This past week has been one of transitions. After many months of intensive training and working side-by-side, it’s now time for the U.S. and Indian HI management and staff to step back. Those previously involved in the day-to-day administration and residential matters will now act as consultants, and the HI Cameroon staff will take the lead. In a final staff meeting before his departure, Pandit Tigunait emphasized the importance of discipline in the running of all HIC’s programs. “Mindset,” he said, “is the reason previous humanitarian work has succeeded or failed.”

The Total Health students began the business portion of their education today. They will be learning salesmanship and basic marketing skills as practiced in the West. Students will be provided with the new line of HI Total Health herbal tablets to sell independently in their own neighborhoods, while also sharing the workload in a central Total Health Center. This will allow the students to evolve into entrepreneurs while enhancing the health of their communities.

This past week proved equally busy and auspicious for the staff and members of HIC. Four major events showcasing the diversity and depth of the Institute’s humanitarian and rural empowerment programs were held in and around Kumbo in Bui Division.

Celebration

On Saturday, the Himalayan Institute Cameroon held a public celebration in the nearby sports stadium to mark the opening of the School of Energy Farming as well as the graduation of the Total Health students, and the nine month anniversary of the HIC headquarters.

Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Spiritual Head of the Himalayan Institute, addressed the local leaders and guests to outline the plans for the School of Energy Farming. This model protects local farmers from the fluctuating price of coffee by introducing new crops, herbs, and oilseed plants, as well as modern agricultural techniques and equipment. A report was given of the successful graduation of fourteen students within the classroom portion of the Total Health program.

The Senior Division Officer (SDO) , Mr. Panjouno Daniel, acknowledged the, “Difficulties and misunderstandings, inherent in an environment where bureaucracy constitutes one of the impediments to the administrative missions, have been solved more or less rapidly, and now one may say without mincing words that the future of the Himalayan Institute in Cameroon is on a good track.” He then aligned his office with Himalayan Institute Cameroon, “I am promising that [HIC] will constantly have at my level and that of my collaborators the necessary assistance needed for the smooth running of this development-oriented initiative.” The SDO is the most powerful governmental figure in Bui Division, roughly equivalent to a combined governor-senator in the United States.

Milano Kumbo Sports Academy

The Himalayan Institute Community Center opened its doors to the administrators and athletes of the Milano Kumbo Sports Academy. One of the Institute’s first contacts in Kumbo was High Court President Roland Mbenkum, a man who, eager to recompense his birthplace and guided by his experience interpreting the law, founded the Sports Academy. His vision was of a safe place for the region’s many talented young athletes to train, a place where they could realize their potentials without succumbing to drug abuse or promiscuity. Mbenkum explained: “You can get them out of crime just by letting them play. When they run – I have watched them – they come and lie down and then they sleep deep. They get up in the morning and they want to run and they want to do something useful. You get them out of those practices that kill them.” The Institute presented the Academy with a variety of sports equipment collected from abroad, and formally recognized the four athletes who had placed exceptionally well in the Boston Marathon.

School of Energy Farming

On Monday, the visiting Himalayan Institute members were driven to Kishong village where HIC owns fifty acres that will house the infrastructure of the School of Energy Farming and experimental plots. They were greeted by local drummers and juju dancers before being escorted to a pavilion where blueprints for the project were revealed. The property offers hillsides for terraced farming, dry grass fields, and low-lying wetlands, enough diversity to accurately reflect the conditions of various local farmers. On this land HIC will test various herbs and oilseed crops to determine which are best suited to each type of land and how best to rotate the crops.

Kumbo Public Library

Tuesday marked the ribbon cutting for the new Kumbo Public Library. A year ago, when Pandit Tigunait met with the Lord Mayor of Kumbo, he expressed his desire to found a library.

They drove to where the library building stands. It is a very well-made structure, but only a small portion of it is used because the library only has some 1,000 books. Since then, the Institute, with the help of its members and the Honesdale Rotary, has collected approximately 30,000 books, which now await the completion of the library. With the SDO’s cutting of the red, green and yellow ribbon (the colors of the Cameroonian flag), construction and renovation of the library can officially begin. At a luncheon held on the second floor, the Lord Mayor of Kumbo, the SDO, Pandit Tigunait, and representatives of HIC, the Kumbo Rotary and the Honesdale Rotary signed a document pledging to support both the library project and each other.

This is the first greeting that the group received as they arrived in Kumbo. It’s a long journey from Douala, but the destination is the reward.

