Getting organized is no joke.

The promised day (Sunday) is finally here. We had had a word of assurance that today, these women will be readily available for us. So at half past midday, we set off to Gwagwada. Not surprisingly, our meeting place which is under a mango tree is void of human life and so I head staright to Lami’s (The coordinator). Quickly, she sends for the women and one by one they start to come. Binta (ARDA’s P.O) is pissed and does not spare them….telling them that such behavior is inconsiderate and against our culture of how you treat guests. They apoplgize profusely and a few of the women protest, saying that they headed straight for the mango tree but met no one so they decided to go back home to which Binta further responds; saying  that they should have waited because we are not the ones to be waiting for them. Very easily, Binta changes from the scolder to a friend and carries the women along in an engaging speech on the reason for our visit which is to officially set up a radio listeners’ club which will also double as a registered association so that they can learn from each other and improve their livelihoods by learning various adaptation skills as well as getting assistance from farm experts. The women are further admonished; as they have been told before, to put their whole hearts into this project so that they can obtain the maximum benefits and in turn, pass on the knowledge to other women within, and in neighbouring villages. If faces were written placards, we could tell that the women were moved and they were also happy that in deed, the organization was being formally set up; and immediately! One of the main de-motivators for the women was that people always came and promised; the government always promised but nothing ever came out of the promises. So hopefully, seeing that this project had come this far in so little time seemed to diminish their skeptism…the project was taking shape in their lifetime!

Agbada Association first group photo

Between ourselves, Binta and I suggested interim officials; explaining that all through the focus groups and the theatre for development days, we have noticed people who we thought should serve as forerunners; the women nodded enthusiastically and we introduced the officials to them and what is required of each official.  After the group photos and individual passport photographs, the women were left alone to do their thing.

At first it had looked like it would just be one of those days with so much activity and so little achievement but it turned out very beautifully in the end. We paid a visit to the sole administrator and blessed him with the title and role of  “Patron”. We set up a meeting for Sunday with the women for the training on how to use a cell phone to make and receive calls as well as for receiving useful farming information and updates from the agric departments and the radio program.