Friday, December 20, 2013

Education ou politique? Quatre jours de visite du 1er Vice-President Burundais aux USA.

“Ils sont nombreux à vouloir conquérir le pouvoir au Burundi, quels projets pour le pays observez-vous au sein des politiques de tous bords?” Si le politique remporte sur tous les  secteurs au Burundi, plusieurs autres secteurs de la vie du pays en dépendent : les questions autour du nouveau projet de la constitution, l’éducation et l’encadrement des jeunes, le « désordre » à l’Université du Burundi, l’image du pays à l’étranger, l’économie et la justice faisait intérêt de cette rencontre entre le 1er Vice-Président du Burundi et sa délégation. Officiellement, il sejournait aux USA du 14 au 19 Decembre 2013. 

Audace Machado      Visit in pictures

Quelle compréhension de quelle politique ? Lors de cette rencontre qui a duré deux heures et demie,
après l’introduction du 1er Vice-Président, brossant la situation socio-économique, politique et sécuritaire, une Dame du nom d’Eulavie Ndura, Professeur d’université, n’a pas tardé de lancer, la première, « Vous voulez changer la constitution pour que le Président Nkurunziza se fasse réélire, en quoi est-ce que ce genre de comportement politique avancera-t-il le Burundi avec son passe lamentable.» Le 1er Vice-Président d’y aller différemment, « de ce que je sache, le concerné que vous citez n’en a pas encore dit mot, ce n’est pas moi et vous qui allons prononcer quoi que ce soit à sa place. En outre, c’est essentiellement pour des raisons liées au code électoral, a l’intégration à l’EAC qui fondent ce projet de constitution.»  Il ajoutera enfin que le Burundi sera ce que les Burundais de l’intérieur et sa diaspora aura fait de lui.
Quelle image à l’étranger? Alors que Washington attend un nouvel Ambassadeur Burundais, nommé il y a plus d’un mois, les questions de l’image du pays à l’étrangers n’ont pas manqué. Les troupes Burundaises à l’étranger fut une de ces questions. « Apres ce qu’ils ont vécu en Somalie, vous continuez à les y envoyer, certaines gens se limiteront à leur efficacité, mais clairement, si les Américains ne peuvent plus y envoyer les leurs, qu’offrent-ils au Burundi en échange ? » A cette question de Emmanuel Mpfayokurera, le Major Busokoza J. Bernard de répondre que ce n’est plus à prouver que le Burundi fait mieux que plusieurs au monde, surtout en Somalie, et d’ajouter, « si des militaires ont succombé dans ce coin du monde, c’est dans l’ordre normal des choses, en ce qui concerne le genre de mission.» Sans trop de précisions, il a fait savoir que les Américains aident le Burundi dans le domaine des renseignements. Et alors, « pourquoi ces Américains ne bénéficient que d’un visa de trois mois et en termes de 90$, si la gouvernance burundaise est logique ? »
Cette question de Juvénal Nzambimana « pourrait sembler personnelle », disait-il, mais il ajoutait qu’il trouve anormal qu’on veuille que des jeunes aillent étudier aux Etats-Unis, que des investisseurs Américains aillent au Burundi, etc., alors qu’en réalité, on bloque. «Nous ne faisons qu’appliquer la politique de notre gouvernement qui en a décidé ainsi, ça devient même plus compliquée que des Burundais d’origine, payent les 90$ quand ils veulent rentrer à leur terre natale », expliquait Joel Nkurabagaya, le Chargé d’Affaires, avant de demander au 1er Vice-Président de revoir cette question.
Nous sommes venus négocier un partenariat dans l’éducation : tout le monde a entendu cette annonce du 1er Vice-Président. « Apres la grève des étudiants, les professeurs de l’Université du Burundi prennent la relève, des aspects ethniques et régionalistes couvrent ce brouhaha, et ça parait invraisemblable que vous prôniez l’enseignement universel dans un contexte pareil et dans un milieu si intellectuel, ou du moins, en devenir pour plusieurs, tel la seule Université public.» Le Ministre de l’enseignent supérieur, membre de la délégation annonçant que c’est un fait complexe et qui n’est pas un problème, se référait aux textes de lois laissés par son prédécesseur, le Professeur Julien Nimubona, « un texte datant d’octobre 2011 ».  Apres une longue tentative d’explication, il aura été difficile à ce ministre de convaincre l’assemblée que ce qui se passe à l’université du Burundi n’est pas un problème, ou d’expliquer à ces intellectuels de Washington comment la faculté de droit soit dirigée par un chimiste et celle de l’économie par un physicien. Le Recteur de l’Université du Burundi et la Directrice de l’ENS étaient aussi de la délégation.

