Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Research developments. David and Gabon have decided that they aren't going to apply for the USAID grant. They've learned that to get it you have to have already gotten it. USAID wants to fund people that they've already worked with, so they think the chances of writing an acceptable application in such a short time is nil, and are dropping the project.

On the positive side, they've asked me to help them design a public health study. All Rwandan organizations that used to be for survivors only are now being required to serve everybody. As part of this the government will cut the amount of funding these organizations get, although as I write this the connection is lost on me, but it is there nevertheless. The study we have in mind is a study to assess the impact of limited services. It will be a mixed method study. A small qualitative study to learn what questions to ask, and then a larger questionnaire or survey. I'll be working with Odette, and will meet with her and her program manager to work out the details. Who would have thought. This could develop into a larger collaboration between Rwanda and YU, so I'm hopeful.

I drove around Kigali today with Eric, trying to learn the organization of the city. He is also my informant about Rwanda culture. I asked him if Rwandans are ever alone, and he gave the one word answer - no. I asked if they ever wanted to be along, and he gave almost the same answer - maybe in the city sometimes, but not in the country. Then I asked if he ever wanted to be alone. He said only after he is back from a long trip and he needs to shower and sleep. Otherwise he enjoys the continued contact with people. He lives in a small compound of 10 people and they all check up on each other. If they don't see him for a day they check to find out if anything is wrong. He told me that every morning neighbors go by his house, and if it is too early to knock they say to the door: hello eric's house, how is eric. He does the same for them.

A lesson in communal culture.