Celebration, Relaxation, and Motivation.

Hey everyone,

Happy July 4th! I hope everyone had a great holiday. The past few weeks have been pretty awesome. I traveled up to the mountains of Northwest Jakiri to teach rural teachers ICT (information and communications technology) and business classes, about the internet, how to use e-mail (Gmail), and facebook. Some of these teachers from the nearby villages had never used the internet (or even a computer) before, so it was interesting to explain abstract ideas and how they connect people from all over the world. They seemed intrigued (at least I hope).

The following week, I traveled to Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital, to attend the U.S. Embassy’s July 4th party. Their official theme was 50 years of Peace Corps. It was pretty amazing dressing up in formal wear and listening to the Ambassador give a speech commemorating volunteers both in Cameroon and worldwide. I also spent two nights at an Embassy staff’s home. It was the first time I felt like I was back in America. Clean hot showers, delicious food (t-bone steak and bratwurst from home, wines and chocolates from around the world), pool, etc. Thanks to the gracious couple for hosting me and allowing me to pamper myself after a year abroad.

This past weekend, I traveled to Limbe, Cameroon’s coastal beach town with black sand beaches, to celebrate the 4th of July with some Peace Corps volunteers. It was my first black sand beach (because it’s near the volcano Mount Cameroon) and it was sooooooooo beautiful. No matter where I am in the world, you can’t take the California out of me. We went swimming and boogey boarding and camped at night in tents. I hear you can go banana boating in the dry season, so I can’t wait to return and do a reprise of Lake Havasu. Now that Carmen is relaxed, she is ready to work again.

Speaking of work, I am super stoked about the progress of my NGO fair project. As I have previously mentioned, one of my projects is organizing an NGO fair slated for early next year, January 2012. I'm not sure if people know much about the Peace Corps Partnership Program, but I basically raise money through my contacts at home so Americans learn about volunteers' work abroad and contribute to make a difference. The proposal mandates that the Cameroonian community provides at least 25% of the funding. For the NGO fair, I am requesting $3,841.03 from my family, friends, and colleagues back home (54% of the total budget), while the Bamenda community contributes $3,336.49 (46% of the total budget). I am reaching out to the business and local council communities to encourage corporate social responsibility on their end. In essence, I am fundraising from both ends – from home through PCPP and with Cameroonian colleagues towards CSR efforts.

Peace Corps just posted my project on their website, so people can be directed there to learn more and to donate:

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=694-190

If the link doesn't work, you go to http://peacecorps.gov, click on "Donate to Volunteer Projects" on the left, type in my last name Chang or my project number 694-190.

Please refer this link to anyone who may be interested in donating. Donations are tax-deductible and 100% of the funds go directly to my project. If you need more detail, feel free to message me with questions.

I will also mail you a fun postcard to show my gratitude. =)

So this will be me for the next few months, in full fundraising mode. Now that I’m back to work in Bamenda, I will also continue my fair trade efforts and organizational development for NGOs. Later this month, I will return to Yaounde for “mid-service” to visit the Peace Corps medical staff and make sure I don’t have any undetected worms or various bugs living inside me.

I hope everyone is enjoying the summer!

Peace and love.