Directly from Burkina Faso:

Saturday, April 28

We waited all day yesterday for OCADES to fix their vehicle in order to travel to Tantiaka (La Petite) to begin construction on the concrete platform around the well.  Last week we drilled the borehole- 26 meters deep, however there are still many things to do before it is a working well.

At nearly 3pm OCADES called and said it would have to be tomorrow.  We hadn’t known that the village had prepared lunch for us and killed a chicken to provide some meat for the meal.  We were glad they got to eat it themselves as this was surely a rare treat for them.

Today we traveled to Tantiaka with Paul and Pauline for the first time. Our team is growing and both Paul and Pauline are interested in working with BARKA Foundation.  What a blessing as they both have so much to offer, each in different ways.  Paul is in his 50′s, awakened spiritually, has a diverse corporate background, and is our self-described “Man in Havana”.  Pauline has been bit by the Burkina bug and has raised money like we have to return to continue her volunteer service in the country she loves.  She is working with a country-based NGO and also planning to help BARKA with ongoing water & sanitation sensibilization within Tantiaka.   And the next phase of the project which is to help the women of the village.

We arrived at the village and introduced Paul and Pauline to Bempoua, spoke of the spiritual work we did with her late husband and deceased son- work that powerfully grounded us to this homeland.  We showed them his tomb and told the story of how in 2007 when we came from America he waited until the second we arrived at his door to die.

There’s a lot of personal history here.

The technicians had already arrived and were very pleased with the well.  With a generator they had actually pumped water through a long tube (when we arrived women of Bempoua’s compound were carrying basins of water on their heads to their home- water from the new well!)  They told us the well was pumping out 2000 – 3000 liters of water per hour, far in excess of the government’s minimum regulation of 700 liters per hour.  They had tested the water and said it was safe to drink.  We were able to taste the water- how sweet such water is.  Ina offered tobacco, a Native American tradition. OCADES took some water back to the lab with them for further testing and told us this was one of the best wells they have ever seen.

Bempoua asked to speak with us.  We told her that BARKA wishes to move forward with the mill the women asked for however there were many steps involved and it would take some time.  We explained how the women must organize themselves in order to apply for a government-subsidized machine which can grind grain, pump water for irrigation and provide electricity.  We explained that BARKA would continue to partner with them to manifest this and informed her that the next steps are to build the platform around the well, and then to build the community latrine.  Once those were both complete, there will be an inauguration.  TV crews will be here from the National TV station, colleagues from Ouagadougou wish to come, a traditional dance troupe will perform and a theatre troupe will begin the hygiene education for the whole village. Bempoua herself will make the local millet beer for the big crowd.  We’ll serve two goats to the guests, and we agreed to say prayers together before the day begins to set an intention of success and prosperity for this day, this project and the continued sustainability of this work.

Bempoua said she holds us in her heart and gave us many blessings for long life and success to the endeavors of BARKA Foundation.  She told us that although her eyes may be big, they’re not wide enough to see all the new things we’rebringing to her awareness and to the lives of villagers- things she had never understood before.  The gulimanchema language she speaks is full of poetry like this.  I had wished Paul and Pauline had witnessed this intimate encounter with Bempoua because it was so very beautiful. It embodied the kind of reciprocity for which we strive, a profound gift on all levels, and so rare indeed in this profession of international development which sorely lacks the personal connections that make the world go round…

En route home we stopped to pay respect to Lompo, the local king of 44 villages and an important part of the process of water and land management from a traditional perspective.  He was so pleased that we brought new friends to see him he gave us a white rabbit to make a delicious soup (stew).  Although it was only 3pm by the time the day’s journey came to an end, it was still well above 100 degrees and we were wiped.  Another beautiful day in Burkina.

X marks the spot!

They even met with directors of Radio Television for Burkina (RTB) and TV-Z who were supposed to come out for the starting of the drilling to promote water-sanitation across Burkina Faso.

FINALLY HERE!

“Everyone sees a vision of the future, and we are trying to hold on to that vision.” -Esu

Updating status from a mobile phone in Burkina Faso. This feels nothing short of miraculous. We go to La Petite to discuss with the village drilling a new well… the fulfillment of a promise made almost 3 years ago.

Three years after Ina and Esu made a promise to the women of La Petite village, the cofounders of the BARKA Foundation return to Burkina Faso to keep their word.  After years of personal sacrifice (Ina and Esu draw no wage from their work with BARKA), a few months of personal tragedy and hardships (Esu’s father, a huge supporter of BARKA passed away recently and Ina hurt her ankle), they rise above their own lives to fulfill their promise.

