Benin continued

Another busy day in Benin.  Today we were on television - BROADCAST.
We were interviewed at the University in a beautifully prepared setting.  Questions were handed out in preparation to Janet as a YALI graduate, and I was a little taken aback when I too had to be in the interview - a little unprepared and not dressed appropriately - well not dressed UP - but it went well.
We met an organisation later that educates youth, particularly girls as in Benin girls were not considered the ones to be educated. The children selected were children that came from a challenging situation and these were sponsored.  Sponsorship was given for the education and coupons were given to cover snacks and nutrition. If money had been handed out, the chances were that the money would be used for the sons dowry rather than the daughters education.
Then we moved on to a department at the University where young students in the science department - micro-biologists - took us on a tour through the laboratory showing how food was analysed to discover the best nutritional value.  What length of time was needed in fermentation process and cooking to get maximum nutrition. Food analysis. We met the Dean and were warmly welcomed.
A trip to Ganvie to celebrate Janet's birthday gave us a little time to relax and enjoy the beauty of Benin. This is the largest village on water and houses over 25,000 people.

                               
                                                Preparing for the interview to be broadcast

                          Two young Micro-biologists - she also grows organic mushrooms
                                                             and he is busy with his PHD

Now to Ganvie:

                                             THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

BENIN

As we crossed the border into Benin, we were very aware of the extreme poverty and poorly constructed homes. There were no roads and the bus VERY slowly made its way between the temporary structures which served as home or shop or shelter of some kind.  And yet the peace and tranquility, humble attitude of the people was immediately felt. It was then surprising to find in Porto Nova and Cotonou a much more stable and established home and building structure. Border Borders (the local taxi which is a motor-bike) everywhere, but in their own lane and ordered. We both felt an immediate love for Benin, it felt safe and clean.
A day on the beach and at a local market with beautifully handcrafted goods and artworks, and a tour around the town of Cotonou was impressive.
That was yesterday and today we went to many organisations. Firstly to The Ministry of Family, child and adolescent, handicapped,  national solidarity, social affairs, etc. In French : Ministere de la Famille, des affaires socialise, de la solidarity national, des handicaps et des persons de troisieme age.
Direction de la Famille, de l'enfance et de l'adolescence.
Then on to a Innovative Business Incubation Centre where post-graduates are helped and trained to be entrepreneurs in the fields of professional integration and here we heard of many that have entered into Organic farming. Each business group had within the building their own cubicle as office for their particular profession and groups of students were in meeting within their cubicle.
We continued to the University, a very large university where 150,000 students enrolled each year. These students graduated and it was impossible for them to find employment.
We met the Professor of Agriculture and he walked us through the extensive fields of healthy plants and research areas where plants were grown and their qualities studied.  ONLY ORGANIC FARMING TAUGHT!!! For instance we met the student who was researching the effects and best way to grow the MIRACLE PLANT - little red berries that when eaten make a sour lemon taste sweet. Yes we tried this, tasted the sour lemon, ate the berry, then tasted he lemon again and it was sweet-a good way to overcome the need for sugar. The professor took us through the gardens explaining the medicinal qualities of the different plants grown there.
Then on to a young man with his own NGO who taught farming, organic farming, fish growing and livestock care, as well as teaching the English language (With great care to get the sound of the phonetics accurate)
Lastly today we went to a SOS home where about 100 children are cared for in 10 houses and school.
More about this tomorrow.
All in all a very fulfilling and informative day experiencing goodwill and innovation.

                                                   Innovative Business Incubation Centre

                                                 The Vegetable gardens at the University

                                         NGO _ AFRITECH:               Fish farming

                                                           And Agriculture School

Back to the University:

                                    Professor Enoch G Achigan Dako and the Miracle Berry

Nigeria

Nigeria began - just like getting a visa - WITH A CHALLENGE.
The banks would not give me money.  A whole day was spent trying to get WiFi to deposit money into my phone to phone bank in South Africa - this cost over R900 - as bank kept putting me through to ANOTHER department - SORRY our lines are experiencing high volume of calls!!!!! I could not understand that once you were through that there was no possibility of putting me through as URGENT themselves.
I was then to meet Ayudele Taofiq-Fanida, a young man with a passion to heal the earth working for a Resource company going green. He had learnt about Biodynamic farming in Sweden and was attempting to start a farm first Organic and then taking the next step to Biodynamic once the farm and agriculture were more established. He works with Youth and Women empowerment and has a deep interest in children and teaching.
He took us out to meet a Doctor, Traditional Healer and herbalist who had a health Resort.  Dr. Isaac Ayudele.  He had moved out of the city of Lagos to develop this health centre in a better environment and to serve the poorer community.  He used every part of his grounds to grow healing herbs, trees and shrubs. He had a little factory where his range of remedies were manufactured. We were given a health check and test - My blood pressure was normal and my sugar levels good - YAY! by the nurse on duty. Another made us a juice made from coconut, tiger nuts and dates.  Delicious and tasted more wholesome than anything I had eaten of late. He also had 3 acres of land where he grew his vegetables EVERYTHING ORGANICALLY GROWN using proper compost with manure (cow and chicken.) As a Naturopath he feeds his patients with Nutritious food.  He was very inspired by all I shared with him about Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy and Biodynamic Agriculture as well as the deeper aspect of healing and bringing to balance.
From this doctor we went to another doctor, Dr. Adeolu Olusodo, in the village nearby.  These two doctors were very happy to meet one another. This Medical doctor had left the city of Lagos and a hospital which he felt was failing to meet the real needs of the community. He felt he needed to go out and serve the poorer community who could never get into the city in time to prevent serious conditions of ill-health due to lack of funds.  He has hired a house which he is converting into a clinic. He offers free consultation and free drugs (if he has available and where he feels are really needed), encourages a more herbal healing and offers acupuncture (which he is busy studying). To be able to create this clinic and fund the project, the patient had to first register with the clinic and was asked to pay 1500 Nigerian  Naira - about R75 -A YEAR. From that , free treatment for the year.
It was wonderful to bring these two men with such a healing impulse and goodwill together.
We had visited the large hospital in Lagos,  Lute, also a training hospital, where we found the doctors and nurses overwhelmed by the amount of patients, lack of funding and lack of medication. The government offered no financial help and patients had to pay for their consultation and medication.
In the oncology department I referred to Iscador and Viscum.  As I left the hospital the two Pharmacists asked me if there was any way they could learn more about Anthroposophic medicine.
They asked for more information and expressed a wish to attend the IPMT AFRICA that I spoke of.

