A Great Month with CNFM

A Great Month with CNFM

Written on 9/1/2015

My much too short time at CNFM is coming to an end today, for being such a short time, I would never have expected it to be so bittersweet. 

I wouldn't have expected to learn so much about development and policy, and get to know so much more about the women of Madagascar, the women of CNFM, and experience a evolution in my view of development work. And I honestly hope that this experience was just the beginning.

The president of the organization, Noro Ravaozanany is one of the most hardworking and inspiring women I have met. Her passion and commitment for gender equality and the incredible leadership she brings to the table continues to inspire me everyday. Last week, i admitted to her that when I grow up I want to be her. Which she was more surprised by than I expected.

Through her and the other women at CNFM, I learned more about how important policy is in  creating sustainable, institutional change. Where as field work - sensitization and capacity building trainings - is important, creating change in legal framework is just as crucial. I'd like to work with them again and get the chance to look more into policy and development, because I feel I just hit the surface of learning all the information I am certain they have to offer. 

I can also not say enough about the woman who so graciously let us into her home, Mama Zena. As we slowly started learning more and more about what a strong woman she was, working within the government. Being a strong voice for women here in Madagascar. She opened her doors to us and gave us a month of comfortable living, wonderfully full stomachs, and lots of inspiration.

With Mama Zena and Noro's invitation, I also had a wonderful opportunity to attend an international conference for the Indian Ocean area islands, where I observed the editing of a political strategy for sustainable change. The women (and a few men) were determined to make a plan to push for gender equality. Hearing alternate opinions about development was enlightening and refreshing.  Such as viewing gender issues as being a problem for both genders - specifically the idea that domestic violence abusers should go through a rehabilitation process to end the violence, not just for the one women, but for future women. An idea that can be adjusted to fit various gender related issues, but that, being a woman, I can honestly say I hadn't really though of.

Just as importantly, I had the chance to spend some time with some wonderfully empowered young Malagasy women that I hope to keep in contact with indefinitely. These intelligent, determined, and hilarious young women will go far in life and I want to watch it happen. I hope one day to greet them in America and get the opportunity to show them around my own country and reciprocate their wonderful hosting.

As I said to these wonderful women I had the chance to work with, I really hope it's not a goodbye to this wonderful organization, but a see you later! I am so grateful for all that I've learned and I cannot say thank you enough. I felt refueled with an even stronger amount of inspiration and excitement to return to the USA next year and apply for University public policy programs so that I can to continue to do development work in the future.

If you want to see what another Volunteer, Jillian, and I put together over the month, you can check it out (hopefully soon) on CNFM’s website.