« Balance, plateaux et un homme derrière » : S’il faut penser justice, le sens de ce concept voire sa
Une partie des participants
philosophie, revient à laisser ce pouvoir, un des quatre en démocratie, être exercé sans influence, s’est-il exprimé l’Honorable Busokoza, revenant à l’emprisonnement du Vice-Président du Frodebu, Bamvuginyumvira Frédéric. Rappelant ce qu’est la justice par ce symbole, le 1er Vice-Président qui a la justice dans ses attributions rappelait, si l’homme derrière la balance tranche mal ou bien, « ça se saura.»  « Ce qui est marrant », un Burundais de dire, « Le problème est que les échanges se sont fait avec des gens qu’il ne fallait peut-être pas. Le pays a besoin de plus de décisions et d’actions logiques de la part de gens qui y répondront le moment venu

Friday, December 6, 2013

Behind that Nelson Madiba Mandela's Face




Good Bye, Man
At his inauguration, "three among the African Presidents were absent: the Rwandese, the Burundian -as they succumbed in the Kanombe's flight's accident- and the Camerounian -Paul Biya who was in honeymoon with her newly married, Chantal", a friend of mine told me. 19 years after, as Madiba passed away, everyone want to be there. What a ironic mourning! (I get back to this at the end) 


For the first time, in 2009, the rumor ran, “Nelson Mandela can’t see the next year’s daylight.” Already, during the Expo-2005, I realized how the African Icon was getting really old: people from all over the world, me included, were stopping and contemplate that kind of “aging skin” of the portrait of the African Icon.  In 2010, I wanted to know the hidden face of that particular man. The first friend of the African/world icon I was suggested to talk to was Lucie Pagé. I think that South-Africa suffered because of its human’s diversity, but it is also recovering due to that people’s identities recognition”, she told me. During my studies in America, in “Applied Contextual Leadership; Adaptive Strategies for Multicultural Leadership and Dialogue” class, I tried to recall what I mainly understood from that man’s –and followers/folks’- heritage

Audace Machado


         I/we leaned a lot! Of course, we can’t know everything even in that more or less two hours interview –made with different personalities, backgrounds, friends, political companions, etc. - But, if they (Mandela and friends) were on the front line against Apartheid, what the identity and people diversity mean to me, what it logically carries and what about it in our everyday life? This understanding trial is very important as comes the time to promote leadership in the world.



            Nelson Mandela understood that we owe to the life the fact that we are born as human being with ascribed qualities and qualifications. Besides, we chose to be of one identity but, the society contributes to identify us by attributing to us some labels. We adopt some of them and we reject even deny some others. And it seems to me that that concept diversity is the most complex and hardest word to define. Back to my introductory example, not only Lucie became herself an icon in Canada in fighting against the Apartheid –the general policy that divided
Lucie et Jay-son mari-
and destroyed South Africa-, and she is a white woman. She is not originally South-African. She is a journalist. She is a book writer. Moreover, I would say, I talked for hours with the wife of another personality:
Jay Naidoo. So, on one hand, I talked about an example fighting of racism and exclusive system with a strange person to me, and on the other hand, who am I to initiate this audience with her? Just a journalist, from a small country almost not known for any reason. A single man discussing with a mother. An African questioning a Canadian. A black guy listening to a white woman married to an Indian man, etc. We both discussed strange and diverse issue being strangers to one another.