                                               Dr. Isaac Ayudele and his herbal remedies

                                           Entrance to the AYUDELE HEALTH RESORT

                                                             Healing plants and herbs

                                                        Dr. Adeolu Olusodo and his Clinic

By way of explanation

I have been asked by many "What are you actually doing

on this journey" so now please let me explain.
In Cape Town we have hosted the IPMT - International Post-graduate Medical Training in Anthroposophic Medicine over the past 4 years.  Michaela Gloeckler, who has led the Medical Section at the Goetheanum, Switzerland, since 1988 and who has only just retired September 2016, has been travelling to over 20 countries in the past years since 2002, bringing intensive one week courses over a 5 year program.
Her question each year has been "Where is AFRICA?" Although brochures were sent to some of the countries wherever a contact was found, there was little response.
SOMEONE had to go through Africa to tell of this wonderful training.  I was the lucky one to get this opportunity.
I am meeting people wherever I go who carry an initiative in education, farming/agriculture or medicine. Through conversation, meetings, interviews and sensing, I try to find out what the obstacles, challenges and needs are, as well as the achievements and successes. This is to establish an insight into each country and find out how best the IPMT and Anthroposophy can serve.
What can we offer.
IPMT AFRICA now enters the 5th module which will take place from 27th September to 4th October
in the region of Cape Town.  This is the module which looks at Social Responsibility, Social resonance and offers courses/practical workshops in Biodynamic Agriculture, Pastoral care, birthing, child development, pathology of healing in relationship, social sensibilities, threefold social order and money ethics, as well as the Medical workshops and lectures.  Inclusive is Eurythmy, Goethean  Observation and Study. Exceptional course leaders will be running the workshops/lectures.
This IPMT will be the stepping stone to the next 5 years and it is our hope that every country in Africa will have a representative (or several) as participant in this module.  So far in each country I have visited, there has been great interest and people willing and wishing to attend.
ANYBODY WILLING TO SPONSOR A FARMER, TEACHER or DOCTOR travelling from a country in Africa will be most WELCOME.
AFRICA WILL BE WELL REPRESENTED AT THE NEXT IPMT  BY THE MOST REMARKABLE PEOPLE.
For any further information, I can be contacted on my mobile +27 76 904 7632 (WhatsApp), and email: juliaoleary021@gmail.com
Keep following the blog, your support is heart-warming.

Cameroon

We travelled by bus from Douala to Yaounde. I was struck by the lush vegetation, thick forests all very green and dense with the odd Wooden dwelling scattered along the way - remote.
In Yaounde we met a young man by the name of Elvis, one of the Yali members and now on the regional advisory board of West Africa. We visited his clinic in the student quarters where he tends women and children, from delivering babies to administering medication for all the African maladies like malaria, cholera and hepatitis to name a few. He has designed and is in the process of building a beautiful micro-clinic - all funding and sponsors welcomed. I have the whole proposal for anyone interested.
We visited a Paediatric Hospital with our hostess, Dr. Lilian Ngwana Banmi, who is a gynaecologist and obstetrician at this hospital. A Cameroon woman who had trained in Russia. We were shown all aspects of this enormous hospital caring for women and children. A fully functioning hospital......and including a Chinese medicine, acupuncture and physiotherapy department.We had opportunity to meet and have conversation with different heads of department and then a delightful meeting with the General Director of the Hospital.
Then on we went to a Childrens Hospital and visited the oncology department, where we met a remarkable woman, a Paediatric Oncologist,  Dr. Angele Pondy.
Our host, Mr. Banmi, a member of Parliament was able to give us an update political picture of not only Cameroon, but of all Africa. He and his wife Lilian mentioned above run a broad-casting programme which they broadcast on in their spare time.
So here in Cameroon we met people seriously intent and DOING so much that it is quite overwhelming and yet sparing the time to meet and share.
Much gratitude to you, the people of Cameroon.

Lush Vegetation

                                          Elvis and UNITE FOR HEALTH FOUNDATION

                                       Yaounde Gynaeco-Obstetrics and Paediatric Hospital

                                                       Meeting the Director- General

                                                                             
                                                                          JANET

     
          Dr. Lilian Ngwana Banmi and her husband Mr. Banmi with Yaounde in background

                                                                  Dr. ANGELE PONDY

                                Responsable Unite Drepanocytose du Centre Mere et Enfant