Abstract
Attracted by humanitarian work since a very long time, I seized the opportunity given to me during my third year of 'applied foreign languages' studies to do a work placement in a non-profit organisation in a third world country. I had been unable to find a placement during term time, as I was working as an 'au pair' in London, and couldn't afford to live in this city without any remuneration. I therefore decided to save on my au pair wages to be able to fly abroad for this work placement. I had first, found a placement as an English teacher in Nepal, but the outbreak of a political crisis in the country in April 2006, precisely the time when I was about to make my final decision and book my flight changed my plans. Considering the time of the year, I had to find another placement very quickly. I came across an advertisement by the Togolese non-profit organisation V-Glob on the website www.idealist.org to which I applied and I was immediately accepted. My tasks were described as, to take part in the realization of a participative diagnostic, to organise animation and education on the Earth Charter, and translation work. My actual task in Togo was slightly different, as I will explain further on. My first contacts with the organisation were precipitated, as I had to find an agreement very quickly to be able to organise my journey to Togo once the convention would be signed. The first description of my mission was rather satisfying as it was a combination of translation, organisational work and report, writing for the diagnostic, and teaching. The diagnostic was particularly appealing to me, as I had studied sociology during my two years of studies in 'classe préparatoire lettres et sciences sociales' in Strasbourg. Finally, this placement was especially interesting as I was planning to continue my studies with a Master 'Coopération internationale et communication multilingue' at the Université Stendhal in Grenoble.
Extract
[...] Rapport de stage: Association V-Glob Volontaire-globalisation (Placement report) Summary Summary I. Introduction II. Community diagnostic of the village of Lilikopé, July 2006 1. Definition and principles a. A starting point to community development b. The necessity of local participation 2. Organisation of the data collection a. Preparation work b. [...]
[...] His experience of this type of work was helpful, especially when it came to the organisation of the information and the arrangement of the written document. The participative community diagnostic being a document to be published, it had to follow a pre-defined pattern, so that it can be compared to other diagnostic reports. I therefore organised my report according to a pattern I was given, tabulating information as follows: Table listing the existing infrastructures and their current state table listing the main problems of the village tables of assets, potentials, and inhibiting factors in the village tables analysing the principal problems, their causes, consequences and possible solutions Considering the particularities of the village of Lilikopé, I had to also create new patterns to present the results of the census we organised, and to synthesise the situation of the different farms we visited. [...]
[...] The first description of my mission was rather satisfying as it was a combination of translation, organisational work and report writing for the diagnostic, and teaching. The diagnostic was particularly appealing to me, as I had studied sociology during my two years of studies in "classe préparatoire lettres et sciences sociales" in Strasbourg. Finally, this placement was especially interesting as I was planning to carry on my studies with a Master "Coopération internationale et communication multilingue" at the Université Stendhal in Grenoble. [...]
[...] He did not understand and did not want to try to understand my way of thinking, as an independent European woman, and once even confessed that he was scared of educated women. We had several stormy debates all along my work placement, especially on women rights and human rights in general. This would probably not have happened if we had only worked together, but once that we share a house, the personality of the people and sometimes their incompatibility cannot be ignored. [...]
[...] Dedekè Konyo Daklou 7. Kadjawé Gnanga Kadjawe 8. Kartossakopé Abalo Kartossa 9. Kolo 1 Egah Kokou 10. Kolo 2 Aziati Kofi 11. Kouni Adonko Komédja 12. Kpéyi Agbenyido Mawussi 13. Tadjétsui Koumondji Kossi 14. [...]
