English translation below
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We
zitten aan tafel in het guesthouse. Alle denkbare mobiele en digitale
apparatuur staat op tafel of er wordt mee rondgelopen door Marieke
(de fotograaf). We hebben net Jan Suk ge-smst, het derde
MF-bestuurslid. Want Tonia en ik maken ons een beetje zorgen...
Kunnen we het proces financieel bijbenen? De renovatie van de school
is echt in volle vaart en we hebben gisteren naar het thuisfront
gemaild dat we willen weten of er belangrijke post is. We hopen
namelijk op een financiële
tegemoetkoming van een fonds, maar hebben het vermoeden dat de
aanvraag van Mineke Foundation deze keer niet gehonoreerd is. Dat zou
echt heel vervelend zijn, want we hebben het nu heel hard nodig. Er
gebeurt zoveel op dit moment in Dabwe Town en er staat nog zoveel
meer op stapel!
Als klein voorbeeld: toen we hier vijf dagen geleden
aankwamen was de renovatie van wat Auditorium-Mineke gaat worden net
begonnen. En vanmiddag ging bijna de vlag in top voor het hoogste
punt! We kunnen het niet laten gebeuren dat over een paar weken de
gemotiveerde ploeg onder aanvoering van Mitchell klaar is en niet
verder kan met de renovatie van de school zelf! Dus beste lezers,
help ons hen aan het werk te houden!
Tonia
en ik hadden een intensieve middag in Dabwe Town. We zagen hoe de
jeugd een geweldige brug slaat tussen vader Wiah en de community. Het
is zo mooi om te zien hoe de jongeren onbevangen contact maken en
zijn ervaringen op het gebied van landbouw opzuigen. Wat een wijze
man en wat een kennis spreekt uit zijn verhalen en visie.
Het
moeras achter de Damiefaschool en het huis is een waar lustoord.
Ondanks zijn gevorderde leeftijd is Dabwe Wiah nog dagelijks in de
weer met zijn experimentele groententeelt. Hij verbouwt groenten en
gebruikt de meest simpele hulpmiddelen voor de teelt van de gewassen.
Dat zien we trouwens ook verder in de community. Op onze 'excursie'
met Bert Neevel, onder leiding van Tonia - die veel kennis van haar
vader heeft opgestoken - zien we palmbladeren die om de maisplanten
zijn gedraaid. Dit om de planten te beschermen tegen slakken en
kippen(!). En wat te denken van de overbekende composthopen die hier
welig tieren. Vaak zijn die 'gedrapeerd' om bananenbomen (kennelijk
een goede symbiose). Echt te gek! Weg met alle chemische
bestrijdingsmiddelen. Hier is de natuur de baas!
Het
moeras is momenteel vrij droog. De regentijd start in mei en loopt
door tot oktober. De door Tonia's ouders gebouwde brug, die het
oorspronkelijke dorp verbindt met het later ontwikkelde gedeelte,
staat tegenwoordig in de regentijd volledig onder water. Dat is deels
een gevolg van ouderdom, maar vooral te wijten aan de verwoestingen
in de oorlog. Het geeft in elk geval veel problemen. De mensen kunnen
de overkant niet bereiken of moeten door het moeras waden. Dat is
zeker niet zonder gevaar: ongedierte, of erger – slangen! De
grootste wens van de community is dan ook vernieuwing van de brug.
Onontbeerlijk voor een goede logistiek. De plannen liggen er. 
De
community draagt haar steentje bij, de overheid lijkt ook bereid een
duit in het zakje te doen en Mineke Foundation wil dit project graag
meefinancieren. Het Mineke Foundation projectteam in Liberia heeft
renovatie van de Damiefaschool en vernieuwing van de brug aangemerkt
als de belangrijkste prioriteiten. Vanuit Nederland zullen wij er
alles aan doen om hen daarbij te helpen om die projecten zo snel
mogelijk te realiseren. 
Het
is mijn stellige overtuiging dat er een wereld van verschil is tussen
een community met en
een community zonder een goed gekwalificeerde school en een
stevige brug. Ik hoop dat het verslag van onze reis ook u overtuigt
dat hulp Dabwe Town vooruit helpt. Mogen wij op u rekenen?!
6
maart 2012, Elly
=======================
A different world
We sit at the table in the guesthouse. All imaginable mobile and digital equipment is on the table or is carried by Marieke (the photographer). We just texted Jan Suk, the third MF board member. Because Tonia and I are a little worried ... Can we keep up with the process financially?
The renovation of the school is really at full speed and we e-mailed home yesterday that we want to know if there is an important letter. We´re hoping to receive a grant from a fund, but have the suspicion that the application of Mineke Foundation hasn´t been honored. That would be really disappointing, because it is now desperately needed. There is so much happening at this moment in Dabwe Town and there is so much more in the pipeline!
