Memoirs de la Trinité et Tobago

I'm happy to let you all know that my journey around the world has finally brought me back home to Trinidad and Tobago:) In November of last year, mere weeks after returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo, I travelled to London to sit Trinidad and Tobago's International Relations Exam, which Alhamdudillah I was successful in. Following a phone interview a month later, I was offered a position as an International Relations Officer (IRO), with Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. So one of my life's dream to serve my country has finally become a reality:) I officially started the position in February and despite an extremely challenging start and reversed culture shock, it has definitely been worth it:) The IRO position is similar to what is commonly termed in the US as a Foreign Service Officer position. The first few years are based at headquarters and following that Officers are posted to missions abroad.

It was after facilitating the 2009 Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) which Trinidad and Tobago hosted, that I decided if life gave me the chance and I could find a "bridge between the international world I held so dear to my heart and my beautiful Trinbago" I would definitely embark on it, all costs aside.

So, Alhamdudillah I now have that opportunity. I've been placed in the Multilateral Division and my responsibilities are mostly UN thus far; everything from UN Women to UN Reform, Security Council, Political Questions such as Palestine, Libya, North Korea, UNICEF, UNDP and and even the WHO. And every now and then I get to assist with thematic areas that overlap with the Commonwealth, which is exciting as the theme for the Commonwealth in 2011 is "Women as Agents of Change."

One of our most interesting initiatives I've been working on is hosting a High Level Colloquium on Women in Political Participation  in the margins of this year's UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York in September. It will be co-hosted by Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, the European Union and the USA, with support from UN Women and UNDP. Women Heads of Government will participate in a panel discussion on challenges affecting women's participation in political processes across the globe. The outcome is expected to be a Joint Communique from Women World Leaders and the tabling of a resolution on the political empowerment of women in the Third Committee of the UN. I've been honored to add some of my field experiences to my work on the Colloquium, and am very happy that women will get more of a focus at this year's UNGA:)

In the midst of my work responsibilities, all IROs have had to undergo diplomatic training at the University of the West Indies, specifically designed for "New Diplomats in the 21st Century." While balancing work with training was not unchallenging, all in all the the program was worthwhile and an excellent experience. Our official graduation ceremony was held yesterday and members of the Diplomatic Corps were invited to share their words of wisdom with us:)

In the past few months, I've had to retrain myself to speak and write as a diplomat. Those who know me best know that I pride myself in saying exactly what I think and that I view plesantries as a waste of time. Things have changed. I've learned that words are to be chosen with a great deal of caution and that pleasantries can have its benefits. A comma in the wrong place can make a difference in the interpretation of a UN resolution and listening is without a doubt one of my greatest tools. I continue to learn.

One of the greatest pros of Trinidad and Tobago's foreign policy is that it is simple, moral and  based on the UN Charter. The tenets include respect for sovereignty, adherence to international law and "non-interference" unless collective action is necessary in cases of gross violations of human rights, genocide etc. So I'm happy to say that I can represent Trinidad and Tobago diplomatically with a clear conscious and without (I hope!) facing grave moral dilemmas.... although these are bound to surface at some point. 

Apart from work which seems to take up most of my time, I've had brief but priceless moments with my family and best friends:) I've been to the beach a few times since I got back and to Tobago twice, which is by far my favorite place in the world. Its turquoise waters, white sand beaches, beautiful people and amazing food always makes me very happy and it's only a 2 hour ferry ride away:) The weather here is beautiful and I've had everything from callalloo, doubles (chick peas in fried dough), alouepie (a potato pie that is fried), coconut bake, buljol (salted fish), dumplins and fried plantains:) So I'm pretty happy and excited about what life has to offer:)  I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but Trinbago has always been my place to "recharge my batteries." So it's been great to be back, albeit a bit surreal.