As the international delegation of 16 departed the bus, they were greeted in the traditional way with African song, drums and dance. “I can’t believe that the Institute has achieved this in such a short time,” said Ronak Desai from the USA. “I’m really moved by the staff and the care they put into everything they do.”

The delegates arrived from around the world to join the launching of the Himalayan Institute’s 2008 Rural Empowerment Initiatives. The Fon (King) of the Nso Kingdom welcomed the delegates with a warm reception and paused to have his picture taken with the group. “The Fon of Nso had a huge celebration for us,” said Karen Lewis, a guest from Wisconsin, USA. “We had a private audience with the Fon, soon after we participated in a traditional dance, and then we were allowed to enter the palace for a reception. He really welcomed us with open arms.”

Tomorrow marks the official launching of the Himalayan Institute’s 2008 Rural Empowerment Initiatives. Royalty, government officials, citizens of Kumbo, HI Cameroon staff members and international guests will attend the ceremony in the local arena. Keep up to date with the programs in Kumbo by watching the blog.

I looked at the faces of the global VIP’s visiting this classroom as the fourteen students of the HI Total Health Center program introduced themselves. I saw that my eyes were not the only ones filled with mist–at that moment, I knew that this was Africa speaking. Here is some of what we heard:

“You told me to wait but my family and I have heard those words for generations. You said you would bring a medical school to me and you didn’t. You brought something so much better, so much more practical but you did not bring it to me—you brought it to all of us.” A man from Bamenda, addressing the HIC staff:

“I loved my training as a veterinarian. I love the animals, and I love my profession. I had no idea that my dreams would die simply because I could not buy the medical equipment essential to my profession.” Her voice never waivered and her gaze stayed fixed on all of us.

“My father was the traditional healer of my village. He died two months ago without a successor. Becoming a consultant through this training will end my father’s grief and bring great joy to my people. You have taught me how to blend the old ways with the new—without offending nor ignoring my tradition. There is no way for you to know what a great day my graduation will bring to my family.” His head was bowed and his humility was palpable.

Today, the Humanitarian trAID bazaar hosted the premiere showing of traditional art and handicrafts found in the Nso Kingdom and the Northwest Province of Cameroon.

Humanitarian trAID’s goal is to promote indigenous arts, preserve tradition, and build cultural and economic sustainability.

Carvings of traditional warriors in mahogany and eucalyptus, handbags, and home décor from locally grown raffia, elaborate traditional masks, and water vessels decoratively carved from gourd were the most sought after items.

“Sacred Link Jewelry has become well established in Kumbo,” said Briana Douzart, senior staff member, “The October 2007 graduates of the Sacred Link Jewelry training program demonstrated their industry with a wide range of original and traditional designs.”

HI Cameroon’s Director, Matthew Douzart, addressed the international guests visiting the Institute’s Community Center in Kumbo for the grand opening of the School of Energy Farming:

“Humanitarian trAID is a means for developing economic sustainability for the Kumbo community. You will find in the Humanitarian trAID Bazaar crafts and pieces of art that cannot be found in the market, in Douala (port city) or elsewhere—our team went into the interiors to procure these treasures. The goal of Humanitarian trAID is to make these arts and the stories of their making available to a wider Western audience, not only generating long lasting economic reward for the artisans, but also providing a meaningful cultural exchange for the world.”

The first container of 2008 arrived in Cameroon on May 29, 2008. Carrying 30,000 books, carpentry equipment, dispensary supplies, and other tools and equipment, the container arrived in the port of Douala after a 2 month journey which began in the U.S. from Honesdale, Pennsylvania. The 40-foot shipping container traveled 10 hours north to the HI Community Center in Kumbo, Cameroon, the final several hours over difficult, un-paved roads. The arrival of the container marks another milestone in the Community Center’s development, providing critically needed supplies to support the 2008 project expansion.

Matthew Douzart, Managing Director of HI Cameroon, traveled halfway around the world, from Honesdale, Pennsylvania to Guangzhou, China for a 10-day shopping spree. Helping to equip the HI Community Center in Cameroon for its 2008 project expansion, the shopping list focused heavily on carpentry and agricultural tools and equipment, critically needed for the School of Carpentry and Construction and School of Energy Farming. It was particularly helpful to procure these items from China, as the electricity standard used in China matches that of Cameroon (unlike that used in the U.S.). In addition, a host of other smaller items were procured for the Community Center, from jewelry tools and materials to affordable reading glasses.

