Civic education in action

I'm an education person in this current incarnation, but in my heart, I'm still a civil society person... and I just love when people come together and talk about how to make the government work for them.  We were lucky to attend a forum today in a church, facilitated by the local rep of the Commission Electorale Nationale Indépendante (CENI).  She explained the process of registering to vote, and its importance for the youth who have turned 18 since the last election (6 million people country-wide).  Because of the redrawing of the provinces from 11 to 26, things are tricky with registration and many people need to re-register before the next election (whenever that will be). One of the best things about this forum was that all kinds of people were invited, including a bunch of deaf and diffabled (remember, we don't say disabled anymore, we say differently-abled!), and some albinos.  It was pretty funny when they called themselves the whites of Congo.

 

The sign interpreter was super dynamic, and there were loads of questions about how to get the elected officials to pay attention to issues of concern for these people who really do feel marginalized. There were questions about how elections will help people get more food.  Tough questions. It was really good to see such a mixed audience talking together, and of course the moms brought their babies who were fidgeting and fighting and breast feeding and eventually, napping.

Have to say - this reminded me a lot of the work that Zeric and I did in Haiti together about 15 years ago..