Monday in Ouaga

If you want to see every mode of transportation possible, come to Ougadougou, Burkina Faso. If you want to learn how to transport anything- from chickens to leather couches- using only a motor scooter, come to Ouga!

 This morning we met with Karim Addoul Saidou, the Director for operations, and his staff at CGD, the Center for Democratic Governance. He and his staff analyze democratic governance issues in BF through the promotion of citizen participation. They also promote the political participation of women and a healthy political and electoral system.

 We then had lunch at a nearby restaurant. Before eating, it is customary for the waiter to greet each person at the table with a bucket, soap and tea kettle full of water for washing hands.

In BF, it is important to become one with the heat AND the dust. These makeshift cardboard covers keep the motorbikes free of dust/dirt. We have learned that ordinary materials that we use in the U.S used for limited purposes, in reality, can be used very effectively for a multitude of things! 

 After lunch we visited with trade union delegates from L to R: Mamadou Nama, Ouedraogo Olivier, Francois Xavier Ouedraogo, Traore Sioliki. We learned that the top issues they face concern the high cost of living (working people can't meet their basic needs); safety and health in the workplace and organizing the mining sector. The gold mining industry is expected to last only 10 more years- this is a real barrier to organizing.

As I said earlier, if you want to know how to transport anything, ask someone on the streets of Burkina Faso.

The evening was filled with joy as the Burkinabe delegates from this year and last year's Leadership Fellows Program arrived for dinner.

Burkinabae women wear the most beautiful clothes! It is less expensive to buy the fabric (which is locally made) and have it custom made than to buy one off the rack. Many hundreds of tailors are strewn throughout the city, specializing in all types of dresses, suits and the like. Today we visited Alice's (lady in the middle) tailor who makes most of her dresses (and also sings in her church choir). His shop is about 8 x 8 and houses 4 sewing machine stations, posters of various types of dress styles to choose from, fabric, etc. I think a dirt floor, but I have stopped paying attention- what an amazing trip. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.