Meeting Diaspora.
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Jul. 14th, 2008 | 02:43 pm
S. and I decided to take a stroll into Downtown Kampala on Saturday afternoon. We made it a kilometer down Kampala Street and to the small bookstore near Parliament Avenue. I found another novel by Christina Lamb and, with regret, put it down half and hour later to save myself 30,000 shillings. Next, Pap's Cafe. A great place with bright orange walls, kind waiters, great food and delicious coffee. On occasion, one must say no to matoke, pilau and tilapia.
I was reading the Independent when it struck me that the picture of the rather good-looking featured artist, Bobby Wine, was identical to a man sitting across the outside terrace. I couldn't resist picking up the magazine and heading over to his table. I showed him the picture and we agreed on the resemblance: short dreadlocks in a crown, tall, enthusiastic smile. After a 5-minute conversation, it turns out that he's TMS Ruge. We'd been emailing the week before planning to meet up for coffee to discuss the Citizen Journalism Workshop I'm organizing while he was in town.
Great fortune that Bobby Wine was in the magazine. Teddy, or TMS Ruge, is heading a few great projects. The first one is called "Project Diaspora." The goal, from what I understood in our two too-brief meetings - the first gin-and tonic influenced, the second, me, coffee-high - is to motivate the African diaspora to spear-head projects in their native countries to improve living conditions and encourage grassroots development through their 'international' connections. The African diaspora is definitely a huge, untapped component of development.
Teddy pointed out several of the benefits of enlisting diaspora. Some are racially charged, but must be agreed with: mzungus running short-term and long-term development projects in Uganda is a source of friction. Enlisting individuals with a strong tie to their home country - whether through extended family or other means - is important. These individuals can both represent the international community while also speaking for 'their' people. Reality roughs me up here, but white foreigners in Uganda can never truly do the above. Rare the 'white' person who can represent Ugandans and speak in their interest without facing constant criticism.
Then there's "Project Aloe." A recent trip to his mother's house in Masindi revealed the plight of Uganda's Aloe Vera farmers. The farmers had bought Aloe seeds and successfully grown healthy crops. However, they received no advice on how to sell, process or market Aloe. Teddy has stepped in and he's working towards developing an international aloe trade between Uganda, Europe and North America. If you have ideas for project funding, potential markets or other, please contact Teddy via his blog. He's also a great photographer, so if you're in Dallas, Texas and need some head shots done, you're in business.
It's been a while since I've met someone with some of my favorite personality traits in one brain: energetic, determined, multi-talented, inspired, and not scared of the unknown (or hard-work). That and an obvious interest in fostering social change and growth. I'm inspired.
My work in Uganda is reaching its pinnacle: the Citizen Journalism workshop begins at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
I was reading the Independent when it struck me that the picture of the rather good-looking featured artist, Bobby Wine, was identical to a man sitting across the outside terrace. I couldn't resist picking up the magazine and heading over to his table. I showed him the picture and we agreed on the resemblance: short dreadlocks in a crown, tall, enthusiastic smile. After a 5-minute conversation, it turns out that he's TMS Ruge. We'd been emailing the week before planning to meet up for coffee to discuss the Citizen Journalism Workshop I'm organizing while he was in town.
Great fortune that Bobby Wine was in the magazine. Teddy, or TMS Ruge, is heading a few great projects. The first one is called "Project Diaspora." The goal, from what I understood in our two too-brief meetings - the first gin-and tonic influenced, the second, me, coffee-high - is to motivate the African diaspora to spear-head projects in their native countries to improve living conditions and encourage grassroots development through their 'international' connections. The African diaspora is definitely a huge, untapped component of development.
Teddy pointed out several of the benefits of enlisting diaspora. Some are racially charged, but must be agreed with: mzungus running short-term and long-term development projects in Uganda is a source of friction. Enlisting individuals with a strong tie to their home country - whether through extended family or other means - is important. These individuals can both represent the international community while also speaking for 'their' people. Reality roughs me up here, but white foreigners in Uganda can never truly do the above. Rare the 'white' person who can represent Ugandans and speak in their interest without facing constant criticism.
Then there's "Project Aloe." A recent trip to his mother's house in Masindi revealed the plight of Uganda's Aloe Vera farmers. The farmers had bought Aloe seeds and successfully grown healthy crops. However, they received no advice on how to sell, process or market Aloe. Teddy has stepped in and he's working towards developing an international aloe trade between Uganda, Europe and North America. If you have ideas for project funding, potential markets or other, please contact Teddy via his blog. He's also a great photographer, so if you're in Dallas, Texas and need some head shots done, you're in business.
It's been a while since I've met someone with some of my favorite personality traits in one brain: energetic, determined, multi-talented, inspired, and not scared of the unknown (or hard-work). That and an obvious interest in fostering social change and growth. I'm inspired.
My work in Uganda is reaching its pinnacle: the Citizen Journalism workshop begins at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
I feel like a rock star!
from: anonymous
date: Jul. 15th, 2008 10:29 am (UTC)
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Stay off the gin and tonic!
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