[This post was written by Rylan, a new volunteer at the HI Community Center in Cameroon]

The region is so hilly that it’s nearly impossible to take in all of Kumbo at once, but from the top of one of many rolling hills, you can get an impression. The city manifests itself as clusters of glinting tin roofs, embedded within the overpowering green, crisscrossed by brown dirt roads. It’s difficult to find exposed earth in Kumbo so much of its flat land is devoted solely to corn, year after year. The corn feeds the chickens and is the main ingredient in fufu, West Africa’s staple carb. Where the land is steep, farmers grow eucalyptus and huckleberry greens.

Carpentry and mason work are done with very simple tools. The countryside is dotted with simple structures and scaffolding made from raffia palm, whose bamboo-like limbs are lashed together. More durable shops and houses are made with boards and iron nails. Oftentimes the boards fall into neat rows of equal length, lined up on top of each other. The missionary buildings and the more affluent houses are made of brick or large stones and mortar.

The people of Kumbo are incredibly laid back. It gives the women a permanent half-smile and the men an air of machismo which underscores an incredible strength. You will never hear a local man or woman complain.

Representatives from around the world are converging on Kumbo, Cameroon, and within 24 hours they’ll be arriving into her open arms. They will take part in a ceremony officially announcing the launch of the Himalayan Institute’s 2008 Rural Empowerment Initiatives.

Attending this grand event will be guests from Japan, India, Senegal, Tibet, Bangladesh, USA and the Ivory Coast.

Preparations for the event in Kumbo have been underway for many months. Now just two days before the event, the HI Community Center staff met to discuss the final details to make this event shine above all others.

Included in the week’s celebration will be the inauguration of:

• The School of Biovedic Energy Farming
• The School of Carpentry and Construction
• The Himalayan Institute Total Health Center
• The Kumbo Public Library Project

Throughout the week guests will have the opportunity to celebrate at the Palace of the Paramount Fon (King) of Nso (pronounced ‘So”), visit the local market, participate in the launching of the Institute’s Humanitarian TrAID Bazaar and enjoy the atmosphere that only those in Cameroon can understand: fresh air, breathtaking views of the countryside, and the hospitality of the HI Community Center staff.

“Seeing is believing,” said Brian Fulp, President of Honesdale Rotary. “I’ve come to Kumbo because of Honesdale Rotary’s involvement in the fundraising efforts for the Kumbo Public Library Project. My job is to meet others who are participating in these projects and take my report back to the US. It is a great honor and opportunity for me to travel here for this event.”

For more information on how you can become involved visit www.HimalayanInstitute.org.

[This post was written by Brian Fulp]

The Himalayan Institute Community Center has made a great impact on the local community of Kumbo. As the main building towers over the community, its lawns are crisp, the entrance is clean, and anyone looking from the distance may wonder- what is this place? In front is the buckaroo (pronounced ‘boo- ka- roo’), or thatched hut, that was gifted by the local king. The building and landscape are immaculate with a decorative gate, driveway, and fence- complete with purple flowers planted around the top make. Everything is in its place and there is a sense that something big is happening here and the local people know it.

“We appreciate the Institute, and what they are doing here in Kumbo,” said, Sylvia, a staff member of the Community Center. “We are proud that so many projects are happening at this very moment and we are allowed to be part of them.”

Just like the headquarters in Honesdale, every morning starts with group prayers and meditation. With the same buzz of a beehive, the activity begins around 8am when the students of the Himalayan Institute Total Health Class begin to arrive.

Typically arriving 30 minutes early so they can be ready when the class starts, it’s very clear that they take the opportunity to attend classes at the Community Center as a privilege and they intend to take full advantage of the teachings. In many cases, at the end of the day, they do not bolt for the door, but hang back to finish their note taking and collaborate with their fellow students. “There is a sense of pride among the students,” said Briana Douzart, HI Community Center Senior Staff member. “Since the beginning, these students know that once they graduate from our school, they will have the tools and means for making a living within the community- they take their education very seriously.”

The Institute’s philosophy of providing rural empowerment instead of aid is a powerful but rewarding concept. The classes are not meant to teach one side of a subject, but to provide real tools and practical applications that can be used by the students to help transform themselves and to make a positive impact on their community. When you see the smiles on the faces of those attending class, and hear their stories, you realize the impact the HI Community Center has already made in this beautiful country on the other side of the world.