GCJ Nigeria 2005 delegate Ryan Hauck just got back from spring break - in Nigeria. Ryan teaches AP Comparative Government & Politics to seniors at Marysville-Pilchuk high school. Through his experiences, Ryan's students are learning the stories behind headlines and textbooks. As their understanding of issues in the Niger Delta has deepened, so has their desire to help. Ryan spent several days in Oporoza, checking out the library GCJ built in November and developing plans for projects in the schools his students will help support.

Ryan's non-stop schedule included several important meetings with key stakeholders in the region, which reflected the staying power of our citizen diplomacy and the depth of integrity with which Global Citizen Journey is held. GCJ Host Country Director Joel Bisina, whose work in the Delta is ongoing, arranged for most of these meetings and accompanied Ryan throughout his trip.

• U.S. Consul General Brian Browne and Ambassador John Campbell: They support GCJ's work and want to stay involved with our continuing projects in the Delta.
• Chevron executives: As Chevron launches an initiative to fund regional development councils in the Delta for community projects, they view the Niger Delta Friendship Library as a successful case study and are interested in exploring partnership opportunities going forward.
• Microlending project: About 60 women from surrounding communities gathered in Oporoza to take the next step toward self-organizing into entrepreneurial cooperatives. This effort began during GCJ's November trip and several delegates are continuing to help develop it.
• Delta crisis: Ryan met with people involved in all sides of the crisis, from the corporations and government to close observers and people directly involved in the recent hostage-taking by the Movement for Emancipation in the Niger Delta - gaining further insight into the politics and plight of the people in this challenged and volatile region.
• Library Board of Trustees: The library is being used regularly, at this time mostly by older students and Oporoza school teachers. Funding has come through to support solar panels so that the computers can be used. These funds are from two sources: a GCJ grant from Boeing; and as part of a larger project awarded to Joel Bisina's NGO NIDPRODEV in partnership with the Nigerian office of the Institute for Democracy in South Africa by Great Britain's Department for International Development.
• Representatives from neighboring Itsekiri communities: GCJ is exploring a second Niger Delta project, which would be in an Itsekiri village.

In addition to all that, Ryan still found time to visit with a continual stream of friends he made in November, knock back a few Star beers, do a little dancing and attend a wedding celebration in Warri. He was warmly welcomed everywhere and felt safe and well cared for.

We applaud your courage, Ryan, and your passion for continuing to bring change to the Delta. Welcome home!

We're excited to announce GCJ's second journey to Africa. In October, Project Co-directors Barbara Gilday, Richard Ward and Maryanne Ward will lead a delegation to the town of Axim on the southwest coast of Ghana, where HIV/AIDS is becoming an increasingly urgent problem.

Partnering with CHH, an NGO led by Host Country Director James Kainyiah, the delegation will help build a facility to care for AIDs orphans, combined with a community center to provide education, consensus building and leadership training aimed particularly toward the empowerment of women. Local Axim churches and the Axim District Assembly are also supporting the project. GCJ Executive Director Susan Partnow will accompany the delegation as a co-facilitator.

Journey dates are October 22 to November 9, 2006. We're actively seeking delegates, volunteers, sponsors and individual donors to support this trip. If you're ready to be part of something amazing, get in touch with Barbara (journeys@nas.com) or Rich & Maryanne (gcjghana@verizon.net).

Learn more about Ghana 2006.
Download a delegate application.

Plans have been in the works for some time to bring a GCJ delegation to Burundi. Our host country partner there is Prosper Ndabishuriye, founder of Youth in Reconstruction of a World in Destruction. This courageous group has been rebuilding war-torn Burundi one home at a time. In the process, they have brought Hutus and Tutsis together, building peace and healing in a deeply wounded country.

Prosper has been imprisoned seven times relating to the same issue. He was defrauded by an American who went back on his promise to reimburse a significant purchase of building materials. Despite winning a court case and being awarded nearly half a million U.S. dollars in damages, Prosper has not been paid. He is being held personally liable for the debts. Besides keeping him from his vital work, his recent four months in prison took a terrible toll on Prosper's health and on his wife and four children. Supporters managed to raise enough money to get him freed on bail. However, funds are desperately needed to satisfy unpaid costs on 253 homes already built and prevent future imprisonment.

Please join us in supporting this inspiring man. Prayers, letters and financial contributions are all welcome. We are still planning for a GCJ delegation to Burundi in 2007 and hope that by then Prosper's current troubles will be behind him.

Read the full story and learn how you can help.

The awards committee for the Ordinary People, Extraordinary Outcomes Award has selected GCJ Executive Director Susan Partnow as a winner.

From the awards letter: “You have no idea how deeply inspiring and meaningful it is for us to see the significant contributions you have made. I know the effect of your work will have lasting impact upon the lives of people for years to come. We are so pleased to have this opportunity to recognize and honor you.” Congratulations, Susan!

The awards ceremony will be in conjunction with the upcoming Sacred Activism Conference, May 11-14th near Seattle. Susan will be offering a workshop along with GCJ Nigeria delegates Kendra Thornbury and Tammi Sims. We are also hoping visa challenges can be overcome so that one of our Nigerian delegates, Joseph Mojume can join them as planned to co-facilitate. Learn more at wisdomuniversity.org.

From GCJ Excutive Director Susan Partnow
On March 18, a number of GCJers participated in an all day retreat to clarify the nature and purpose of Global Citizen Journey, which will guide us in our future development. Our creative and inspiring facilitator Keith McCandless first had us share stories of a seminal moment, a story that epitomized our greatest learning and inspiration from the Nigeria journey. We told our story to a partner, who asked why it was important, and why was that, again and again, helping us get to the essence of that moment.

My story was about a moment when I was brought back to my deepest intention and higher purpose as a citizen diplomat. My frustration had built resentment toward some of the traditional leaders and government officials, leading us to consider giving them a reduced role in the commissioning of the library. But a remark by Nigerian delegate Joe helped me re-open my heart and realize they were merely playing their part in a whole system that everyone participated in – the students, villagers, etc. as well. Still, I was left with a great dilemma. On the one hand, we witness and honor the ways of the host community. We reflect and appreciate the great gifts we find (the easy part). Yet there are aspects to the culture we encountered that were challenging and uncomfortable and in conflict with deeply held values of social justice, fairness, transparency, accountability, respect for all regardless of gender, status, etc. What is our role in these cases? How do we serve as allies and good neighbors, yet speak our truth without blame or judgment? For me, surfacing and struggling with such dilemmas is the purpose and soul of Global Citizen Journey.

As we shared and collected themes from each of the delegate’s stories, we began to derive Global Citizen Journey’s purpose. These themes emerged, around a tagline, “Boot Camp for Global Citizenship”:

• Transcending barriers
• Building relationships and resources – from the grassroots
• Unleashing our individual collective capabilities through global experiences that challenge our assumptions and stereotypes
• Expressing oneness through global community action
• Creating/building global neighborhoods for planetary survival and thrival
• Embracing/engaging in cross-cultural experiences to improve quality of life for all
• Exchanging wisdom for our collective survival
• Shaking values and assumptions through creating the spaces for deep interconnection
• Changing lives by showing up, connecting authentically and challenging assumptions

So far, our favorite rough draft purpose statement is: Global Citizen Journey exists to unleash individual and collective wisdom and capabilities through grassroots community action on a global level. We’ll keep you posted as our work ripens. And if you'd like to join us in the process, just let me know.

c. Togo