From GCJ Founder & Executive Director Susan Partnow

We did it! The library is complete, stocked with over 1500 books, furniture, plus computers – and so beautiful! Everyone was amazed at the quality and completeness of our work. The welcome was astonishing, indeed. And you, dear readers, were there with us in our hearts. We felt supported by the presence and generosity of so many friends and family.

The paradoxes and cultural differences amazed, enlightened and at times frustrated us. We experienced the “polychromatic” way of being in time with our Nigerian friends. It appeared that it is not the Nigerian way to plan ahead or make commitments until the last minute, which proved taxing for our “can do, let’s get it done” American impulses. But we managed to bridge the two worlds, sharing lots of dancing, music and fun, as well as hard work and accomplishments – not to mention SWEAT. The humidity was a constant invisible presence.

We learned to trust the village’s different ways, which I can illustrate with the amazing story of our African garb. The afternoon before the commissioning of the library, the village women told us to come get measured, as they wanted to create outfits for ALL of our delegates (19 Americans + 21 Nigerians!). We were highly skeptical. Remember, this is a village without basic amenities such as sanitation, clean water, electricity, etc. We don’t know how, but the next morning they delivered the outfits – custom tailored and lovely, including very special outfits for me, Mary Ella (Project Director) and Joel (our Nigerian host, director of NIDPRODEV) as chiefs for the commissioning!

“Global Citizen Journey creates the conditions for the most magic to happen,” is what I used to say at our outreach introductory programs last summer. Little did I know! The magic began unfolding from the moment the delegates were all gathered. I was astonished beyond my dreams.

Some of our great success stories:

• There is now a young woman from the village volunteering to teach literacy skills to the other women.
• We created a library Board of Trustees that is meeting regularly, hiring a librarian, taking responsibility for sustainability in the long run.
• We helped move the ceasefire negotiated by Joel two years ago between Ijaw and Itsekiri to the next step of peacebuilding.
• We formed strong relationships with the U.S.
Consul General and Ambassador.
• We reported to the Nigerian National Committee on the Niger Delta in Abuja.
• We were widely covered and warmly received by the press – print, TV and radio.
• The relationships formed remain strongly connected.
• Many of our delegates are committed to returning to the village, to support the library, bring art education and teacher training, new technologies and resources, including bio-diesel and cassava agriculture.

See commissioning day program of events

Read commissioning speeches:
Joel Bisina
Susan Partnow

Just about everywhere we went in Nigeria, we were met with the same lovely phrase, intoned in the deep, musical Nigerian voice: "You are welcome." But nothing matched what waited for us at the end of our two-hour speedboat ride from Warri to Oporoza.

Here's U.S. delegate Kendra E. Thornbury's account of the extraordinary welcome.

"After several hours on the boats, we approached a pier where I could see and hear the faint echoes of people waving their arms and cheering. As we got closer, I was in awe of the display of welcoming before us. There were about 5 boats loaded with people. They were dressed beautifully, adorned in their colorful fabrics. They were chanting songs of welcome in their language and some were playing drums. A few were dancing on the end of the boat as they guided the others in song and celebration. We stopped our boat and they moved around us, paddling in sync with one another and blanketing us with their love and appreciation. It truly was one of the highlights of my life! An amazing display of culture, an astounding experience of genuine welcome."

Read more of Kendra's Destination Africa blog

The GCJ Nigeria 2005 delegates are a passionate and talented bunch. The journey touched hearts and sparked ideas for further work and connections with our new Niger Delta friends.

Research and planning are underway with women of Oporoza and neighboring communities to help them organize into cooperatives and start businesses funded by a microlending program. Several U.S. delegates are in various stages of planning for individual or group return trips to spend more time in Oporoza. The videographer who accompanied us plans to go back to capture the story in greater depth and get footage of the library post-journey. And GCJ is considering an invitation to send a delegation to a neighboring Itsekiri village.

Nigeria 2005 Host Country Director Joel Bisina was recently informed of his selection as an Ambassador for Peace. This award is given by the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace (IIFWP), an international organization with a consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Also honored is Njideka Ugwuegbu Harry, whose organization Youth for Technology donated the computers for the Niger Delta Friendship Library.
Congratulations! Learn more about the IIFWP.

The environmental and social impacts of oil production witnessed by our delegation in the Niger Delta cause complex problems and sometimes violent attempts at solutions. You may have heard about the recent kidnappings in Bayelsa state and general unrest in the area. If you wish to go beyond the news coverage, here's some interesting, on-the- ground insight about the situation.

Ijaw listserv post
NIDPRODEV assessment report