Life Is Great!

Holla! Hello everyone! Sorry for the delayed blog post, I've kind of been busy ( not really, just lazy). Alright so I'm going to try and update you on my life here in Kigali. My internship is going very well. The resettlement camp (refugee camp) I was explaining earlier, that Jim and I visited, has provided an amazing opportunity for us to really get involved. Jim and I have been given the opportunity to brainstorm ideas that would guide the resettlement camp into transformational development. Meaning, we are working on a proposal that would provide an on going and long term development program. The only other organization that is involved with the camp is the World Food Program (WFP) and then the Rwandan government (district level). We met with both parties last week to get a grip on what projects are already being implemented and how Food for the Hungry can assist. We have learned that there are two projects that are addressing the camps needs. The 1st one is a cultivation project that will help with agriculture training and food security. The 2nd is to construct 274 homes inside the camp. This will be done through a food for work program. Kind of straight forward, the people that work with the construction of the houses will receive food for their labor. This takes away from them becoming totally dependent on food aid and includes them in the construction process. Jim and I have come to the conclusion that there is no clear objective for long term development yet. So we have come up with a few things, but are still brainstorming. Essentially though we want to make this development possible by empowering the people at the camp. We would do this by organizing some type of governmental structure and leave a lot of the decision making up to them. We would only be there to guide them or lend them our assistance when needed. Second the community needs some type of micro-economic activity. There is absolutely no money in the community, so if we can guide them in creating a commodity that we would sale in relatively close markets and create some money that way. So yea, that is a real brief explanation on that, if you don't understand just email me. (or just read it over and over). Other things I am involved with are just little things here and there. It is exciting though to actually have a voice in something that could actually become implemented.

God is truly blessing the other Interns and I with an awesome experience this summer. I really believe in a lot of things Food for the Hungry stands for and Dwight (the area director) has been so helpful and is teaching me a lot. I attended a meeting with Dwight last week in the Eastern Province with the Mayor and financial director of that province. Oh yea, I felt like I was a big shot. Well minus the fact that the whole meeting was in French and I just nodded my head like I understood what they were talking about. But in reality I was just concentrating on acting important. Also it is customary for the people here to offer tea to their guest, so after the meeting we sat there and had tea.....hmmmmm, i'm a balla! So that is an overview on some of the things I am involved with here. I was going to write more about my weekend and some of the stories but I will save that for tomorrow. This turned out to be longer then I thought. But I miss you all and love you very much. Do not be afraid to email me at Aaron.Martin@asu.edu or write comments on my blog either. It is fun when you do. Alright peace from Kigali, Rwanda.