           From Mandela and his fighting, though brutal in the 1960’s,
Mediator in the Near East
we learn that people have and still don’t have tolerance to differences. The reason may be the personal or group interests, or fear, or ignorance –“The lack of emphasis to educational achievement
(p.290), says Barack (2006)-, etc. Very important for the American who forwarded the Mandela’s “Conversation with myself”.                                 

That looks our everyday life. Once he became the Burundian Peace Accord’s Mediator, “He surely understood that kind of reality in your country”,
Mediator in Burundi
Jean Guiloineau who translated the book “Nelson Mandela”, told me. In other words, that was the reality, if not even now, in South-Africa, in Rwanda, in Burundi, in United States of America and elsewhere. Since 1974, one of the famous song about racism in America is “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd who brought: “In Birmingham they love the governor. Now we all did what we could do. Now Watergate does not bother me. Does your conscience bother you? Tell the truth.” The identity reality had brought mistrust, hatred even killings between white people and colored, especially black people, in America. On one side, the governor George Corley Wallace is known as one of the leaders to lead this alienation in the society, on another side and as a behavior from the black people, Obama altercates that “African Americans understand that culture matters but that culture is shaped by circumstance.” (P.302-3).


          «46864 Robben Island »: Madiba passed in many shameful « events » - witnessed Massacres, experienced Jail, etc., to and as a symbol of Peace building, justice and Reconciliation. Some “talk about Revolution”, others wanted to meet him:  Hillary Clinton got a breakfast at Madela’s. Pope Jean Paul II shook his hand. “He was a man full of humanity”, my friend Apollinaire Gahungu, told me. December 5th, 2013 is noted world historical day: The 1993 Nobel Prize waved Goodbye!

        What an Ironic Mourning! Till 2008, great democracy such as USA were still considering Mandela as a terrorist. I can't believe Obama absent to this ceremony. Oh, I meant other former ruling people. And I don't mean Americans only. Those French too. Why that hook or by crook rush? A woman from my country wrote : "The hatred will never take the last word" (translated from french). Again, my friend recalled that the kind of Presidential rush at burial ceremonies started with the Hirohito's funerals. At Pope Jean Paul II, everyone were there. From the Pakistan to the English...I witnessed that. Was that by respect, or some want just to show?
Let's think about this : "when South-Soudan got its independence, I saw many 'respected' people who were 'invisible'. Some struggled to be visible", continued my friend. I wonder if they all really need to go there. Let's think about the Burundian Nkurunziza's response to journalists' questions such as, "how do you pay tribute to Mandela with the Arusha Accord? The answer "may be easy". But, as your country jails politicians as Mandela has been, will you visit 46864 before going back to Burundi? 


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

If Fulbright program was opened to Burundi.


I was told that I was the first Humphrey Fellow from my country-Burundi-, since last 30 years. Some sources even say that it is the first time candidates came from Burundi - we are currently two-, through history. And I really feel like I’d stand up and advocate for my country to benefit this intellectual, educational, entrepreneurship even humanitarian, and so on, program and grant.


As a journalist, I thought that, some time, the reason may be the historical link with the francophone. That’s false. I even suspected the last years of war and genocides and other leadership lack, in Burundi. I selected some possible reasons-from my humble few knowledge-, and became more curious on its non-eligibility.


Clinton, Fulbright and Harriet Mayor
In fact, I knew Burundi was represented -and still- in different international institutions. Moreover, Burundi is on the front line in some countries in conflicts. I recalled Burundi being a model to its neighbors (in history) in some aspects such as education – many Rwandese and Congolese attended university studies in Burundi or, in last decades, Burundi faculties went to teach in those neighboring countries, even farther-; Burundi has also humble but real philanthropic, athletics’ personalities. The world heard about different personalities nominated for different international prizes, even the Nobel’s. What else? Yes, these last decades caused Burundians to flee their country and serve this world, elsewhere.