And it is is one of the most diverse places in the world. My family members are Muslims, Hindus and Christians; we're of East-Indian descent, African descent and Caucasian descent. And contrary to popular belief, my family is not an anomaly, we're like most other Trini family. Trinbagonians have public holidays for all religious celebrations and so what is normal here is quite unusual for the rest of the world. But maybe this is why no matter how far I go, Trinbago will always have a very special place in my heart:)

But that does not mean that I am without obstacles. The more time I spend here, the more I think of my short time in the field. I miss the Democratic Republic of Congo very much, and while this is my shot at diplomacy and I want to give it my best, I am concerned about what the upcoming November elections could mean for the beautiful Congolese people, whose smiles have remained etched in my heart. But maybe life will, when the time is right, also take me back to Kinshasa in sha Allah!

Final Memoir de Kinshasa

Sadly, this is my final memoir from Kinshasa and it's truly been an amazing and life changing 3 months. I've fought hard to keep my idealism alive in the midst of conflict, poverty and oppression, and I've seen the beauty of the human spirit after conflict is transformed. I received so many blessings, from my voluntary work with Congolese orphans and women and especially from my colleagues A and D!

As I look back on my time in Kinshasa, I realize how much I've grown within these three months. I've felt the power of the divine spirit in all my work and I've witnessed a people here that I can barely describe. Their beauty and resilience in the face of conflict, poverty and disease deserves nothing but our utmost respect. The international community needs to reflect introspectively before it can even aspire to help these beautiful people. With conflict resolution and trust building, I am confident that the DRC can be a great country! Positive change is a reality. And I've learned so much about human nature. It's almost as easy to be led in our work by anger/ fear instead of love and forgiveness. But our intention impacts our result. So no matter how difficult it is to forgive, we always have to find the courage to do that. 

I landed in Kuwait early Saturday morning, after an unexpected stay in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which gave me the opportunity to see a different face of Africa! Since then, I've spent quality time with mommy and friends:) I'm happy to have at least a few weeks of being a regular young person, since I seem to have lost sight of what that means! I'll continue to seek other opportunities to return to the DRC, Africa and to other conflict regions across the world and will definitely keep you updated on my next adventure:)

Coming to Kinshasa was a test of my faith and I feel so honored to have had the experiences I had here. When I think back of the DRCongo, I'll think of beautiful Congolese mamas, Lake Kivu, the fleuvre (Congo River), A and D, Kinshasa, fried plantains, beautiful smiles, M, Goma, Lubumbashi and Kindu:) Even in the midst of gross poverty and injustice, I know good can conquer evil. So I leave DRC a pragmatic idealist:) 

Many thanks from the bottom of my heart to each of you for your support and encouragement! A la prochaine! Until the next time:)

Memoirs de Lubumbashi

Around two weeks ago, I was invited to accompany a Congolese coworker, L, to Lubumbashi, a small town in Eastern Congo, just on the border of Zambia. Our aim was to conduct workshops on combatting sexual violence for representatives of local NGOs, financed by my organization. In conducting training, we utilized a series of pictures called an "Image Box" to define sexual violence, and address the rights of victims, available medical and psychological facilities, and access to justice. As part of this training, L inquired if I would be interested in conducting a workshop for about 25 women, most who were victims of sexual violence. Following my visit to the the HEAL Africa hospital in Goma and my voluntary work facilitating Creators of Peace circles for women, I agreed, although I knew it would be a challenge.

I consulted with a good friend, A, who had experience working with victims of violence and together, we crafted an agenda for the workshop utilizing the Creators of Peace facilitators' manual (http://www.cop.iofc.org) and Augusto Boal's "forum theater" (http://www.theatreoftheoppressed.com). That morning, I walked into our conference center and was greeted by beautiful Congolese "mamas" dressed in traditional attire of all different colors and styles. In preparation, I had prayed a great deal as it was necessary to listen with my heart, even more than normal, since I would conduct the workshop in French, with interpretation in Swahili.

