I am no longer just a left handed blogger but I like the title so it stays. My right hand is now mended and only a little stiff around the knuckles so this blog is a two handed affair. I do not really know why I bothered telling you that. It is like one of those useless twitterings that seem to be taking over the internet; on with the topic.
I am placed with the National Organisation of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry in Rwanda. The title deserves some explanation. Many of our 300 or so members are survivors of the genocide that took place in 1994 but by no means all of them. The 'survivors' referred to in the title are in fact survivors of the psychiatric services in Rwanda. The members of NOUSPR believe (with justification) that the medical approach to mental health challenges in Rwanda is not as good as it should be and is a threat to their human rights. I am not here, however, to judge and my job title is Research and Advocacy Advisor with the specific brief to help NOUSPR develop an Advocacy Strategy based on some qualitative research. Sadly the research has yet to be funded so I have not got far.
So what have I been doing you ask? The answer to this is connected to my boss here in NOUSPR, one Sam Badegee, who is without question a very good and inspirational man. He is also very funny. For example, when asked at our induction programme what he expected of me he answered 'I expect him to pull his socks up'. I do not quite know where he thought my socks were but I did wonder where he was getting his information from! Anyway, in early October, Sam was 'asked' by The Government to go to Japan for two months on a study/representation of Rwanda programme. This was not a request that he could easily turn down. He was left with an awkward problem because NOUSPR is made up entirely of volunteers and has no money whatsoever but there was to be a great deal of things going on whilst he was away but nobody really to deal with them. So he asked me to run the organisation in his absence. VSO volunteers are not meant to do such things and as it was breaking the rules, I naturally agreed to do it (breaking rules comes quite easily to me).
I have had an interesting few weeks and anyone who knows anything about Africa will be aware that things are done differently here. Time, for example, is a different concept in Africa and believe me it is futile to go against the grain. This was something I knew already but it was really brought home to me when an educational tourist company asked NOUSPR if it would host two events for visiting psychiatrists from America. Ever looking for funding possibilities, I of course said yes. The first event was held in our house (yes it is quite big) and getting on for 20 people from America, many of whom are eminent in their chosen field, duly turned up at 9.00 a.m. on Sunday 6th. Nov. The members of NOUSPR were of course late even though I had told them of the opportunities to sell their craft goods to a bus load of rich American 'Muzungos' (rich white folk), so I did what I do best and bullshitted until the programme proper started. I have to tell you that the three hours spent with the members and the Americans were some of the most remarkable and emotive time I have ever experienced and you will know I am not easily moved. Hearing stories of survivors of the genocide and the psychiatric services really does put things into proper perspective and I was even impressed by the Americans who quite clearly were not only genuinely interested but also quite openly and honestly distressed, so much so that the women's' groups that made the craft goods had a bonanza day!
The bonanza they had on that day had quite an effect because on the 13th. November a second group of American psychiatrists were due to come. This time the group was double the size (our house is not that big so we had to hire a room at a hotel) and do you know that all the members (and there were a few more) turned up half an hour early to set up their stalls! Oh the power of the dollar. Everyone was a winner.
More to come stay well.
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