I thought Jeanne or Christine -to name a few- met with women of courage, for example.


With Derek A. Crider (AECOM)
I then thought that, as this year (2013-2014) Fulbright/Humphrey Fellowship, I had to rise up my little voice, and ask if I/anybody could contribute in telling / sharing how to open my country to this gorgeous program. I thought that would help in creating harmony and ameliorate humanity values, especially in that African Great Lakes Region. I dreamt it’s high time that small green color in that region was turning yellow. I mean, becoming beneficial to the Fulbright Grants, as it is all around Burundi.


I thought it’s really possible as the USA Government realized Burundi would be the real Heart of Africa.

Audace Machado

Friday, November 22, 2013

African Great Lakes, Still Avoiding the States' collapse


"There must be a document signed by all the parties in conflict, attesting to the end of the war and the so-called faction M23 to the east of the Congo", clarifies the Senator Russell D. Feingold.
The debate on the conflicts in the Great Lakes Region was hotly debated in the measure or, especially the Congolese and Rwandan -in addition to the other observers’ present- arguing on the facts and causes of these conflicts. Ambassador Johnnie Carson, senior advisor of the President Obama had reminded us of the obvious facts: "This region is one of the most troubled in the world, and worse, thousands of women and children have perished or are raped during the last decades, which cannot continue in these times, and in the eyes of the world.” No need to go over the issues of poverty arrogant that prevails there. 
 
Audace Machado
 

No rush, limiting the causes of this conflict, to the facts. In this conference-debate, there was a lot
more question of the crisis in the East of the Congo. "It has been seen that some veterans of the M23 are also members of the other rebel movements such the FDLR ".  By pointing out that, one of the Congolese Intellectuals based in Washington DC, informed several in the room. Russell, the Special Envoy of the USA in the Great Lakes Region, acquiesced. The senator then remarked that "in this conflict, the intention of the Monusco was more help to manage various issues related to insecurity, including the question of the FDLR even before the M23 was born".  Russell to add that he is very optimistic given the fact that the FDLR as rebels, has known of transformations: "Surely change of ideas and objectives, but still of structure, as of years ".  Senator Russell has added, however, that he is not naive, to the extent that the members of this movement are dispersed in the sub-region and are capable of committing other packages. As well, "if you are telling me that Mr. James Kabarebe has said to Steve McDonald that the FDLR is not a danger to the Rwanda, i would go, with reserves, understand that such an organization is different from the actions of its members, and that I think is what has meant to say JamesKabarebe ", added Senator Russell, speaking on the most probable roots of this conflict.

Never compromise on the causes of this conflict. A young Rwandese in the room would have very much liked to be long to recall that relations were good between Rwanda and the Congo before 1994, but the Senator Russell had been more far in his introduction: "I have been witnessing of the facts of the governance of Idi Amin in Uganda, of Mobutu and especially of the assassination of Lumumba, but still of these inhumanity in Rwanda and Burundi and almost at the same time." Those who have followed very well would have understood that the strategy proposed by Russell, first understand, this series of crises in the Great Lakes Region, is to project itself to the interconnection of events and on a regional plan. "I have surely not been understood in the first place when I proposed to colleagues that we follow closely the massacres in Darfur."  He insisted on this interconnection, avoiding answering to some "emotional” questions: "It is more that the time for Kinshasa to show its capacity to organize not only the administration of the territory, but also the election of 2016.” Here, it was just to introduce another discussion, as a take away. The real causes of this instability in the East of the Congo in particular and in the Great Lakes region in general. One Congolese has introduced himself saying that he had freshly arrived from the DRC to ask if "in the prospects for management of these conflicts, there was need to take account of the ethnic aspects".  Recalling that in this region, we cannot deny these identities and that people have and are still persecuted for their identities.  Russell smiled when he disclosed one of the discussions that he would have had with MATATA Mapon : "He will tell you that the DRC has more than 500 ethnic groups but only one cause problem."  When the DRC will be better organized, we will hear less of the words, kinds of “The west has just plunder Africa", or the "The Great Lakes are poor", etc.