At the beginning I could see the folded arms, the distant looks and the reserved body language of the women. Since most were victims, this was something I was prepared for. After every activity, however, the women loosened up, becoming a bit more comfortable and during "forum theater," they just blossomed. Each group of four planned and performed a skit portraying destruction of peace and how it could be recreated. Through these skits, I got an insight into daily life in rural Lubumbashi, which included domestic violence, alcoholism, child marriage, and sexual violence. After each group was finished we froze the skit, challenging participants to empower the oppressed woman. Could she change her situation, and if so how? Techniques discussed included sewing clothes and cooking food to provide women with income, providing increased education for girls, educating men about the consequences of violence, educating women about their rights, and seeking intervention by a third party, normally an elder or tribal chief. These skits worked well because the woman was no longer the victim. Instead, she was empowered as a catalyst for change and given control of her own life.

The spirit I felt in that room was like no other I had ever experienced in my life. I hesitated for a long time in even writing this memoir, because I wasn't sure how to describe what I had felt. But perhaps the best way to describe it is humanity once lost, now regained. I could barely imagine the horrors these women had been through; but the smiles, the joie de vivre of these women... is something I would take with me for the rest of my life. Our session lasted for 5 hours, instead of 3... and I left shortly afterward emotionally drained but with a smile on my face and one of the most powerful experiences I've ever had. After more than two decades, somewhere between songs in Swahili... and beautiful Congolese mamas, I had finally found my life's calling.

Sadly, around a week after I had conducted this workshop and returned to Kinshasa, over 200 mass rapes were carried out by FDLR rebels and Mai Mai in the small village of Batele, not far from Goma. The very thought of this brings tears to my eyes. The women I had worked with had months and years to analyze the trauma of their rape, and despite the empowerment techniques and training imparted to them, I knew that each day would be a new challenge for them. I could only imagine what the future held for the victims, both women and children, in Batele. For years, I could barely even say the words sexual violence out loud. But as civil war is played out on the female body... I realize that ignoring this crime against humanity is no longer an option.

These women will forever be shunned by their village and by their husbands because of the stigma attached to rape in the DRC. Some may even go on to bear the children of the rebels who raped them. Others will contract HIV and suffer a variety of diseases. Sadly, most will never have justice. What upsets me the most is that this took place in relative proximity to a UN Peacekeeping camp; one that is part of the biggest peacekeeping operation in the world, MONUSCO. I fail to understand why the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon, even issues a report condemning the mass rapes that happened, after not taking action to prevent it.

These beautiful women and children don't have the opportunities most of us take for granted. Poverty, lack of education and lack of basic resources are rampant all over the DRC, and Eastern Congo is no exception. This means that the rest of us have a responsibility to do something, to protect these beautiful women and children... their smiles and their spirit. After the Rwandan genocide, the international community promised never again. But civil wars and sexual violence continue to happen, again... and again...and again.

If we continue to turn our back on these issues, what can we expect to change?

Memoirs de Kindu

Many thanks for your encouraging emails and Ramadan Mubarak to all of you! Following my last post, I wanted to write to you about my experiences in Kindu, since the greater part of my week in Eastern Congo was spent working in Kindu's justice system.

Kindu, located in the province of Mnaiema, is just an hour from Goma. Our little UN plane gives me a breath-taking aerial view of lake Kivu and lake Tanganyika, which both flow into the meandering expanse that is the Congo River. Dense green trees and grandeur mountains overlook these grand expanses of blue-grey water and as our plane circles, I am looking at one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. Except the painting is real and we're about to land in Kindu! For me this trip can only be described as a dream come true and I am blessed to be able to share it with two special coworkers, without whom this story would be incomplete. If I had to choose two people to work with in Eastern Congo, it would be these two, Alhamdudillah. A, my supervisor, is serious, but uncannily witty at the same time. I'm normally laughing so hard at his jokes, that I fail to fully notice that our "hotel" in Kindu has no electricity (only a generator that needs gas to be fueled), mosquitoes everywhere, and buckets filled with cold water! D is like the Ya Ya (big sister) I've never had. She's a lawyer who commands respect when she walks into a room and her knowledge of the Congolese political and judicial context is a priceless asset for our work here.

