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nikki's Blog

A community helping itself

Submitted by nikki on 15 August 2011 - 4:12pm
This week’s online meeting between the UK and Nigeria teams marked another step forward because it drew upon additional technology. As well as our usual Skyped/typed conversation we used sms/phone messages to check the situation at FF in the light of John’s uncharacteristic absence. The fact John had not sent us an explanatory email as is his custom had caused us to speculate as to whether there was a problem. However, the team in the UK (based in London and Leeds) were able to contact Comfort at Fantsuam (rural Nigeria) and she reassured us that all was OK, aside from...

A community helping itself

Submitted by nikki on 15 August 2011 - 4:12pm
This week’s online meeting between the UK and Nigeria teams marked another step forward because it drew upon additional technology. As well as our usual Skyped/typed conversation we used sms/phone messages to check the situation at FF in the light of John’s uncharacteristic absence. The fact John had not sent us an explanatory email as is his custom had caused us to speculate as to whether there was a problem. However, the team in the UK (based in London and Leeds) were able to contact Comfort at Fantsuam (rural Nigeria) and she reassured us that all was OK, aside from...

Kafanchan Violence: The legacy

Submitted by nikki on 7 August 2011 - 8:58pm
Nearly four months after Kafanchan’s post-election violence, we were sad to learn from John Dada that staffing at Fantsuam is still suffering the effects. Chollom, the network administrator who was displaced during the troubles, has now understandably relocated to Jos. Likewise Yakubu, a recent arrival, has also returned to Jos at the insistence of his worried family. Before the troubles Kafanchan was widely perceived to be safer than Jos, so the UK team were disturbed to learn from John that this is no longer true. He said: “I think this is the often unseen and untold price that organisations and...

Making Rural Connections

Submitted by nikki on 24 July 2011 - 11:59pm
Judging by this week’s UK-Nigeria online meeting, it seems the normal busy and varied activities of Fantsuam Foundation are becoming evident again following the recent post-election violence. John Dada and his team are currently working on completing a USAID proposal . This.includes establishing a mutual understanding and collaboration between pastoralists (Fulani herdsmen) and crop farmers. Attachab is developing a model to demonstrate how such mutual coexistence can take place and what its challenges may be: For example, access to water and livestock feed. Emma had to return to Kaduna to follow up on the Water Resources engagement with a Government...

From Microfinance to Climate Change

Submitted by nikki on 18 July 2011 - 12:00am
During this week's online UK-Nigeria meeting we were pleased to hear that Comfort has returned from the USA and is now back at Fantsuam Foundation . Comfort has successfully completed her two week course at the Carsey institute of New Hampshire University where she was attending their two week Sustainable Microenterprise and Development programme . Although it had only been two days since her return to Fantsuam she had already been sharing her knowledge with her microfinance team and is busy implementing a new savings scheme for the local woman. This came about because, whilst on the course, Comfort was...

First Thursday

Submitted by nikki on 13 July 2011 - 10:54pm
This month's First Thursday online meeting turned out to be an introduction and experiment for me in the use and benefits of an EtherPad. Pamela Mclean has been 'hosting' these meetings on a EtherPad for a few months now. A major benefit is that it is a public forum where people can post during the month at a time which is convenient for them. This means that this format can be more inclusive. People can post apologies or contributions before or after the agreed one hour online real-time typed discussion. For example, Pam had previous had an email from Sam,...

Welcoming new Friends

Submitted by nikki on 11 July 2011 - 9:24pm
This week’s UK-Nigeria online meeting differed from the norm as, for once, new participants outnumbered the regulars! Apologies were received from Frances and Pam - who was traveling and unable to come online - and from Kelechi who was in Abuja. Meanwhile Comfort was still on training in the USA and was unsure if her schedule would allow her to attend - or even if she would wake up in time! However, John was able to introduce me to two new team members, Yakubu and Emmanuel. During the meeting Yakubu told us he had only been at Fantsuam Foundation (FF)...

The on-going effects of the Post-Election Violence

Submitted by nikki on 6 July 2011 - 9:36pm
Today, during our weekly UK-Nigeria online meeting, John Dada informed us that he had hoped to introduce us to a young man who has a bullet lodged in his eye. Ajala is one of the victims of Kafanchan's post-Election violence. Although the sectarian attacks have ceased, there is still much humanitarian and economic aid that this large and impoverished rural community needs. John Dada and Fantsuam Foundation - a non partisan, experienced and respected NGO - do their best with what resources they receive, but helping Ajala is currently beyond their means. John Dada is used to the community turning...

Re-building Kafanchan

Submitted by nikki on 5 July 2011 - 4:38pm
We were pleased to hear from John Dada during our weekly online meeting that, following the post-election disruption, there are now some developments regarding Fantsuam Foundation’s Sickle Cell Programme. John has had discussions with a representative of the Michigan State University (who also attended the Global Sickle Cell Day in Abuja) who was due to visit FF on Friday to confirm the state of readiness of the laboratory. John reported that he has received applications from prospective staff already (one medical doctor 1 nurse, 2 community health workers) and that the physical structure and furniture is ready. What is now...

Weekly news update from Kafanchan

Submitted by nikki on 26 June 2011 - 11:24pm
This week’s online meeting between UK-Nigeria was in three parts: 1. The first part took the format of a series of emails from John Dada which contained staff member updates and the latest information about the Kafanchan Peace Market - together with photos. The photo show the market which was razed to the ground in April during the post-election violence and the emergence of the new market. The team were sad to learn that a senior trainer had decided to relocate to Abuja but wish him every success in his new job and studies. It was felt by the team...

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