At the end of January 2008 I will be leaving for West Africa to participate in a four month internship with OXFAM Quebec and NetCorps.

I will work with colleagues in the Yam Pukri School of new technology. I will also be visiting a film school in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and meeting with organizers of the biggest film festival in West Africa: Fespaco.

With this type of long-term development programming, the idea is to work with public sector organizations in developing nations to affect lasting positive change and share skills. My experience in West Africa will be about learning AND about teaching.

The motto of the Yam Pukri School is: Eveille ton intelligence, prends ce qui te revient de droit et
participe au progrès du monde!

In my role as teacher/facilitator, I will attempt to transfer to my African coworkers my comfort with, and knowledge of, communication and information technology.

To show commitment to the project and the program, I need to FUND RAISE $500.00CDN. The money is a gesture of advocacy and outreach. The hope is to increase "awareness and promote greater engagement of young Canadians with respect to international development issues." All my other expenses - including vaccinations - will be covered by OXFAM Quebec and NetCorps.

Please see this website for information about the Millennium Development Goals:
http://www.undp.org/mdg/goalxgoal.shtml

Since I was offered the placement only yesterday, and have two weeks of training to do (and many needles to get - gulp!), I will not have much time to fund raise in the traditional way.

*** Please Pledgie peeps - any help you could give would be very, very much appreciated. ***

Merci bien!

If you are interested in more information please visit:

PROGRAM
http://www.netcorps-cyberjeunes.org/nouveau-siteweb/faq.php?tpl=red

HOST ORGANIZATION
http://www.yam-pukri.org/yam_fr/index.html

PARTNERS
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/index-e.htm
http://www.oxfam.ca/

FILM!!!
http://www.iris.gov.bf/
http://www.fespaco.bf/