A lasting  solution. " In Pretoria, I have been asked what is my great concern - after that the M23 has declared the end of the war -, and I have said that it would be that people think that this is really the end of these conflicts in the East of the DRC, and in the Great Lakes. Kinshasa must discuss with
its opponents." The special envoy to the Great Lakes Region to add, "In last July, I had a discussion with President Obama, the States Secretary Kerry and their team, and we have agreed that we must take the conflicts in the Great Lakes most seriously we ever did before." In addition to the financial support required by the Region, it must, on return, show itself responsible with regard to a different organization of a militarization of the whole country life.

Yes, did you read  «Dancing in the Glory of Monsters : The Collapse of the Congo and the Great War of Africa ». In the DRC for example, the natural resources are only one way of financing the war, and not a cause in itself. Otherwise, how do we explain the fact that armed men -even mentally- control various resources of income (?), understanding Stearns’ analysis. About Nkunda, Ntaganda, Makenga, Makanika, Bisimwa, etc., - again, to limit to the East part of Congo only-, "We will do everything to integrate the countries of the Region to be responsible and to work together for a lasting peace in this region. In addition, we should distinguish between the rebel groups holders even weapons, and those who commit crimes against humanity"; Senator Russell Feingold then gaveled as well his sales pitch.
 
 

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Met Ketty Thought the Amish's

 
For my second time, I climbed the Mount Carmel. The first time was in 2010 in Haifa, and Saturday, Nov.09th, I saw that script on a road signal as I approached Pennsylvania. Whaou! The world is really small, did I tell myself. No, it probably has different meaning over here. It's like these people I was going to visit : The Amish. They are in some other States in America, and even in Canada, but it is said that the Pennsylvania may have a significance group. They came escaping                                                                                                                                              t
he persecution, and found shelter under  William Penn   : this is why they don't, originally wear bottomed cloth. This is why men don't have mustache. They just don't want to identify with those soldiers who persecuted them. A huge culture. I understood almost nothing as I watched Witness. It's too huge!

I then met that woman, Ketty...to tchat for a while, in private:

 
 
 
How many years have you taught this class?
  • Actually I help people to understand how our community is organized in terms of education, I don’t teach since many years. I did just two years before I got married.
 What does differentiate Amish to other American citizens, in general?
  • Just our sense of the family. Everything is around our family. What does life mean without a family?
 Do you have children?
  • I have (laugh) 6 boys and the elder has found his own life in Indonesia…
 Is he a really Amish as he lives far from you?
  • Oh, of course. We, we are Amish Mennonite, and we think that life can be different though we don’t encourage that…
 what do you mean, Mum ?
  • ...that we are different people, and that everyone has also right to think life differently.
Really? Can I for example take a picture with you?
  • Sure! Hurry up! (others were getting inside the class). By the way, you should read Ira Wagler…
"Grew up Amish"?
  • Yeah! Do you know him?
I just bought it, I will read it. Do you read books?

  • (looking in my eyes and laugh) Don’t tell me you think all these books are for pictures!
Thanks for the picture, mum.
  • Of course! Where do you come gentleman?
From Burundi.
  • (she pushed her head towards me like, …, I repeated...) I don’t know.
Really? Unfortunately for you, mum. It’s in Africa.
  • To late! and...impossible to do like my son.
Why?
  • Yes we travel, but we normally don’t take flight, so…


(Your attention please, Ms Fran said loudly ...)
 
Audace Machado


Saturday, October 19, 2013

Leaving Montana, there are reasons to cry!