We begin by visiting Kindu's Palais de Justice, that houses the Tribunal de Grand Instance (TGI) and the Cour d'Appel. It is a large, beige building, that's old but sturdy. Upon entering, I realize, much to my surprise, that the Palais also has no electricity and very little furniture. Stacks of cases tied together lay on the ground and I can't seem to figure out how they are classified or how to identify the cases I need to follow up on. But with the help of the greffiers (court secretaries), we get started even though progress is slow.

As we stand outside after our data collection, I notice an old, brown, wooden door, which apparently leads to a room. It is locked, so I can't see inside, but it is a dark, dismal looking place, with no source of natural light, except the less than an inch between the door and the ground. I dread to think that someone could be inside that room, but I see two Congolese policemen guarding the door, so I walk over to find out more. A, D, and the Presidents, have apparently seen this many times before, so they pay me no heed as they continue their discussion. I ask the policemen to open the door, and inside I see a young man about my age. Apparently this is an "amigo" where prisoners are detained until their case is heard. "Amigo" in Spanish means friend, so I have no idea why it has this name. Suffice is to say, this amigo is despicable, has a dreadful smell and is so small that I would hate to spend any time in there. I told the policemen that this man had rights and that they should let him stand in the light, with the cuffs on if need be. Since we were with the Presidents of the Court at the time, the policemen agreed and took the man out (at least for the remainder of my time there). It's been more than a week since this experience, but the memory of that place is still etched in my mind. According to A, though, this amigo, was pretty good, by Congolese standards. I was horrified. If there was a moment in my life I wanted to be a lawyer, it was that one. But I soon realized that being a lawyer would not be enough. So many factors were responsible for what I had just seen; the political powers that be, the gross poverty, inadequate infrastructure, inefficiencies in the court system; it would take not only legislative change, but also political and economic change to make a real difference.

The good news, though, is that my team and I are here to work on judicial problems, including this one. Our main goal is to host a workshop for the Prosecutor General, Presidents, Magistrates and Greffiers on delay reduction. If we are successful, detainees like the young man I met, would stay in the amigos for a shorter number of days. We will even try to bring mediation (if approved) and mobile courts to prisons and amigos. This way, magistrates can give verdicts more quickly. It doesn't quite solve the problem, but we are hopeful it can make a small difference and gradually, even a lasting positive change. After a few rounds of negotiations, the judicial actors agree to set up a Delay Reduction Committee to address inefficiencies. Our local team based in Kindu will follow up accordingly, and hopefully there will be some good news to share.

My memoirs of Kindu, however, should end on a positive note because as I've said before the spirit of the Congolese people is absolutely beautiful:) My favorite memory from Kindu happened on our first morning just across from the hotel. Breakfast wasn't ready, so I decided to take a little stroll. On my right hand side, I noticed a group of women and girls filling containers at a well and after a moment of wondering whether I should say hi, I decided to go for it. They seemed happy to see me and greeted me in Swahili (!) which they assumed I spoke since I look East African (I had no idea, but I find this thought absolutely wonderful!!!). To be honest, though, I don't know a single word in Swahili, so I quickly switched to French. I have a favor to ask of them... since I want to learn the art of balancing something on my head (yes, exactly as you see on TV). Since I'm a novice, I use one hand and sometimes both, but I practise, while the women smile and laugh at me:) Before I know it I'm chatting with them about their lives and my work in justice that brings me to Kindu. It is a wonderful experience and I would love to spend the entire day listening to them. If only I could figure out how to communicate and share knowledge as gracefully as these Congolese women, I just might have an impact:)

Memoirs de Goma

We're staying at the beautiful Ihusi Hotel in Goma. It's now 6 a.m. in the morning and I've awaken early to spend sometime in prayer and meditation. I'm sitting on the terrace and my seat overlooks Lake Kivu. To my left, not far in the distance is Rwanda. It's so close that I can even see the colors of the rooftops on some of the buildings. I never imagined that Goma would be like this. The waves burble quietly on the shore and I can hear the birds chirping as they fly by. The sky is a mix of cream, blue and white and the sun will soon rise. Eastern DRCongo is one of the most beautiful places I've ever traveled to, comparable only to my beautiful Trinidad and Tobago.