In their own words:

We’re now waiting for the women of the village to arrive to begin a meeting with those who asked us in 2008 to help them address the community’s dire water needs. Tomorrow morning we meet with the entire village to talk about the project. It’s been a long time coming and it’s finally here! –March 25, 2012

In a world where transparency is one of the more difficult goals organizations aspire to, BARKA has set a standard of excellence, honesty, and accountability:

The women were so happy to see us and hear the news about the project they couldn’t express it in words. –March 25, 2012

Ina and Esu continue to let their supporters know about their struggles and triumphs from the ground in Burkina Faso by updating their status on Facebook.  We at BARKA believe in using technology to connect people across the globe because we strongly believe that we can learn from and help one another.  The goal of the BARKA Foundation is to give the Burkinabe a hand up towards their goal of a better future, not a handout.  We believe in working together towards the solution.

Only 90 minutes from a meeting with the entire village. There will be hundreds of people coming. We’ll tell them about all the people in North America who care for them and have made this possible. –March 26, 2012

Following the initial jubilee of their return, Ina and Esu got to work on the logistics of well-drilling.  On April 3^rd, they wrote:

We have a signed contract with the well driller! Happy day. We travel with them today to introduce them to the community of Tantiaka. Then, hopefully back in time to return to Ouagadougou for a series of meetings in the next 3 days. Need to scare up some local funding for other projects aspects such as the training of a mechanic to know how to repair the well.

Things are moving forward for BARKA!  And we couldn’t do it without your support, so keep it up! 

The hot winds of the Sahara are blowing strong- winds of change. -Ina & Esu

“Women can and must lead the transformation to sustainability and peace that the world requires.” –Ina Anahata, co-founder of The BARKA Foundation

In the fall of 2004, The Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers gathered from all over the world, from North, South, and Central America; Africa; and Asia. Meeting in upstate New York, within three days they had formed a “Global Alliance for the good of all beings.”  The Council was set in motion by a common vision and prophecies seeded decades ago in many people around the world.  The prophecies told that nothing will change unless we change. . . .All of us.  In their mission statement, they declared:

We represent a global alliance of prayer, education and healing for our Mother Earth, all Her inhabitants, all the children, and for the next seven generations to come.  We are deeply concerned with the unprecedented destruction of our Mother Earth and the destruction of indigenous ways of life.  We believe the teachings of our ancestors will light our way through an uncertain future.  We look to further our vision through the realization of projects that protect our diverse cultures: lands, medicines, language and ceremonial ways of prayer and through projects that educate and nurture our children.

Although the 13 Grandmothers represent all women and the broad diversity of indigenous spiritual traditions, the ”14th Grandmother” is the rest of us of women.  It is up to each of us to help heal Mother Earth.  We as women have more power than we realize.

Ina Anahata, the co-founder of the BARKA Foundation, has been dedicated to the empowerment of women in Burkina Faso for many years.  Now, she’s helping to empower women here in the US by leading gatherings and inspiring women of all ages to step up, realize their own power, and to operate in their own homes and in the world at large as the “14th Grandmother”.  Ina especially focuses on the vital role women need to play in leading the necessary changes of our shifting paradigm, to end war and co-create a future worthy of our children to be born into.

Join Ina and other women on Sunday, March 4th, to learn about how you can help shape not just the future of your family, but the future of our planet.

Ina and I arrived back in Bangor from Williams College at about 2am.  By 9:45am we were on the stage at Waterfront Park thanking the 100+ registrants for braving the weather and coming out in in the rain to support the people of Burkina Faso.  We explained how often our walks for water yield rain- a blessing of confirmation and support of this work from the Other World.  The event was flawless.  The kids were impeccable in their implementation- timing the racers, handling food, beverages, raffles, gift prizes, t-shirts for registrants (special yellow ones for volunteers), thanking the many sponsors, and in showing everyone a really good time.  WABI TV showed up, shot video and ran a story on the news.  They even had live music, although a bagpipe player was the only musician who didn’t cancel.  He was excellent… besides, what’s a multi-cultural fundraiser for Burkina Faso without the sound of bagpipes? 

While walking I began to envision the possibility of having events like these in every state of the US, occurring at difference times or simultaneously.  What a way to engage communities, schools and our nation’s youth in stepping up into their roles as leaders to be the change they wish to see in the world.

