[RPCV news] Seeking reliable transport in Guinea

RPCV Adam Dowling is trying to secure in advance reliable transportation for an eyeglass mission to Tougue. See information below.

If you have any suggestions, please contact him directly at:

adimal32 @ hotmail.com


He writes:

I wanted to let the FOG community know that Sharing Resources Worldwide (SRW) will be conducting a second (first was in 2006) eyeglass mission to Tougue this coming June.

Many of the required elements are falling into place with the help of many, including PC Guinea who graciously assisted in getting some of the eyeglasses to Guinea and is storing the boxes until our arrival. Hassan from Doucki has made contact with Sightsavers in Labe, which will be providing an eyecare professional to assist. Hassan will also help translate, as he did in 2006. There will be two opticians from the US going, my beautiful wife Hadja and one of her co-workers and an American ophthalmologist who is practicing in Tel Aviv.

The remaining element is the ever precarious transportation of people, equipment and supplies. In 2006 we received assistance from Helen Keller International and a contact with the DPSP.

However, this year we're having trouble securing transport ahead of time. I'm wondering if anyone out there is aware of a reliable and safe chauffeur with a good vehicle. Perhaps an ex-PC driver or even a company that's a step above the gare-routiere de Conakry. Any ideas or contacts from the FOG community would be much appreciated.

Peace,

Adam Dowling
Matakaou 99-01
Labe 01-03

[FOG news] Friends of Guinea announces new leadership

Following the recent election, FOG is pleased to announce its new board of directors for the upcoming year...

Projects director: Donald Parker

Secretary: Katalina Estrada

Communications director: Rosemarie Rose

Financial officer: Shad Engkilterra

Membership director: Brian Clappier

**

We'd also like to welcome the following new volunteers who've offered to help out as members-at-large

Web admin: Karen Star & Jessamyn Miller

Guinea Parent Support (GPS): Diane Carlson & Meghan Greeley

**

Please join us in thanking the following outgoing board members and members-at-large for their service to the organization...

Stephanie Chasteen (secretary)

Claire Lea (projects)

Brian Farenell (communications)

Nathan Shepherd (web)

Sharon Buehler (GPS)

[Guinean news] Gold mine collapses; junta won't stand in elections, wants to reform army; rioters fired upon

At least 13 people were killed when a gold mine collapsed last week, according to the Guinean government. The gold mine was in Touletoni, in the Siguiri prefecture.

The country's military leader Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara told journalists that no members of the ruling junta are going to run in legislative and presidential elections scheduled for late this year.

Dadis also said he wants to reform the armed forces before the end of his tenure. The army is widely seen a major source of instability in the country. Human rights groups have repeatedly shed light on soldier impunity.

At least two people were wounded on Saturday when Guinean security forces fired on rioters. A police station and several police vehicles were attacked in the riot which was sparked by an armed robbery on a local shop by thieves dressed in military uniform, reported TVNZ.

[Guinean news] ICG, HRW reports on Guinea

Though this is a few months old, the International Crisis Group has a still relevant report on the transition in Guinea.

This week, Human Rights Watch issued a report of its own detailing the impunity of ordinary soldiers, which was already bad but seems to have worsened under the new junta.

[Guinean news] Junta cracks down on prostitutes, drug addicts

The Guinean military junta has apparently ordered a crackdown on prostitutes and young drug addicts in Conakry, according to APANEWS.

The African Press Agency reports an increase in the number of nighttime police patrols in the capital over the last several days.

[Guinean news] 'Coup plotters' arrested; Dadis won't stand in elections

Two junior army officers were arrested this week on suspicion of plotting a coup d'Etat against the country's military head of state Capt. Moussa Dadis Camara. Dadis was already at the airport when his trip to Libya was cancelled, reports the BBC. The broadcaster noted an increase in troop movements in Conakry in recent days.

Agence France Presse noted that: The International Crisis Group has warned that disagreements within the Guinean junta itself could endanger the transition to elections planned for later this year.

Human Rights Watch has similar concerns.

Earlier this week, Capt. Camara said he would not stand in presidential elections due this December.

[FOG News] Help us help Guinea!

Yes, it’s that time of year again, and we need your help. Yes, your help. No matter how small, any assistance is greatly appreciated. We have a big turnover in our officer pool this year, as several dedicated officers are stepping down. We thank them deeply for their time, energy and humor over the years!

All jobs take about 3-5 hours per month, though the time commitment can vary depending on your preferences and seasonal projects.

Deadline for nominations is April 22 (Earth Day!). Send your interest or questions to me at info (at) friendsofguinea (dot) org! For complete descriptions of all open officer positions go to http://www.friendsofguinea.org/aboutfog/officerduties.shtml

Open positions

1. Projects Mastermind. The projects director keeps on top of new projects coming on board at PCPP, such as the Gender Conferences, advertises those projects in the community, and helps scrape together some of the precious moola to help make them happen. This job can have long periods of inactivity with concentrated fundraising efforts.

2. Communications Commander. The communications director keeps the FOG blog updated, with the help of the other officers, as well as any other communications needs. This job requires small amounts of time once a week or so, and is ideal for someone who keeps on top of the Guinean news already.

3. Web Meister. The web administrator is in charge of keeping our online face looking pretty. Very little html knowledge required, and the motivated individual could work with a contractor to get us on a content management system requiring no html knowledge for the job. This job requires an hour or more once a month, plus availability for special updates a few times a year.

4. Guinea Parent Support (GPS). The GPS groups were set up with love by a parent of a PCV many years ago, and have proven invaluable for many parents and friends of volunteers since. The GPS administrator communicates with PC Washington to get the email addresses of each group of parents, sets up new email lists for those groups, and helps find a mentor to guide each new group through the ins-and-outs of

5. Secretarial Superhero. The secretary’s job is to keep FOG running smoothly by scheduling quarterly teleconferences and keeping track of records. There is a little bit of cat-herding in this job, and the satisfaction of keeping all the ducks in a row. This job tends to require about an hour every few weeks.

6. Financial Guru: The financial officer keeps track of the financial resources of FOG. He/she deposits monies from donations in an account under the name of FOG, and dispurses monies as requested and approved by the FOG board. He/she also keeps financial records, via spreadsheet, of both expenditures and income, summarizing it for the board quarterly. On a monthly basis, the financial officer sends financial information to the membership director, to be used to verify new member payments.




Non-essential positions

1. Fundraising help: Assist the project director in finding the chunks of change to make change happen

2. Administer Connected Peace Corps site: Help us figure out the best way to use this group, be the social butterfly on the online social networking site!

3. Advocacy: Keep on top of Guinean news and provide a quarterly briefing for the newsletter, and anything else you see fit to do!

4. Listserv admin: Keep things clean and spiffy on the Guinea List email list, answer questions from subscribers, etc. Minimal time commitment.

Inuwali, on jaaraama, and we'll buy you a bowl of mafe tiga!

[FOG News] Facebook for RPCVs

Check out the new FOG site on Peace Corps Connect – the new “Facebook” site for RPCVs. We’re there at http://community.peacecorpsconnect.org/group/friendsofguinea. Join our group, and connect with old friends too. You can search by country of service, name, etc., online chat, post pictures, and more. I give it a thumbs up!

[Guinean news] Junta announces election dates

The CNDD junta announced that legislative elections will be held on October 11 of this year and that the first round of presidential elections will be held two months later on December 13.

[Artistic news] Guinean music scene

The excellent public radio program Afropop Worldwide has a look at the Guinean music scene.