NEWSLETTERS
NEWSLETTER #8 NOVEMBER 2007
The year 2007 has been filled with remarkable achievements for our West Africa Mission, but underscored with continuing instability in Guinea. Overall, The Lyceum Group has gained strength and is very engaged in many self-empowerment programs for the people of West Africa. For this, we are very grateful, and we are especially appreciative for the continued support of so many who have stood by us, and for the host of people who have joined us over the last year.
In the June 2007 Newsletter we stated “The recent appointment of Prime Minister Lansana Kouyate in Guinea and a completely revised cabinet of ministers augers very well for previously-troubled Guinea.” We also said “We are cautiously optimistic that conditions in Guinea are improving.” This followed the civil uprising in the first quarter of 2007 when too many innocent people lost their lives. Some things are indeed improving in Guinea (more roadwork, better electrification, etc) but the pent-up demands of the populace are huge and demanding on a fledgling government. Expectations exceed the ability to deliver. The government of Guinea needs all the support it can get to encourage positive action, and they deserve continued prayers for their transparency and resolve to do what is right for Guinea. In spite of this, Le Groupe Lyceum (LGL) in Guinea have been able to support and stabilize programs there and position for increased activities in 2008.
Our work actually started in Mali five years ago, and we have stayed engaged in that stable jurisdiction since then. We have been able to enhance activities in Mali, and from there, to Guinea this past year. During 2008 this strategy will be strengthened and continue. In reviewing objectives for 2007, we are pleased to confirm that these have been met, and in many ways we exceeded them in spite of the obstacles and challenges.
2008 will see TLG/LGL reaching out to synergistic programs and activities in Ghana and Liberia (Anglophone jurisdictions). We have been approached by special interest groups in Kenya and Somalia (also with New Brunswick roots) to collaborate with them on African East/West initiatives, but these can only be considered if they fit the plans of the West Africa Mission.
Five working missions to Africa will have been completed in 2007, with eight New Brunswickers accompanying Ken Keirstead to Mali, Guinea, and Kenya. Most of these were there for the very successful eLearning Africa 2007 conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
The following is a short summary of activities and opportunities:
Humanitarian/Philanthropic work of TLG was made very challenging by the unstable and sometimes unsafe conditions in Guinea. Schools were closed during the civil unrest, and most of the year has been catch-up. In spite of this, Fatoumata Dabo has been able to implement the children’s program in Fotoba and Boffa and we are ready to see 50 proud children starting school in the next few weeks with help from sponsors. The micro-industry work is forging ahead very well with the first shipment of dresses delivered back to New Brunswick in early November. Edie Mullen is making some changes to the template for the sewers, and busy taking orders for delivery in 2008. Six villagers on the island of Tamara are now contracted to do micro-industry work for LGL, and being paid wages for their diligent labor. Money is being raised in Fredericton and Moncton, Grand Manan Island, and Port Wallis United Church in Dartmouth to continue this effort.
Education Programs have continued to evolve into major initiatives for TLG. This has been anchored by the primary school sponsorship program now functioning at Fotoba and Boffa – to be continued during 2008. 50 deserving school children will be part of our “family” along with their parents and guardians.
Food for Education is a submitted proposal to the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) and SECID (South-East Consortium for International Development) for possible implementation in West Africa through 2008 and 2009. The program is designed to “lunch-feed” 2,000 primary school children for the duration, and measure performance and retention issues (especially girl-students). We now expect word on the program during January 2008. If approved, this program will provide employment for about 12 fulltime workers, and as many as 100 indirect employees.
The “West African Education Consortium” discussed at the close of the eLearning Africa 2007 conference in Nairobi has “morphed” to become the Forum for Education in West Africa (FEWA). The interest by possible stakeholders both in West Africa and the developed West has grown strongly. The objective of this new FEWA group is to host a forum at the upcoming eLearning Africa 2008 conference in Accra, Ghana, form a “Secretariat” for coordination and membership management, and start one or two collaborative projects later in 2008. LGL is the “champion” for this initiative, and funding applications are now under consideration to seed-finance this.
eLearning Africa 2008 has become a major program for LGL. As it is being held in West Africa, it is an ideal venue for LGL to partner and collaborate. ICWE of Berlin, the organizer of the eLearning Africa conferences, has agreed to sponsor the first formal FEWA event during its May 2008 conference in Accra. In addition, Miss. Fatoumata Dabo of LGL has been appointed to the Advisory Committee of eLearning Africa 2008. (www.elearningafrica.com).