July, 26, a last class and conference --Mansfield Library--, my last week-end in Missoula, I
With Shroeder, Josh, Chinami, Ayano & Kei
cried a lot. I was not--quite sure-- the only one, but I did it pretty longer! Probably, some commented “how can a man of his age can weep, saying goodbye?” One day I will answer to my humorous friend Shu Mian, who shot many pictures!  A man of my age?  By the way, “I didn’t do as idiots do”, if I recall Forrest Gump (last): I don’t think idiot people attend that kind of ceremonies, and if so, can they cry for the same reasons?

After Dr Emmanuel Edzongui had delivered his goodbye message in class, I suggested that Zineb or Fernanda do the same at that 26th final ceremonies, following Gerry Spencer who wrote and convinced me, “Biological differences transmit differently messages.” By that assertion against prejudices, I understood the gender and age reference. They refused, but I understood, even though they didn’t explain their motives.

That well-known lawyer of “truly power of persuasion”, said Robert Shampiro about Gerry, convinced me over and over again : Dr Sandra who cried first, and made us cry, didn’t learn how to leave with people at school: “I have been working with internationals and from oversea longtime, but this Humphrey Fellows taught me much more”, she said. Thanking her direct collaborator in this fellowship, she named Sara Smith and Ariell Barret, and couldn’t continue, as tears came straight. I remembered that Sara had told me, hours before, “I got another job, and I am leaving too.” Everybody didn’t know if she is leaving. “Sandi didn’t announce it yet”, Sara told me as, preparing to deliver the message on the behalf of the other fellows, and I had asked her if I could say it. So, we don’t always understand why people cry. Emmanuel had suggested by sms, through his Minneapolis transit that we had to say something special about Sara Smith. Beside her, the big confusing idea was, “who to name or not and how?
Four months after a baby is born, he/she has teeth. He/she can recognize how/what good or bad people are doing to him/her. Jeanie Castillo who came to that ceremony with her intelligent and
Jeanie's daughter in Smith's hands
lovely daughter – who socialized with almost every Humphrey Fellows, despite our origins- , confirmed loudly, my assertion. So, four months in Missoula County, “We were the first H.F. at the University of Montana”, and history would tell about. What a privilege! We came just with very little knowledge in English and in American culture, we knew almost nobody, and now we can accept to be evaluated, those last days and nights in Montana, at least this year 2013, as nobody can predict his/her future.


We sometimes don’t know how to express that kind of feeling that burns human inside, such a moment. We sometimes don’t know how to say “Thanks” to everyone in there. That International Center had become a particular family for us. Elder people helped younger – that we were-, and younger people did it to elders, that we were. We learned to know each other. For example, it became more and more effective to know that Sandra gets annoyed. When she is going to tell something
Hard to find the right words
“unpleasant” to someone, she starts by the addressee name. Jeanie doesn’t finish her sentence. And she laughs. And you understand. Allyson Kellum just use chew gums, and after, she laughs. For Josh Rosenberger, it’s hard to realize. But, when you are invited for a “face to face” when others are left, you have to figure out what is wrong. Note to generalize. Sara Schroeder –the one always on time, beware from her colleague Josh--, she just speak faster for a while and without fixing  the wrong person(s), and it’s finished. And she is probably the happiest in the Team, etc. When we remember about some inconveniences that we caused, we just bed pardon.   
 

Otherwise, this is the good thing to go back to school, adult: we even learn from people not directly involved in instruction. That Friday, during the last conference at the library, everyone clapped when Julie Biando Edwards was particularly thanked. Zenab said, “Julie, you have this communication power, open to people, kind…” I interrupted her just as a complement, “You should ask me, Zenab. I got some advices from her, and what started to embarrass was her humility.” And her boss, Shali Zhang, then:  she is this kind of person who doesn’t need to talk so that people target the skillful
Seated: Sandra,Julie, Zenab & Shali 
around and in that “scholastic”, back to John Locke and disciples. Her leadership doesn’t need to be proven. Dr Paulo him, is the kind of social person whom distinguishing features can’t be hidden: just tall and, head up.

