Welcome to CENFACS’ Online Diary!
05 May 2021
Post No. 194
The Week’s Contents
• May Stories – All in Development Stories: Stories of Building Back Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and Containment Measures
• All in Development Story Telling Series
• Leafy Year and May Stories
… And much more!
Key Messages
• May Stories – All in Development Stories:
Stories of Building Back Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and Containment Measures (social distancing, lockdowns and border closures)
Story telling is our main content for the month of May. It is the month and time of the year we dedicate ourselves to telling and sharing poverty relief and sustainable development stories.
• • Why do we tell and share stories?
This is because in whatever we do to help reduce poverty and appeal for support to development process, there is always a story to tell and share from various places we intervene and from different individuals and communities or organisations involving in our work.
• • How do we tell and share these stories?
We do it through All in Development (AiD) Stories project. There is an explanation about this project that can be found under the Main Development section of this post. Every year, there is a different theme for this story telling project.
• • This year’s theme for AiD Stories project
This year, the theme for AiD Stories project will be about Stories of Building Back Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and Containment Measures (e.g. social distancing, lockdowns and border closures).
These stories will be…
– about how people and communities are trying or have tried to build back better from the coronavirus disaster and containment measures
– of those Asking for Help and Support, Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction from the shock and disaster caused by the coronavirus pandemic and associated containment measures
– the tales of physical, social, environmental, humanitarian and economic building back better.
Entries for these May Stories were opened since last March when we announced the general theme of Spring Relief 2021, which is “Build Forward Better Together Greener and Cleaner”. So far, some people have shown some interests. For those who have not yet submitted or told us their stories, this is the month to do it.
• • Underlying principle of AiD Stories project
The principle of AiD Stories project is that it is about stories by volunteers or people who are giving their stories not for money or not being paid for their experience they had in relation to the story theme. However, this principle does not stop anybody to provide a story even if what they are saying come from their paid position.
Besides this general principle, we have two criteria we would like to highlight about the theme of AiD Stories project for this year.
• • Criteria for the theme of AiD Stories project 2021
For this year’s AiD Stories project, we are mainly interested in stories of building back better greener and cleaner from the coronavirus disaster and containment measures as mentioned above. They are the stories of those who hit rock bottom of poverty because of COVID-19 and are trying to bounce back in a sustainable way.
Additionally, we are registering people’s personal experiences of being or at risk of being left behind in the process of building back and forward from the coronavirus pandemic.
To facilitate and organise ourselves in the way of telling these stories, we are going to do it through a series or programme or a timeline of scripts. There is more information about this series below.
For more information on AiDS project and this year’s storytelling focus and scripts, please read under the Main Development section of this post.
To tell your story of change for change to CENFACS, please contact CENFACS for story telling terms and conditions.
• All in Development Story Telling Series
The 2021 series of AiDS Telling Programme starts from the 5th of May 2021, every Wednesday afterwards and will last until the end of May 2021. These series, which are part of May stories, are a timeline of scripts or a set of notes arranged in line to tell and share stories of Building Back Better Greener and Cleaner from the Coronavirus and Containment Measures (e.g. social distancing, lockdowns and border closures).
There is no single logic or model of organising a story. We thought that to make it easier, our storytelling series will follow these four sequences:
(a) Asking for help and support
(b) Recovery and reset
(c) Rehabilitation
(d) Reconstruction
The four sequences are linked each other in a sequential way.
For further details about these sequences or timeline of AiD scripts, please continue to read under the Main Development section of this post.
• Leafy Year and May 2021 Stories
This month, we are continuing our Leafy Year or Year of Leaves by looking at the relationship between leaves and stories in the process of reducing poverty and enhancing sustainable development.
Indeed, stories of poverty reduction and sustainable development can be related to leaves of poverty reduction and sustainable development. One can tell their story of poverty reduction and sustainable development and of how leaves can help in reducing poverty and enhancing sustainable development.
In this respect, there could be a relationship between leaves and stories telling through poverty reduction and sustainable development. Poverty reduction and sustainable development could be the main topics to tell our stories, just as leaves could be the means to tell or express those stories.
So, in this Year of Leaves at CENFACS and month of stories telling, one can use leaves to tell and share their stories of poverty reduction and sustainable development.
As we are in the process of building back better (BBB) from the coronavirus disaster and containment measures, one can as well use leaves to tell their stories of BBB from the coronavirus as well as how leaves are helping them or those around them to come out the coronavirus hardships and build back better.
