The 3 months iLEAP International Fellowship program had us as the first batch. We effectively graduated on the 14th June 2008. The Fellowship program is organized around four central themes: global citizenship and civil society, reflective practice, collaborative leadership, and social and environmental sustainability. We went through a process that involved participation in academic seminars led by experts in the four central themes mentioned above,  collaborating with Seattle-based organizations, and listened to and shared stories with people who have worked, served and led social enterprises. This integrated curriculum or process offers us a unique opportunity that sharpened our thinking and building meaningful relationships with people in the Seattle area.

I have had the opportunity to visit California, Texas and now Washington DC/Maryland. This I think is deepening my understanding of the American culture and its geographical orientation. I am equally being exposed to collaborating with more organizations ranging from faith based organizations in California; family relationship in Texas and their affiliated organizations and now a congress man from Washington state, conservation organizations and a future volunteer.

As a result I wish to thank all work who made this fellowship program interesting, educative and very successful. I am now going back to Cameroon with the necessary tools a social entrepreneur needs for successful program operations.

Yesterday on behalf of iLEAP we participated in the Fair and Dinner program organized by Community Alliance for Global Justice. We got an opportunity to meet with different organizations, small businesses, food producers, urban gardeners, activists, journalist, individuals, supporters and so on…. It was in fact a great event with hundreds of people around the center busy learning from one another. I could observe organizations with creative ideas, with networks developed and resources identified and mobilized for Global Justice.

The mass participating in the dinner seemed to be aware of the global food issues. The event gave me additional motivation and greater understanding of peoples curiosity over sustainable food systems. The farmers were recognized and were appreciated for being farmers. This is a positive development towards food issue, today. Not only the farmers need to be involved in food production but to some extent all of us living either in rural or urban areas need to learn and grow some part of our food, which will help all of us to overcome the food crisis.

After ten weeks of fellowship program it was good to be out to California for a week long visit. It was pretty hot out there. I had chances to visit places like Sacramento, San Jose, Sanfransisco, Monteray, Santa Cruz, Salinas valley and so on. Moreover it was important for me to visit ones whom I knew since four years back Steven, Tomoko, Susan, Pam and Dane. Its always a good moment to meet people after long time no see.

The farms in Salinas valley took my attention the most. I could observe some of US agricultural products harvesting techniques. I was amazed by the way they harvest. More than 40% of the production is wasted as they do not meet the size, texture and looks according to the market demand. I went after the harvested fields and was totally suprised, I could not make an understanding of this production being wasted and the global food crisis issue.

Besides, I found that the development has made us to loose open space. The roads; made me amazed, size, lengths, cross ins and outs. Almost half of the urban area is covered by black tops and rest half by the buildings. The trend has indicated that low and mid level income population are being gradually pushed away from the cities. Water scarcity is observed and felt by the people of California. Some feelings and curiosity over increase in gas prices have opened and people have started to related it to food. Community initiations have begun over food security.

Any way it was a great time for me to be in the different part of the country for the first time.

During my stay in Seattle, I was trying to understand, observe, understand many things in Seattle, the time for my departure came, I took the memories along with me and now  I need time to digest and reproduce things and events that  helps me and people around.  What a great opportunity I got to visit US.

when i came home, the pile of work, need for rest, talking with people about my trip to US  !!! and so on, again coming back with new insights. thanks to iLEAP, and ALL

shammi

Click here to read this great article!

http://www.mi-reporter.com/articles/2008/06/18/lifestyle/lifestyle1.txt

I am happy and proud to say that I was able to complete the iLEAP  fellowship program for social change!!!!. the closing sessions and the program was a mixture of happiness and sad, which can not be put in words. But its my duty and responsibility to say THANKS to ALL who has contributed for me coming here, experience the life, learn with the people, live with them, its a vast experience for me, and felt there is still lot to learn, hence I feel that this closing of the program is the beginning of the next phase of this program. so wish iLEAP should have ongoing programs to bring change in the minds of the people. what I saw and learnt will be reflected in my work which will be shared to you later through this blog.

My sincere thanks to all who helped me directly, indirectly,for my presence here, and special thanks to Britt, JB Hoover, iLEAP staff, volunteers, home stays, and ALL. My thanks to CORD and ADIVASI people and GOD the Almighty.

shammi

Today after ten weeks with iLEAP I formally became the graduate of the fellowship program. Going through all the seminars, visits, interactions with LEAPERS I feel that I have grown myself with diverse range of knowledge and skills. Its was amazing that 10 wks went so fast. This was only possible as I found all the people very supportive, kind, helpful and had similar ideas we had around social change and global citizenships. Thanks to all those who have supported directly and indirectly to make this a successful event. Of course I would like to thank iLEAP for this opportunity to explore different ideas and let me and my community grow. And also would like to thank my friends, organization SAHAMATI and my family members who did a great contribution for me to be here in this process of learning. Finally I would like to thank to the iLEAP staff who have made their tremendous effort to make this event happen and have put a lot of work regardless of their own daily works. Actually I learned from how much they have contributed with full time voluntarism for social change despite of the challenges they went through since inception to this date of graduation.

I never knew about computers while I did my studies in the school (before 1999). I started to learn about computer while I was actually using computer for my work (2001). Before coming to iLEAP fellowship program, I used computer for writing and sending emails. With the begining of the program I got introduced about the idea of blog. Later the thing deepended with classes on Web 2:0 and social networking using internet. I was amazed to see how things were working and why people were sticking with their computers. With time and training, interest and curiousness, learning with fellows blog, I now have come with my own blog. I started working since this Monday and feel that still I need to stick with it to give a good shape.

Please visit my site http://rampokhrel.blogspot.com/ and leave a comment to strengthen my skills.