Gerry Spencer defended the strategic and distinctive tool of listening. Hard to many or, just unknown skill. Besides the Japanese humility, when Dr Sandra made this kind of “white lie”, saying “I have to learn how to listen”, I felt I’d suggest, go to our youngest classmates from Japan:  Ayano Iseki – “Miss uuhmm”-, Chinami Takamura-“Miss Kind of”-, and Kei Kobayashi-“Mister probably”-; before I was with people like Yutaro Kobayashi, Naoya Sugimoto, etc., those silently humorous, personal and skillful guys. So, when we think about all these people, to name just a few and that I just let behind, in Missoula, thinking about meeting them or not --Only God knows--, yes, tears roll down.

Tears roll down too, when Sandra is naming exterior, thoughts and “skills” she learned from each one of us. What an observer!

-          Fernanda is this one who taught me how to greet people: a hug is more sincere,
  -          From Emmanuel, I learned how silence and observation are important in life,
  -          Zineb create this kind of respect from a mother who sacrified her family-life, to prepare a better future.
With Dr Sandra, Paulo and Engstrom
-          “I lived three years in Viet-Nam, and seeing a committed journalist like Thu Ha in a country where government controls everything, particularly medias, I learned that you don’t need to be big (Thu Ha has this vertical challenges), to be efficient.
-          Etc.

So, it depends. Hearing or knowing about all these, you can don’t cry as you ignore how people do good stuffs to others. No comparison, but you can just watch “The impossible”.
Audace Machado

Monday, September 30, 2013

Preventing Malaria in Children in Burundi

Some say, the USA doesn't frighten anymore : look at their division while it's all about people's life through medical care. They called it "Obamacare." Some say (Republicans), it's a personal business. Others say (Democrats), those people just want to shutdown the federal government. Obama says, those Republican are note doing favor to me by voting pro!
All in all, it's all about jeopardizing Americans' life in many ways. But who cares?  At least, it looks strange how, in a country, super-power one, where people are "educated", don't serve anymore as example. Look in Rwanda : "Rwanda retains 92 percent of patients in HIV care -- compared to 50 percent in the U.S." Did you see how President Kagame where proud of that, once at London, last May 2013? Think that many strategies were longtime ago, experienced in Burundi, and that some Burundian experts worked on that in country brother, Rwanda. But, in Burundi, system is failing! Can you fancy that? People, especially children are still dying from malaria.

No comparative trials, but either in America, in Rwanda or in Burundi, it's all about politics. This thought was tackled and finished at the University of Montana this summer 2013:

(Here is the document in full)

Preventing Malaria in Children in Burundi.

Please, share.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

How Missoula Became the Center of the World?

            Nothing is new to talk about « USA » as a « melting pot », probably one main reason of its power. In June, Kate Ferrara, a young woman from what they call “Middle-West” came to me and asked where I am from. She told me she knew about Idi Amin Dada and some Ugandan history. I was astonished, but when she introduced me in her little office at the University of Montana, I understood a bit. Through her job, young boys and girls, from different counties of Montana, spend their summer time at the University of Montana. They experience the university’s life, make friends, learn about their country, exchange their experiences, etc. This area helps them to break frontiers. I had experienced AICHI to see how to create harmony in the world, but that event was as huge that it was impossible to see behind the people’s faces. Finally, “Bringing the World a Little Closer…Through Music”, “that could be performed everywhere”, I dreamt. Sixteen choirs gathered and performed  in Missoula from July 17th to 20th, 2013. That even is more than capacity of organization, marketing and business, culture exchanging, music or diplomacy. It’s all about “Honor and cultural legacy in the world”, as Steve Bullock said.

Estonia
Look, they came from Melbourne, they were Bach Children Chorus, Coastal Sound Youth, Kokopelli (both Canadians); Meng Girls, Costa-Rica El Café, Estonia El Stuudio Girls, Finland Academic Students-Pedavoces-, the Junges Vokalensemble Hannover-Germany-, the Chamber Choir of Feliks Nowowiejski Academy-Poland-, the Ewha Chamber Choir-South Korea-, the Bundner Jugendchor-Switzerland-, the Formosa Singers, the Californian WomenSing, the Kansas Lawrence Children’s choir and the New Jersey ChildrenSong.