On the surface Goma seems so calm. I could spend hours here just in silence, but my day is about to begin and I need to be mentally prepared. H, a fellow Caux Scholar, will come later and we will visit HEAL Africa, a Congolese NGO that houses victims of sexual violence from remote villages in the East while they await surgery. I needed to describe the sheer physical beauty of this place, so you get a sense of the irony of it all. Upon arrival into Goma, the first thing that you notice is the huge UN peacekeeping operation; barbed wire, UN tents, UN trucks and airplanes, everywhere. Yet, Goma feels like a tourist town. Apparently, before the civil war, it was one of the most popular resorts in Africa. Now, instead of tourism, Goma is home to MONUSCO, the largest UN peacekeeping mission in the world, and a significant expatriate population. This is because the Eastern border of the DRC shared with Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Sudan is an extremely volatile place. After the Rwandan genocide, members of the Forces Democratique de Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) fled into Eastern Congo causing violence and bloodshed to the villagers of remote villages. To this day, they continue to kidnap and use children as child soldiers and rape and abuse women and children as a tactic of war. In retaliation, the Congolese military adopted the same tactics and the bloody politics of war is now being played out on the female body. The statistics and numbers of Congolese women and children who are victims of sexual abuse is staggering.(http://www.healafrica.org/)

I'm glad I've had some time just to reflect and center myself as I see H waving as she walks towards me. Half an hour later, together with two colleagues from work, we walk into the HEAL Africa hospital.  I've been warned not to discuss the rape with the women here. Most are still traumatized and it is a very sensitive subject. The hospital is not quite what I expect. I see women everywhere, and I see children. Some of the children are victims of sexual violence; others were born out of rape. The women are being taught to sew. This way once they return to their communities they will have a better chance to deal with the stigma of rape and regain some respect by earning their own money. There's a wide display of purses and hand crafted jewelry everywhere and I opt to buy some items, because this is one way to support the women here. But I'll be honest, being here breaks my heart and I feel a sense of lost humanity. Yet, in the midst of all the sadness and pain, there is hope. Most of the women and kids know H. They smile when they see her and I see the hope in their eyes. Maybe it's what I choose to see... but maybe, even in the midst of conflict, there can be transformation and even peace. Something here resonated deep within me and as we leave the hospital, I know I will spend my life working to empower women and children.

As we leave, H suggests that we head to the Goma market. I agree as in my mind, the most difficult mental part of the day is over. But as it turns out I'm wrong. We walk into the market and quite a few boys try to help us with our groceries. They fight over who can hold my bag and it's definitely the survival of the fittest here in Goma. Except it's not a game, this is real life for the kids here. Before I know it there are about 10 kids following me. They ask me for money, so the logical thing in my mind is to change some US dollars into Congolese francs and give to each of the children. I start giving out the money and I realize that the 10 kids have now become 20 and pretty soon I'm in a mob of kids. We escape as quickly as possible into our awaiting taxi. I'm shocked.... how easy would it have been for me to be born as an African child from Goma. What if I were one of these kids? 

My sadness turns into frustration. All my life, I've seen clips from Africa on news. It's a dream come true for me to live here. But the thing they don't tell you on TV.... is that the people here are just like you and me. They're not any different. In a heartbeat, they could be the person you pass on the street, they could be your brother or sister. Yet, on TV, we never see the names of children or women... it's as if a part of their humanity is cut out and their existence is different to ours. This makes me angry, because while the news portrays one aspect of life here, it doesn't portray the other, the beauty and the spirit of Congolese people... So regardless of what you see on TV, if you haven't already visited this beautiful place, I'll urge you to come to Africa and experience it yourself. And when you do...don't attempt to give out money to all the kids you see in the market... instead, try to find a more sustainable solution to empower children and create positive change for a brighter tomorrow.

