It is a beautiful start of what will appear to be a beautiful field trip. Loliondo is somehow a special place for me. The last time I was here was four months ago and I still remember it clearly. The effects of the draught, the dead cattle on the side of the road, the brown-yellow color of dried grass.. These memories are like pictures in my head, memories that I’ll never forget. I was expecting this again, but it was like I had arrived in a different place! The long expected rain had finally come, and the landscape was changed completely!
Brechtje Riphagen
First name:
Brechtje
Last name:
Riphagen
Biography:
Welcome to my weblog! I currently work for the World Food Programme in Tanzania as participant of the TNT Global Experience Programme 2009. The project I'm working for is called 'Purchase for Progress' (P4P), a pilot project that aims to help connect smallholder farmers to markets. Since my arrival, I've been involved in all aspects of the project. From desk work to field missions, from high-level meetings with government officials to discussions with participating farmers. Enough to keep me busy for these six months!
So far, my time here has been interesting, challenging and very inspiring. Working for such an interesting international organization and being closely involved in all aspects of food aid, certainly gives me enough 'food for thought'. Through this website I'll keep you updated about all experiences, challenges, frustrations and achievements of my work here in Tanzania!
History
- Member for
- 2 years 5 months
Latest blog items
Making a difference
28 February 2010
Brechtje Riphagen
1 Comments
Education is key to break the vicious circle of poverty. But what is a prospective future for tomorrow, if you have no food for today? How can you send your children to school if you have no money to pay the school fees? And besides that, children are needed to work on the field
The story behind the numbers
12 February 2010
Brechtje Riphagen
P4P is implemented worldwide, 21 countries are part of the P4P pilot. Tanzania started implementation in 2009 and now, one year later, it was time to look back. In February, an annual review was held. What was achieved in the first year? What challenges were we facing? How to continue?
More opportunities, less struggles..
29 January 2010
Brechtje Riphagen
Gallapo SACCOS, located in the Northern, most draught-prone, part of Tanzania. We meet with the board members, discuss about the problems they are currently facing and we are checking whether they have any maize that they want to sell to WFP. The chairman leads us to his warehouse: empty. All we see are some pallets and an old rusty weighing scale, standing in the middle of the empty space, a silent witness of the effects of the drought. No maize, not a single bag. Next day, we continue our journey. The SACCOS we’re visiting, Mahaahaa SACCOS, had more luck this year.
Masaai, porridge and football
10 December 2009
Brechtje Riphagen
We arrived late in the village nearby, were we had to spent the night. After a meal, we went straight to bed. The next morning we were welcomed by the head of the school, an old Masaai men with enormous holes in his ears and wearing slippers made of old car tires. He invited us to his place, where he lives with his six wives and 14 children. It was impressive to see how these people are living their life, just as they did for many generations. The bomas are nothing more than a handful of small round huts made of cley. No running water, no electricity, no furniture, no luxury.