             “Hospitality”, did John Engen insisted in his public letter. It’s more than capability to host 16 choirs (let’s say 15 from out Missoula), each countering more or less thirty people, boys and girls. It calls community involvement. And when the master of ceremonies, that final spectacle said “Let’s first thank all the host families that may be in this hall”, we all stood up for respectful praising to those tens of families. I understood that it might have been more than volunteering. It’s all about learning and traveling to China, Estonia, Kansas, etc., without paying any ticket. 

          “If some are fan of mobile phone, you should enjoy Nokia from our visitors’ country today, Finland”, said the MC. And they elegantly climbed the stairs to the scene. They had the Finland flag fixed somewhere in front of us, beside the Estonia from where, I personally didn’t know “Skype came from”, or that “music played a great role in that country’s political revolution.” The Governor of Montana had delivered, “Enjoy the treasures of downtown Missoula, the landscapes under the Big Sky” and companies, factories and alike had involved as “That’s why we give back.” North Western Energy, one of the main sponsors highlighted with pride “We support schools, sports, culture, service organizations and energy assistance foundation.” Very touching for me, who had faced this big deal of getting sponsorship from businesses, even for people in danger, not only for recreational events. Is Regideso giving any sponsorship for this kind of events? I don’t think so, but that’s not Missoula.  

China
         The real “Friendship Force is a private, non-profit citizen exchange”, did I read somewhere even before this festival. Reading me, don’t go back to historical events. Just see these young and artistically dressed South-Koreans discovering Missoula again, place some of them have been ten years ago, for this same festival: “Applauses» in Adams center. There, I understood why Dr Sandra couldn’t miss this kind of International event. She was just seating in front of Burundian and Taiwanese, between South-Koreans and Algerian. Towards the end, she had been joined by Brazilian and Haitian. Kathleen R. Kimble of the Missoulian, just introduced to Sandra, she was so excited to discuss about international students she is hosting. Back to Pantzer Hall, the first person I met was that young african who is working with Deena  Mansour, a humble woman I had met some times ago. And I had witnessed how this she and colleagues are also involved in international education. They might help hosting next year’s Humphrey Fellows with ELI, if some were sent to the University of Montana, why not? Already, we learned from the eminent Otto Koester. Yes, it’s all about diplomacy and internationalship. Politicians? Most of them don’t even know what happened in Missoula. Really! Did any authority of my region, knows about the Californian women singing in Kiswahili “woman wake up”? Heidel repeated enough, “What a privilege”. By the time I am sharing this, Sandra sent me some ideas: the ideas of how 7 billion (video) can live in peace!

         Parade of nations”. I think everyone gets goose bumps when any national anthem flows out. This was the style with David Edmonds, before Heidel  suggested everyone to sing in own language the “Auld Lang Syne”. Oh my goodness, when did these people rehearsed it? “And see you in three years”, concluded Kathleen R. Kimble. Ferrara, K. had told me that in America, probably everywhere in the world, “Universities are becoming the best place to democracy”, that’s may be the meaning of the final concert at Adams center. This festival started at this university, proved Terry Conrad’s pride, “Since 27 years, Missoula has been hosting this event.”

Canada
Remember, I mentioned this culture legacy through the world. And everyone witnessed this experience. This David Edmonds leading everyone’s mix sound, and live. From the all races Canadian choirs’ singers to the Taiwanese applauding Chinese – despite political discomfort-, etc., a real “
Once outside, an old man in black suite called his friend: “You’re lucky man to see this again”. I replied, “I am too”, though I was not concerned (I like to joke with people), and the old man laughed. I kept on running to get my last Saturday pizza-in Missoula-, crossing the Clark Fork River, starring to an aircraft far in the sky and remembering  what Sandra told me, the day before: “Now, you have to think about Olga.”

Audace Machado