Elsewhere in Maine, on the same day, Rotarian Glen Niemy of Bridgton ran the Maine Marathon in Portland to raise funds for BARKA Foundation.   Glen just turned 60 and overcame prostate cancer and arthritis in his knee to run this race.  Although he had to stop after 23 miles, he’s still a champion in our eyes!

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• Dinner discussion led by Ina & I… the theme of the talk: If not Me, Who?  If not Now, When?  A Personalized Approach to Humanitarian Intervention
• Campus-wide workshop on music and activism co-led by BARKA & Burkina Electric, a band that mixes traditional African rhythms in experimental ways with electronica breakbeats and a rare instrument-computer called the marimba lumina
• Workshop with Mt. Greylock High School 9^th graders, who are focused on community service this year, co-led by BARKA and Burkina Electric.  This was an exhilarating event with students chanting “One more song!” at the end- the first time we’ve seen an encore in a workshop!  It also opened up new possibilities in thinking about how BARKA works with and engages students.
• Dance workshop for Kusika, Williams’ West African dance troupe led by Burkina Electric’s amazing dancers Viki and Zoko
• And finally, the much anticipated concert of Burkina Electric on campus on Friday night, with Kusika opening for the band

Ina & I were also invited by Economics Professor Kiaran Honderich to give a presentation at her Gender & Global Economy class which enabled us to get into some of the more complex issues of international development, its challenges, BARKA’s strategies for overcoming those challenges, and issues of gender and women’s empowerment in a development context.  Ina spoke of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers, and we taught the class about the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC). We talked for almost an hour after class with some students about everything.  One of them came and found me at the concert later that night and right after Mai, Burkina Electric’s lead singer explained that Ligdi means money, he stuffed some dollars into my hand and said, “Here- Ligdi! You have to have this… you guys are special.”  It might have only been a couple of bucks, however moments like those are absolutely priceless.

One last thing worthy of note: we met with Kate Flanagan and Tara ? of the Lehman Council, and Stewart Burns of the Center for Community Engagement and discussed the formation of an ongoing relationship between BARKA and Williams students.  This would entail regular updates from the field when Ina & I are in Burkina, Williams students passing on those updates to Mt. Greylock students to keep their interest and momentum going, and then collaborating on a walk for water with Williams and Mt. Greylock HS in the Spring when we return after project implementation.  Such a relationship with Lehman Council could also help foster similar outposts of support at other college campuses, as well as possible internship and volunteering opportunities.

All in all, this was an extremely successful, well received and beautifully executed event.  It also received quite a bit of promotion from the local press:

Berkshires Week: Burkina Electric Will Light Up Williams

Berkshire Eagle: BARKA Foundation Aims to WASH Berkshire County

Burkina Electric to Bring Music, Dance, Excitement to Williams College

WAMC Interview with Ina & Esu

Download the full story by Jenn Smith of The Berkshire Eagle.

PITTSFIELD, MA (WAMC) – Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa, is one of the poorest nations in the world. For the past five years, the BARKA Foundation, a Berkshire County-based NGO, has been working to bring students and residents in Massachusetts together with those in Burkina Faso with the hope of improving the lives of both.

WAMC’S Berkshire Bureau Chief Patrick Donges caught up with BARKA Foundation founders Esu and Ina Anahata to talk about some upcoming initiatives both in Burkina and the Berkshires.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE.

Like many people, Glen Niemy rarely gave much thought about how fortunate he is to have clean running water and a reliable sanitation system.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE.

“It’s a luxury we all take for granted,” the Bridgton resident said.

His outlook changed after hearing a Rotary Club guest speaker representing the BARKA Foundation who talked about poverty-stricken Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in West Africa which less than half of its population has access to clean water and in rural regions less than 10% of the people have access to adequate sanitation.

To help this region, Niemy decided to use one of his passions — running — to raise $5,000 to be used to improve living conditions in Burkina Faso. Niemy plans to run in the Maine Marathon in Portland on Oct. 2, and is seeking pledges from area residents and businesses.

“Women walk great distances in search of water, and even then, the quality isn’t very good — often it is full of diseases. Children and people die daily because of bad water,” said Niemy who has been a member of the Rotary Club for the past three years. “When we think about water, it is simply there by opening a tap. We see it as a basic right. For these people, it is very hard to obtain.”

Water availability in Burkina Faso has decreased annually for the past 45 years. Poor living conditions has resulted in a life expectancy of 49 years of age, while 50% of all deaths in children under age 5 are due to malaria.

In Niemy’s mind, helping others is just the “right thing to do.” “I believe we all should give something back — to help those less fortunate than us,” he said.

