no, I don't know kanye west.

I'm currently working on my independent study project. I've chosen to study child welfare in kenya, essential how do they deal with issues of child abuse. I'm looking at what legislation is on the books, how/if its been implemented, etc. its just the most uplifting topic. because believe it or not kid aren't better off in the developing world. go figure.

my professor provided me with a contact, his name is Joseph and he's a pastor as well as running an NGO (I think.) he's a nice guy with good intentions, although a bit misplaced. and still agreed to help me out even after learning I don't attend church. I'm convinced he snorted/coughed/gagged simultaneously when I stupidly mentioned I don't really subscribe to the whole organized religion thing. whoops. he's working with my professor (again, I think, because he talks and talks and eventually despite my best efforts I stop listening, because african men talk using metaphors and analogies and he loses me after ten minutes) on some sort of cultural tourism project in his home district, western kenya. he's also working with an American woman who also runs an NGO to set up internet kiosks in western kenya.

the idea is that these internet kiosks will help generate revenue for women's groups in the region. the region has been really affected by the AIDS pandemic and there are loads of orphans these communities are having to look after. from the revenue these kiosks earn some will go back into the operation of the kiosk and the rest will be used for
other community based projects... like sustainable agriculture, small scale (again, I think.)

anyways, this guy has been super helpful, because as an american and a student and not having my own NGO I would have trouble accessing a lot of the information or least accessing the buildings (because invariably you go and the information isn't there and no one has heard of the document you're looking for) I've been able to.

this guy is really all about connections. and he really doesn't understand how anything in the US works. he introduced me to the assistant to the mp (member of parliament) for his district, a creepy man who saw white and smelled money and proceeded to hit on me shamelessly. joseph said the man could arrange a tour of parliament for me, which would be pretty cool, although an afternoon with creepy mr. creeperson does not sound all that appealing. of course then joseph said that at some point he will have to come to the US and fundraise and then I'll be able to get him a tour of our parliament and introduce him to our government officials. a) we don't have a parliament, b) they offer tours of congress but I personally do not have the hookup, c) this man clearly has no idea where alaska is, and d) I'll write to obama and see if I can get him to clear his schedule but don't hold your breath. wanna meet sean parnell instead? although I doubt I could swing even that.

joseph asked what my parents do, I told him my dad is biologist for the government and my mom works on grants for the government (obviously basic and simplistic interpretations of the hard work they both do.) and he immediately said, "Oh so if we need money to get this project started your mother could help us write grants..." and "So your father would be interested in helping with the environmental tourism side of the project..." of course he's saying all this and I still really have no clue what his whole project is about, plus he has no project proposal. and then he goes on to say "It would be easier to work with your Dad if he had an NGO..."

yeah, because my dad's about to start up an environmental tourism NGO in kenya. that makes sense.

and I, being an idiot, mentioned in passing (and foolishly) that I had a uncle who was an agricultural economist and had done work in developing countries - which I was pretty sure is true. and of course, Joseph is all about networking and contacts. and is now all about my uncle... who's actually job is... well I'm not sure.

he asked me about fundraising, something I know nothing about... I mentioned I'd kinda/sorta helped with a fundraiser for a friend this summer and we'd raised $20,000. which in turn means I know everything about fundraising and could I get in touch with coca-cola and get them to sponsor a concert in kenya. yeah, let me call up my sweet contacts at coke. he wanted to know if I knew any celebrities that could perform at some concert for funds... yeah, cause I'm in the know with kanye west and george clooney. damn, I left my address book at home.

ahhhhh alaska, celebrity mecca.