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 AFRICA FRESH! New Voices from the First Continent
An anthology of African writing only featured on the Internet until now, this book features the collected works of writers for the G21 AFRICA section of G21.net. The eight writers represented here are from around the continent and present an exciting look at cutting-edge fiction and reporting from the first continent today. Buy the book or get a downloadable PDF copy now! |
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G21 AFRICA - G21 INTERVIEWS: SIMON SHAW: Steve Ogah ???
Lagos, NIGERIA - G21: What motivated you to become a volunteer and are you still being?pushed on by this factor or?factors as the case may be?
Steve Ogah SHAW: I have been working in the disability sector in the UK for several years and wanted to bring some of those skills and experiences to a developing country. I have become increasingly aware of the hardships that disabled people in the developing world face (about 80% of the world's disabled people live in a developing country). In Nigeria I do feel I can be useful and share my skills, so yes that is still a factor motivating me.
G21: Sometimes, Africa gets reported in a bad light by a number of mainstream media people. Did this?image of?Africa scare you from coming down to the first continent?
SHAW: Yes, especially reports of Nigeria!!! But as soon as you speak to returned volunteers, many tell you about the warMth and hospitality they experienced and that was very reassuring.
G21: What is your basic job at Voluntary Services Overseas and how do you find the kind of things you do?at your Kaduna station in Northern Nigeria?
SHAW: I am a teacher trainer; helping teachers develop skills in computers, fine art, HIV/AIDS education and working with children with addditional needs and learning disabilties. There is plenty for?me to do and I have some very enthusiatic colleagues.
G21: VSO believes in sharing skills/changing lives. How effective can you say you have been at doing this? I mean are the people really learning as you'd love them to do?
SHAW: The pace is perhaps a little slower than I might hope for but the teachers work hard to teach the children, so I have to understand that as I offer them training that can be demanding on their time.
G21: Personally, do you believe it's going to be possible for humanity to be without?poverty not with?endemic corruption, especially in Africa?
SHAW: I hope we can?work towards that aim but sometimes people forget that there is poverty in the developed world too so I think we need to also question the route developed countries have taken.
G21: VSO doesn't give money to poor communities in Africa?where?she operates. She sends down people like you to come down and work with the communities. Why this peculiar approach?
SHAW: Skills that are lacking in developing countries can be brought through experienced individuals like VSO volunteers. This can provide highly enthusiatic local people with the skills to achieve.
G21: Did you suffer a culture shock the first moments you arrived in Nigeria, and on the whole how?would you describe?your experiences both personally and professionally?
SHAW: I have lived in Italy and this did?prepare me for living outside of the UK and for some of the cultural differences here.?The training that?I received in the UK helped also to prepare me for the change.
G21: If they are people out there who would love to become volunteers overseas, what would you say to them?
SHAW: Decide on what you think you can offer but be prepared to be flexible on this and for people to see strengths or skills that you might not see yourself. Get as much information from returned or serving volunteers and?the placement organisation?before arrival and ask as many specific questions as possible.
G21: Your organisation has six developments goals encompassing Education, HIV?& AIDS, Disability, etc.How does it make you feel?to know that you are helping to make the world, Africa particularly,?a better place?
SHAW: Each volunteer has to accept that any change they help bring about will be relatively small. I thoroughly enjoy working together with local colleagues and am equally satisifed by the relationships I am building with them,?as well as any work-related progress.
G21: I wish you the best in your efforts.
SHAW: Thank you very much for taking an interest in me and VSO's work.
© 2006, GENERATOR 21.
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