, surprised, like “why do these people care, do they know Sierra Leone?” It meant a lot to me, but it means 1000 times more to them. After having the meetings with the group heads, I’ve decided the avoid the weekly meetings for both groups this week so that they can talk amongst themselves, in Krio, and not worry about being polite to me while they discuss their new finances. Both groups will be presenting me with a final budget/management plan before I release the funds, and I’ll attend their meetings next week to get more photos and video for y’all.