Dadaab Continued...

I've been so busy its crazy.  Each nigh I collapse at about 8 o'clock completely exhausted.

My project is already gaining momentum and is raising great interest among the refugees and the staff.

After spending yesterday morning with the NRC, and getting caught up in this crazy UN entourage in one of the refugee camps, I decided that the best thing to do is just move forward on the project I came to do before I get distracted by anything else.

I met with the refugees who worked with the previous researchers I know (Ana from Essex UK, and Elizabeth from Oxford U).  After meeting with Said (pronounced Saheed) and Hasaanweli, things became much more refined and began picking up the momentum. As most researchers come, do questions and leave to capitalize upon the adverse circumstances in which the refugees live, my project has sparked great interest because it is useful and empowering.

It is quite amazing, as ideas that I now consider to be stadard means of thinking, after reading the work of economists' such as Joseph Stieglitz and Jeffrey Sachs, are apparently less common within the reality of development. Here, the way for the refugees to get ahead in their lives is get involved in the NGO's and work their way up the chain. Following the Stieglitz/Sachs approach, the information I am delivering is about how agencies plan and study refugees - thus the participants are better prepared as they advance upward. Apparently, no one has done this before. Why is it that the most basic ideas are the most neglected?  I am somewhat convinced, cynically, that because human empowerment is not good business, even humanitarian agencies restrict themselves from doing the completely "right thing," out of corporate interests.

Aside from that.

Security is always the first priority for all work here.

The United States government does fund some work around here, but doesn't like to get its hands dirty so there are no American agencies.

The food varies, it is usually quite bland, but it is nutritious.

The water is terrible. All water can be consumed from the taps, but it tastes like salty chemicals.

I gotta go, will write more later.

Busy busy busy...

 

Mitchell