Memoirs de Kinshasa

Many thanks to each of you for your warm and encouraging messages and special thanks to those who introduced me to friends in DRC via email! 

Since my last message, I've met up with folks and and explored down town Kinshasa. I feel comfortable here and am so grateful Alhamdudillah for my wonderful coworkers who've made me feel at home. For those who have not yet been to Africa, downtown Kinshasa is a buzz of activity with women in traditional clothing of vibrant colors. Many carry trays of vegetables and fruits on their heads and the people are warm and hospitable. You can find all sorts of food here from Arab shwarma to Indian, African and Chinese cuisine:) What I found unusual though was the amount of jewelry made of malachite, ivory, gold, and other precious stones that are being sold on random street corners. The DRC, as you know, is extremely wealthy in terms of diamonds, petroleum, cobalt etc, but these natural resources have been a major source of continued violence and oppression across the country. 

Can a strengthened judicial system (addressing private, public and commercial issues) have a positive impact on curbing violence and creating peace in this beautiful country? I don't yet have the answer, but perhaps later on I can offer a more informed analysis. So far, I've spent my days carrying out comparative legal research of Congolese, French and Belgian texts. My goal is to lay the groundwork for a national mediation program that will be a part of DRC's judicial system. Ideally, this program will bridge the gap between legislative mechanisms and traditional tribal justice. For this to become a reality, however it would require legislative change, either through a vote by parliament or a consensus from the Conseil Superieur de Magistratures (CSM), the highest judicial body within the country. This is quite a daunting task for me, so I spent today getting acquainted with members of the CSM, observing and listening while a colleague presented on "Ethics and Good Governance." I am nervous to think that in less than 2 months the mediation proposal I will work on will have to be presented to the CSM (in French!) In sha Allah though the long hours of research and interviews will finally pay off and the proposal will be adopted:)

Well that's the brief version of Kinshasa so far. I'm happy to tell you all that I've finally gotten the go-ahead for Goma and Kindu and will leave on Sunday morning for a one week trip into Eastern Congo! I've heard that Goma is very beautiful, but it is also the heart of military operations by guerrilla factions and the base for MONUSCO (the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the DRC). So it should be quite the experience that's for sure! 

Please make du'a (say a little prayer) for me as I journey to the Congolese interior! 

Democratic Republic of Congo!

I have arrived safely in Kinshasa, where I have been for the past two days. It's too early to give detailed feedback, but so far the Congolese people have been wonderful and extremely friendly so I fit right in. My team is great and they've taken many security precautions to ensure that I remain safe, so I'm very grateful.

My past interest in International Law has paid off as I will design a mediation program to address judicial retard and increase access to justice for vulnerable populations, including women and children.  I hope to conduct research (primarily discourse analysis) on existing tribal justice mechanisms and learn more about the constitutional twists and turns inherent in Congolese Law. Of course the implementation challenges are multifaceted but I remain an idealist!

Everyone here speaks to me only in French, so I hope I will improve quickly in sha Allah, and I would love to learn Lingala- one of the four main local languages. I have a lovely little apartment on Colonel Avenue Tchatchi, very close to the President's Office and the Ministry of Justice, only a few minutes from my work. I can already sense that it will be very difficult to leave Kinshasa.

In two weeks time if things go as planned I'll have the opportunity to travel to Goma and Kindu in Eastern Congo for a week. I'll keep you all updated of course. Please say a little prayer for me as I begin my first African and Congolese adventures. Also feel free to connect me with any contacts you may have in the DRC as I really want to immerse myself to the fullest and learn more about Congolese culture.