As a small example: when we arrived here five days ago the renovation of Auditorium-Mineke was just beginning. And this afternoon, workmen were almost ready to hoist the flag to mark the highest point! We can not let it happen that in a few weeks the motivated team led by Mitchell will have finished work and can not continue with the renovation of the school itself! So dear readers, help us to keep them at work!
Tonia and I had an intense afternoon Dabwe Town. We saw how the youth are building a bridge between father Wiah and the community. It's so nice to see how the young have uninhibited contact with him and drink up his experiences in the field of agriculture. What a wise man and what a knowledge and vision expressed in his stories.
The marsh behind the Damiefaschool and the house is a true pleasure ground. Despite his advanced age Dabwe Wiah is still busy every day with his experimental vegetable farm. He grows vegetables and uses the simplest tools for the cultivation of crops. We continued with a tour of the community. On our 'tour' with Bert Neevel, led by Tonia – who has learned much from her father - we see palm leaves wrapped around corn plants. This is to protect the plants against snails and chickens (!). And what about the notorious, compost piles that are rampant here. Often these 'draped' around banana trees (apparently a good symbiosis). Really great! Get rid of all chemical pesticides. Here, nature is the boss!
The marsh is currently quite dry. The rainy season starts in May and runs through October. Tonia's parents built the bridge, which connects Dabwe Town to another community. In the rainy season, the bridge is completely under water. This is partly a consequence of aging, but mainly due to the ravages of war. In any case, it causes a lot of problems. People can not reach the other side or have to wade through the swamp. That is certainly not without danger: vermin, or worse - snakes! A great wish of the community is renewing the bridge. Essential for good logistics. The plans are there.
The community is contributing to this, the government seems willing to chip in and Mineke Foundation is happy to co-finance this project. The Mineke Foundation project in Liberia, the Damiefaschool renovation and renewal of the bridge as the main priorities. From the Netherlands we will make every effort to assist them as soon as possible.
It is my firm conviction that there is a huge difference between a community with and a community without a well-qualified school and a sturdy bridge. I hope that the report of our trip will help prove to you that Dabwe Town is moving forward. Can we count on your help?!
March 6, 2012; Elly
=======================
A different world
We sit at the table in the guesthouse. All imaginable mobile and digital equipment is on the table or is carried by Marieke (the photographer). We just texted Jan Suk, the third MF board member. Because Tonia and I are a little worried ... Can we keep up with the process financially?
The renovation of the school is really at full speed and we e-mailed home yesterday that we want to know if there is an important letter. We´re hoping to receive a grant from a fund, but have the suspicion that the application of Mineke Foundation hasn´t been honored. That would be really disappointing, because it is now desperately needed. There is so much happening at this moment in Dabwe Town and there is so much more in the pipeline!
As a small example: when we arrived here five days ago the renovation of Auditorium-Mineke was just beginning. And this afternoon, workmen were almost ready to hoist the flag to mark the highest point! We can not let it happen that in a few weeks the motivated team led by Mitchell will have finished work and can not continue with the renovation of the school itself! So dear readers, help us to keep them at work!
Tonia and I had an intense afternoon Dabwe Town. We saw how the youth are building a bridge between father Wiah and the community. It's so nice to see how the young have uninhibited contact with him and drink up his experiences in the field of agriculture. What a wise man and what a knowledge and vision expressed in his stories.
The marsh behind the Damiefaschool and the house is a true pleasure ground. Despite his advanced age Dabwe Wiah is still busy every day with his experimental vegetable farm. He grows vegetables and uses the simplest tools for the cultivation of crops. We continued with a tour of the community. On our 'tour' with Bert Neevel, led by Tonia – who has learned much from her father - we see palm leaves wrapped around corn plants. This is to protect the plants against snails and chickens (!). And what about the notorious, compost piles that are rampant here. Often these 'draped' around banana trees (apparently a good symbiosis). Really great! Get rid of all chemical pesticides. Here, nature is the boss!
The marsh is currently quite dry. The rainy season starts in May and runs through October. Tonia's parents built the bridge, which connects Dabwe Town to another community. In the rainy season, the bridge is completely under water. This is partly a consequence of aging, but mainly due to the ravages of war. In any case, it causes a lot of problems. People can not reach the other side or have to wade through the swamp. That is certainly not without danger: vermin, or worse - snakes! A great wish of the community is renewing the bridge. Essential for good logistics. The plans are there.
The community is contributing to this, the government seems willing to chip in and Mineke Foundation is happy to co-finance this project. The Mineke Foundation project in Liberia, the Damiefaschool renovation and renewal of the bridge as the main priorities. From the Netherlands we will make every effort to assist them as soon as possible.
It is my firm conviction that there is a huge difference between a community with and a community without a well-qualified school and a sturdy bridge. I hope that the report of our trip will help prove to you that Dabwe Town is moving forward. Can we count on your help?!
March 6, 2012; Elly
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