Students for West Africa was born from activities mentoring African students over the last few years to improve their academic standards and thus improve their hope for the future. TLG has recognized this asset base by conceiving a “vehicle” that could embed student placements and mentorship in its programs.
Drawing on its connections and resources TLG will provide opportunities for students from St. Thomas University in Fredericton (6) and the University of New Brunswick (2) to be hosted in West Africa for 6-12 weeks during the summer of 2008. They will be assigned to key tasks in sustainable community development during that time. The students are: St. Thomas – Marc-Andre Brisson, Scott Christian, Paul Cormier, Elizabeth Eaton, Anna Galvin, and Falon Milligan. UNB – Duncan McGillivary, and Nathalie Longaphy (TLG associate and PhD candidate). Please follow their progress on a new section of our website “Students for West Africa” (www.grouplyceum.com) under “Education”.
Health Care and Scientific Research has grown during 2007 and will be a large part of LGL programs in 2008.
BioProspecting NB Inc (BPNBI) is a new pharmaceutical discovery and development company located in Sackville, New Brunswick. It has novel and proprietary technology that promises to deliver at least two new therapeutic molecules as new drugs for the treatment of human illness (potential pain management and selected cancer therapy). These molecules are known by the name soricidins. Our earlier newsletter this year announced that BPNBI had chosen our West Africa Mission as its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiative. Due to Ken’s background and experience in drug development and commercialization, he was appointed as BPNBI President and CEO in January 2007. This project has very large potential as an international business. The CFO (Chief Financial Officer) of BPNBI, Mr. Paul Gunn of Moncton, New Brunswick visited Mali with Ken in August to evaluate an association between the Medical Faculty at the University of Bamako with BPNBI. Their visit started formal discussions for collaboration, and also triggered Paul’s interest and willingness to be appointed to TLG’s Advisory Committee. Formal agreements are expected in December 2007 with co-activity to start in 2008.
An HIV/AIDS Testing and Education Facility will soon be opened in Conakry, Guinea after a year of research and preparation. This new facility will be a partnership between LGL and the Anglican Diocese of Guinea and is co-funded by the “Friends of Chichester” in England. Early plans are to train and mobilize two young MDs in Conakry to help start this very needed program (Drs. Ibrahima Dabo and Oumar Diallo).
Through the kind donation of the University of California, Irvine (UCI) surgical instruments, medication supplies, and vitamins have been transported to Guinea for use at UDECOM in N’Zerekore and by Dr. Hasmiou Dia in the Pediatric Hospital in Conakry.
General:
Le Groupe Lyceum is formally registered in Guinea as a humanitarian NGO under the local direction of Miss. Fatoumata Dabo.
SABA (Solidarite pour l’Autopromotion a��? la Base) is an experienced and well organized NGO registered in Bamako, Mali under the direction of its Executive Director Mr. Timothee Coulibaly. They have been working in rural education programs and health care for the last 12 years funded by the World Bank, USAID and others. The complete compatibility of SABA and LGL has prompted the formation of a new partnership between our groups to be concluded in December 2007 with Terms of Reference. Timothee has joined LGL as an associate, and our website will feature future plans and developments.
The University of California, Irvine inaugurated a “foundation” account for education in West Africa during 2007 under the direction of Dr. Hans Keirstead (TLG/LGL Advisory Committee member). Vice Chancellor Gomez of UCI has assigned three staff persons to this initiative to help with the preparation of funding grants. Two Concept Documents have been submitted for early review. This intense activity will launch its first projects in early 2008.
Premier Shawn Graham and Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne appointed Ken Keirstead as an Ambassador for New Brunswick in October 2007.
TLG/LGL’s chairman was appointed Chairman of the Board for the UKAMBA School of Business in Kenya following the very successful eLearning Africa conference in Nairobi. He is joined on the board of UKAMBA by CCNB professor Dr. Efia Assignon of Bathurst. This new college is expected to