Last week, Niemy finished his last “big” training run — 22 miles — prior to the marathon. Most weeks, Niemy covers about 40 miles. He likes to run in the mornings, mainly on flat surfaces to prevent strain on a balky knee affected by arthritis. An avid runner, Niemy has participated in both the 26.2 miler, as well as the half-marathon. He was forced to the sidelines two years ago when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“When I had some testing, they found that my PSA levels had jumped. A biopsy revealed that I had third stage prostate cancer,” he said. “I can’t emphasize to people enough the importance of testing. It’s very simple. I know a lot of guys are afraid to have it done because of what they might find. Men over the age of 50 should get tested. I believe it (testing) saved my life.”

Niemy would suffer a relapse 1 . years later. After undergoing radiation treatment for a couple of months, Niemy received a clean bill of health. He returned to the roadway, and slowly worked back into decent running shape. Niemy admits he is “not in race shape,” but has the stamina for a long distance jaunt. He’ll rely upon experience to get him through 26.2 miles. Niemy learned the hard way to be patient, and avoid the temptation of starting too quick.

“It’s about sticking to the plan,” he said. “You don’t want to find that you have nothing left with a couple of miles to go, and all the work over the previous 22 miles is washed away.”

Niemy is excited about running the marathon and helping others at the same time. “I feel wonderful,” said Niemy who will turn 60 next month. “When you battle cancer, you develop a new perspective on life. It’s scary because suddenly you realize you don’t know how much time you have. You appreciate every day as much as you can. You no longer worry about the little stuff. I believe God gave me a second chance, and I should use my time for a good purpose.”

His cause is to help people thousands of miles away so they can access a basic resource — water.

“I like running, and when I’m doing it for a cause, I seem to run better,” he said.

The local Rotary Club has taken on Niemy’s fundraising effort as one of their international projects. All donations, be it $5 or $25 or more, will be most welcome, Niemy said. Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact Niemy by e-mail at gniemy@yahoo.com or call his office at 647-2600.

As developing countries work to augment their economic growth and corporations continue to search for resources, the lands, and subsequently the way of life, of indigenous peoples are at risk.

Traditional Dance in Tantiaka

One crucial aspect of the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/drip.html), or UNDRIP, is the right of indigenous communities to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). This right requires that states gain the free prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples before public or private institutions take actions that may affect the lands, resources, intellectual property and cultural and spiritual practices of indigenous populations.

Governments have agreed to follow each individual aspect of FPIC:

Free – decisions must be allowed without coercion or force of indigenous peoples

Prior- ample time allotted to communities before final decision

Informed – the nature and duration of the project, the areas that will be affected and other necessary, unbiased information are all provided to indigenous peoples in a language and form that can be understood by the community

Consent – explicit agreement of indigenous people to allow the project

Despite UNDRIP and agreements from states, governments often ignore FPIC and other rights in UNDRIP. Due to a variety of economic concerns governments and corporations forcibly strip land and resources from indigenous peoples.  The international community, especially countries that are home to indigenous populations, and proponents of sustainable development have a duty to find the neglect of indigenous rights unacceptable and counterproductive to the true nature of progress.

From the beginning, the BARKA Foundation has committed to an approach to sustainable development that respects, preserves and involves indigenous peoples and cultures. What community-led development means for BARKA is working with a community to identify its needs and partnering with that community to find and implement sustainable solutions. All of BARKA’s development projects are planned and carried out with a deep respect for indigenous culture and the direct consultation, consent and participation of the villagers of Tantiaka in Burkina Faso.

Young girl retrieving water for her family

In October, BARKA will go to Burkina Faso to continue work to address what villagers determined to be their most pressing need: clean water.  BARKA’s partnership with Tantiaka started with water, and it will continue with all other development projects in the small village.

The UN, through its annual Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII; http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/) continues to work towards a world where there is stronger protection for the rights of indigenous peoples. This year’s forum, held in May, established the UN Indigenous Peoples Partnership, UNIPP, which aims to support indigenous communities, increase access for indigenous leaders in the governance process and continue to strengthen indigenous rights (http://bit.ly/mPiWBV).

These UN actions and events help the fight for indigenous rights, but popular awareness of these issues and NGO support for indigenous communities are crucial as supplements to UN policy. It takes regular people and determined NGOs to pressure governments into a greater concern for indigenous rights. Even more importantly, anyone that works on global development, whether it is in government or in the nonprofit sector, must realize the essential nature of indigenous communities in efforts to pursue sustainable development.

- Arthur Tarley, BARKA UN Youth Representative

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