Those who would like to go into depth about the relationship between leaves and stories or those who simply want to tell their stories via leaves, they are welcome to contact CENFACS or to do so.
Extra Messages
• Rebuilding of Africa-based Sister Organisations’ Health Resources, Structures and Infrastructures: On Year On!
Last year, CENFACS advocated for the granting to Africa-based Sister Organisations of charitable and voluntary sector the appropriate means, organisation and equipment they need in order to better play their poverty relief role during and after the Covid-19 crisis.
For example, in Madagascar there is a growing concern about the lack of equipment to deal with the increasing number of COVID-19 patients victims of the violent South African COVID-19 variant.
Another example is the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (in South and North Kivu, Tanganyika Ituri and the province of Central Kasai) where almost 20 million people are experiencing famine and need urgent humanitarian assistance according to the United Nations. Many of the suffering families in these places are far away and cut off from health centres and facilities as they are fleeing conflicts and are afraid to mix up to increase the probability of catching the coronavirus.
One year on, we are discussing if there has been any boost of resources, structures and infrastructures Africa-based Sister Organisations so that they could effectively respond to the enormous challenge that Covid-19 has posed, and to new and emerging needs of their users. These discussions are part of Rebuilding Africa together.
Those who have any contribution to make in these discussions, they are welcome to contact CENFACS.
To support CENFACS’ advocacy about Rebuilding Africa, please also contact CENFACS.
• Green and Sustainable Alignment of All Year Round Projects (or Triple Value Initiatives) to Long-term Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Reduction Goals and Targets
• • What is green and sustainable alignment of All Year Round (AYRPs) or Triple Value Initiatives (TVIs)?
Green and sustainable alignment of AYRPs or TVIs (made of Play, Run and Vote projects) simply means when planning and executing these projects or initiatives one should not cause harm to the environment. Also, if these projects and initiatives are planned for a longer period, their long term life should be without adverse effects on the environment or nature. This alignment is required for the GHG emission reduction goals and targets in the interest of the commons.
• • The alignment of AYRPs or TVIs to GHG emission reduction goals and targets
Implementing AYRPs or TVIs requires taking into account the target requirements in terms of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. These greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets are binding ambition to progressively reduce GHG emissions to be in line with the Paris Agreement goal of keeping the global temperature increase to well below 2ᵒ C and pursuing efforts to keep it to 1.5ᵒ C. From this binding global goal, each part and place of the world are making their own efforts to set up targets or pledges in terms of CO2 net-zero emissions by 2050.
To move towards the 1.5ᵒ C trajectory; any activities conducted in order to reduce poverty and enhance sustainable development need to be aligned to this long-term climate goal and target. In this respect, green and sustainable alignment of AYRPs or TVIs is about making sure that the conduct of these projects or initiatives reflects the climate need and agenda of meeting the GHG emission reduction targets.
Any participant to these projects or initiatives needs to meet this requirement of long-term GHG emissions reduction goal and targets.
Those who may be interested in this issue of green and sustainable alignment of AYRPs or TVIs, they can contact CENFACS for further discussion on the matter.
• Capacity Development to Live and Sustain within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Our offer to work with African organisations and individuals from the charitable and not-for-profit sector to build and/or develop their capacities to operate in the context of the AfCFTA is still available.
For those who think that their organisation does not have the necessary and required capacity to provide cross-border services in the context of AfCFTA, they can contact CENFACS so that we can together organise a programme or plan of work.
CENFACS can work with your organisation in blended ways to find the right capacity to build and/or develop to enter and / or sustain in the trading space provided by the AfCFTA.
Need capacity development to operate within a free trade area; please do not hesitate to contact CENFACS.
Main Development
• May Stories – All in Development Stories:
Stories of Building Back Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and Containment Measures (e.g. social distancing, lockdowns and border closures)
• • What is ALL in DEVELOPMENT STORIES project?
All in Development STORIES (AiDS) is a life story developing, telling, sharing and learning project set up by CENFACS in 2009 in order to give opportunities to volunteers, interns and other development supporters and enthusiasts to inspire others and spread the good news and will of better change to the community. The project, which is run during the month of May, has three dimensions as follows:
√ AiDS is a telling and sharing story
It is about telling and sharing with us your experience and achievements made in the fields of local (UK) and International (Africa) developments.
√ AiDS is a learning and development process
It is also about learning from volunteers and interns how they improved their own life, changed deprived lives and reached out to the needy communities. After learning, one can try to develop strengths and better practices to solve problems.
√ AiDS is an inspirational and motivational support network
After all, the project seeks to inspire and motivate others on the road of change for change; especially for those who might prepare and use their summer break or any other occasions (like the Covid-19 outbreak or lockdowns) to take up volunteering and or internship roles and positions.
√ AiDS finally is a state-of-the-art project
It enables us to get up-to-date information, knowledge and thinking in the fields of poverty reduction and sustainable development from those who went on the grounds to learn and experience real-life development works. They return with volunteering stories to tell and share.
This year’s storytelling and sharing will be about Building Back Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and Containment Measures (e.g. social distancing, lockdowns and border closures)
• • May 2021 STORIES: Building Back Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and Containment Measures (social distancing, lockdowns and border closures)
We are running 4 series of AiD Story Telling programme during this month of May, programme that will revolve around the process of building back better from Covid-19.
For those who want to tell their stories of asking for help and support, recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction; they can choose among the following sequences to tell their stories.
• • Types of 2021 Stories and Story Telling Series
AiD Story Telling Series: Starting 05/05/2021 and after every Wednesday until the end of May 2021.
The following series or sequences have been planned for this month of storytelling (May Stories) relating to post-COVID-19 disaster management.
# Serial 1: From Wednesday 05/05/2021: Stories of Asking for Help and/or Support
These are the stories of those who were or are in need and who asked for any help and /or support to build back better from the effects of the coronavirus disaster and containment measures.
# Serial 2: From Wednesday 12/05/2021: Stories of Recovery and Reset
These are the tales of regaining a better condition (that’s good health, former economic situation, etc.), of emotional, social, economic and physical well-being from the life-threatening and –destroying impacts of the coronavirus.
# Serial 3: From Wednesday 19/05/2021: Stories of Rehabilitation
These are accounts of returning a disturbed life or re-adaptation to normal life and of restoration to a previous state before the coronavirus broke out and containment measures came into force.
# Serial 4: Week beginning 26/05/2021: Stories of Reconstruction
They are the experiences or anecdotes of restoration to an original condition before the coronavirus crisis and containment measures.
• • Add-on to CENFACS’ May 2021 Stories
As mentioned above, we shall add the Stories of Those At Risk of Being Left Behind Build Back Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and Containment Measures (social distancing, lockdowns and border closures).
There are people and / or members of our community who have been accidentally left behind in the process of building back better from the coronavirus disaster and containment measures. We would like to hear the narratives of these people and community members so that advocacy can be stepped up to do something about their situation.
Anyone has who has the stories of the left behind, please do not hesitate to tell and share it with us.
• • Nature-based Solutions inside your Stories of Building Back Better from the Coronavirus Disaster and Containment Measures (social distancing, lockdowns and border closures)
There are many solutions or recipes in order to build back from the coronavirus disaster and containment measures. In the context of AiD Stories, we would like to hear stories of building back better using nature-based solutions. What do we mean by nature-based solutions?
There are many ways of defining nature-based solutions. The EU Commission (2) defines nature-based solutions as
“Solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience”.
For those who would like to tell or submit their stories, it will be a good idea to bring out aspects of nature-based solutions making part of their stories.
• Serial 1: From Week Wednesday 05/05/2021: Stories of Asking for Help and/or Support to Build Back Better from the Enduring Coronavirus and Associated Containment Measures
One of the problems that many ordinary people (who have been affected by the enduring coronavirus and its associated containment measures) face is that they need help or support. Although some of them have received help or support, there are still many of them who have not received any help or support they asked for. In addition to that help and support given so far may not be enough to cover these damages caused by the coronavirus since these damages are colossal .
There could be many reasons that can explain why those who asked for help and support did not receive them. Without getting into the reasons why those who asked for help or support did not receive it, let us simply argue that any help or support depends on many factors such as the way in which one asks for it, the person to whom they ask for support and whether or not is listening to them, the available resources for help and support, etc.
This is why we want to hear the stories of those who asked for help and or support to build back better from the enduring coronavirus and its associated containment measures.
• Kinds of Stories of Asking for Help and Support
These are the tales of what, when, where, why, who and how to ask for help and support. These stories connect those who ask to those who respond to asks. Then, what are those stories?
They are…
√ the fables, written or spoken, made of words, voices and tones to ask for assistance
√ the anecdotes of building and developing relationships between those in need and those who help in fulfilling those needs
√ the tales of those who have asked for help or support in order to self-build or build back better
√ the accounts of those who give help and support since in every act of asking for help and support, there are always two sides (those who ask and those who give)
√ the stories of continuing asking for aid of those countries and communities that are still listed under humanitarian crisis. Their ask at this time of the enduring coronavirus could be even bigger than at any time of the modern human history.
• Example of a story of asking for help
To illustrate the stories of asking for help or support, we are going to refer to the story or the well-known poem of the French poet Jean De La Fontaine (2). One of his well-known poems is about ‘The fox and the crow’. This is the poem:
Le Corbeau et le Renard
Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché,
Tenait en son bec un fromage.
Maître Renard, par l’odeur alléché,
Lui tint à peu près ce langage :
« Hé ! bonjour, Monsieur du Corbeau.
Que vous êtes joli ! que vous me semblez beau !
Sans mentir, si votre ramage
Se rapporte à votre plumage,
Vous êtes le Phénix des hôtes de ces bois. »
A ces mots le Corbeau ne se sent pas de joie ;
Et pour montrer sa belle voix,
Il ouvre un large bec, laisse tomber sa proie.
Le Renard s’en saisit, et dit : « Mon bon Monsieur,
Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui l’écoute :
Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage, sans doute. »
Le Corbeau, honteux et confus,
Jura, mais un peu tard, qu’on ne l’y prendrait plus.
Jean de La Fontaine
In this poem, the fox that needed help from the crow said:
“Learn that every flatterer Lives at the expense of the one who listens to him”. (translated from french as “Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui l’écoute“)
Without calling those who need help or support as flatterers, one can learn about their stories of asking for help or support and help them to be listened to and get the backing they need in order to self-build or build back better greener and cleaner from the enduring coronavirus and associated containment measures.
To donate, tell and share your story of asking for help or support, please contact CENFACS.
• • 2021 Story Areas of Interest
We normally take stories that cover any areas of poverty reduction and local and international sustainable developments.
• • Contexts of Stories
Stories could come from any level of project/programme cycle (i.e. planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and review) as long as it is to do with poverty reduction and sustainable development.
They could also be a result of research and field work activities or studies.
They could finally be an experience of everyday life.
• • Call for 2021 Entries
As said above, the 2021 Edition of AiDS has already kicked off. For those who want to enter their stories of life renewal, please note you are welcome to do so.
Just read below the annotated timetable for story submission and CENFACS’ storytelling terms and conditions.
We await your responses to our call.
• • Annotated Timetable for Story Submission in 2021
# Start of online (e-mail) and paper-based submission (01/05/2021)
# Story submission deadline (31/05/2021)
# Notification of receipt/acceptance (by 17/06/2021)
# Submission of revised stories (01/05/2021 to 31/05/2021)
• • CENFACS Story Telling & Sharing Terms
To tell and/or share your May story, please let us know the following:
√ who you are
√ where and when your experience took place
√ and of course the story itself.
You could also
√ text
√ twit
√ send some forms of supporting materials/resources to back up your story.
Should you wish not to be name please let us know your decision.
Please see below our story telling, sharing and learning terms.
CENFACS story telling, sharing and learning terms:
1/ We welcome both told and untold stories
2/ Inside, witness, news, behind the scenes and case stories are eligible
3/ We only take real life stories, not fiction stories or fake news
4/ Tell true and evidence-based stories only, not lies
5/ If possible, back up your stories with facts and data (numerical or textual)
6/ Mention location, dates and names of events in the story
7/ We accept photos, images, pictures, videos, info-graphic materials, audios and other forms of resources (e.g. digital or e- technologies) to support, capture and communicate the impact of your story
8/ Plagiarism, prohibited, offensive, violation of copyrights and unlawful/illegal materials are not accepted
9/ Hacking, flaming, spamming, ransom ware, phishing and trolling practices are not accepted as well.
10/ We greatly consider stories highlighting nature-based solutions to poverty and hardships
For further clarification, contact CENFACS
Tell and share your story of change for change by communicating the impact you make!
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References
(1) European Commission, Nature-based solutions | European Commission (europa.eu)
(2) Jean de La Fontaine, Le Corbeau et le Renard, poème de Jean de La Fontaine – poetica.fr
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Help CENFACS keep the Poverty Relief work going this year.
We do our work on a very small budget and on a voluntary basis. Making a donation will show us you value our work and support CENFACS’ work, which is currently offered as a free service.
One could consider a recurring donation to CENFACS in the future.
Donate to support CENFACS!
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Thank you for visiting CENFACS website and reading this post.
Thank you as well to those who made or make comments about our weekly posts.
We look forward to receiving your regular visits and continuing support throughout 2021 and beyond.
With many thanks.
