Milk Festival (Doodh Maila)

Livestock plays an important role for the country’s economy as  it provides job opportunities to many  rural population.

Dera Ismail Khan is the south most District of KPK, this district is on the border of conflict area South Waziristan Agency. D.I. Khan was very popular for sustainable peace but it suffered a lot from the sectarian issues and war against terror. From last few years there was security unrest in District D.I. Khan, which badly affected the economy of the district.

There are many Government Departments working on livestock & dairy Development in D.I Khan.
On April 13, 2012 the Livestock Research and Development Station UC Phar Pur, District D.I. Khan organized Milk Festival locally called (Doodh Maila) for those farmers who have different kind of Goats, Lambs and cattle. The purposes of this festival were:

·To improve the knowledge of common farmer in livestock dairy development.
·To provide refreshment to the peoples disturbed from the disease of sectarianism and terrorism.
·To build their interest again in keeping different breeds of livestock.

In the milk festival different kinds of competitions were held between the animals. Weight lifting competition was held between the camels. The milk competition was held between the cows and buffalos, the bucks were competed in terms of weight, length & height.
It was also found that the buck provided by JEN to IDP of UC Begwani Shumali in Pilot Project named Naseeb Khan was in the list of top 3 winners/successors.
During the interview one of the livestock officers appreciated the initiative of JEN (i.e. provision of Beetle breeds to IDPs in D.I. Khan). 

Hey! The skytanks just came!

Higashi-hama[the word-for-word translation of Higashi-hama is Eastern seashores], an area along the saw tooth coastline of the Oshika Peninsula and the eastern part of Ishinomaki-city, has five seashores: Fuki-ura, Kanotate, Kitsune-zaki, Take-hama and Maki-hama.
On May 11, the fishermen in Higashi-hama were provided with skytanks on a beautiful sunny day with the support of UBS Securities Japan Co.

【The fishermen are putting stickers on the skytanks.】

While the fishermen are living by fishing sandeel and gathering kelp, they prepare in their spare time for oyster culture such as making mother shells to raise oysters and planting oyster seed. The fishing season for sandeel and kelp is almost ending and they will move on to fishing flatfish and mantis shrimp using gill nets. If it had been a usual year, they would have started gill net fishing, but, as it has been a poor catch perhaps because this year's seawater temperature stays low, they are going to start it in full swing from late this month (May) 

【The fishermen turn out one after another.】

While they ship mantis shrimps fresh to markets, it is the skytanks which are critical for them to ship, with which they have been provided this time.
As those half-ton tanks are one size smaller than standard ones, they can directly load them onto outboards and keep catches alive inside them off coast. After returning from fishing, they unship those skytanks and forklift them onto trucks and ship them alive to market.

【The fishermen have a pleasant chat surrounding the skytanks】

One of the fisherman said "Well you know, they are really help, we can't manage without them!" They gathered with smiles on their faces and fork lifted and carried those skytanks on light trucks. Now they are ready for a large catch. The fishermen have stepped forward consistently and steadily toward recovery since the aftermath of the post-tsunami disaster. JEN will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with people in Higashi-hama promoting the recovery of fishery, the key industry of Ishinomaki-city.

【The fishermen reaffirm their determination to recovery and take a commemorative photo.】

【Higashih-hama is still on the process of recovery】

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Sewing on a machine for pleasure

The flowers of cherry trees in Ishinomaki opened in late April. Today, I'd like to introduce what it was like "Mono Dukuri Ochako(A bee cafe: a gathering of peers to accomplish a job that are difficult to carry out alone and allow socialization during an otherwise tedious chore like sewing; refreshments such as tea, coffee are provided by the group)." at the temporary meeting place where JEN is assisting local people to enhance the vibrancy of their community.

On April 28 to 29, under the clement weather, nine volunteers from MITSUI & CO., LTD helped women living in a temporary housing complex make pouches on sewing machines.


Benesse Corporation wanted people in disaster areas to make use of sewing machines at a place like this meeting place and so donated thirteen sewing machines. Back numbers of specialized magazines on handcraft and do-it-yourself-kit for sewing were also donated by Benesse Corporation as well as materials to make pouches.

They were motivated by looking at naturally-derived and beautiful clothing fabric and ready to work on making pouches. They chatted lovely one another over their work:

"Next step is do the sewing in this way...","I wonder I'm doing fine!"," Oh dear, you have already done that!"



For those who are not so experienced in sewing on machines volunteers taught them how to use them.


People talked differently: "If you sew on machine, you are able to have a beautiful finish!", "I used to make these kinds of things.", "This is lovely and right size to carry my insurance card inside", "I'll present this to my granddaughter."

People were filled with joys of finishing lovely crafts and spending cheerful and happy hours.
JEN is committed to continuing to help people keep smiles on their faces.

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LANCOME events by L'Oréal Paris at HANA house, meeting place: Makeup lessen, yoga class and hand massage service

In April 12, LANCOME Events hosted by L'Oréal Paris took place at HANA house and also at a meeting place in Katsuma district: HANA house is a community cafe established by L'Oréal Pari and managed by JEN: each temporary housing complex has a meeting place within its premises. At the events, many people joined makeup lesson, yoga class and enjoyed getting a hand massage.

When you walked into HANA house, you first saw a wide variety of cosmetics on its table. With sparkling eyes, women looked at beauty aids such as basic skin care products, facial serum steamers, foundation, eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, lip stick, manicure and so on. When I asked some woman how she felt, she answered with a smile on her face "Well..., I wonder how I look, if I have my face done expertly. My heart flutters with fears and hopes."

【Exciting makeup lesson to start. 】

On the bulletin board in HANA house, women after making up their faces posted their photos with their comments, which photos showed expertly made up visages of them.
I heard one of them say "Well, as the makeup makes my face attractive, it also makes my skin complexion rosy and I feel refreshed." Many attendees were there, some of them were repeat visitors of the previous event and others came with their friends.

【HANA house crowded with visitors. 】

Hand-massage service and Rody yoga class were going on as well as the makeup lesson and there was an air of excitement in HANA house.

【Hand massages brought smiles to people's face. 】



【Many toy horses, Rody, were welcoming visitors. 】




Another venue for the event was also crowded with a lot of visitors and they had a good time. The Rody yoga class that uses jumping toy horses, Rody, is a moderate exercise that gets people slightly sweaty. A woman who was enjoying the yoga said "Jumping up and down is a great fun just like kids. The Rody is cute and refreshing." The Rody yoga stretched and relaxed both their mind and bodies and that's why they looked so happy with nice smiles on their faces.

【Practice Rody yoga in a circle. 】

Although the makeup lesson and hand massage service are prepared to service three people at the same time respectively, they were so high in demand that people waited in line. A woman waiting for her turn over tea seemed to be excited and said "I have come here after washing my face so that I may have my face done immediately."

【People waited in line for the makeup lesson. 】

At the makeup lesson section, a woman there seemed happier to see them getting more and more beautiful as they getting their makeup on. And another woman was trying to learn to make up her face by herself like taking lessons at a makeup class, such as how to wear eye shadow and use cheek cosmetics expertly.

At the hand massage section, a woman had her trigger points in her hands pressed and, as the massage improved the circulation of her blood and alleviated the tension in her shoulders, she said happily "I was so relaxed that I almost fell asleep. My hands have turned much whiter."

【Getting a hand massage is relaxing. 】

It's certainly been a laugh-filled day. If people cared their body, that got to their heart directly and got their eyes shining. People with a positive frame of mind and smiling faces seemed to have much nicer chat than usual.

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Life in my village

My village name is Batakara situated in district Swabi. It lies at the right bank of river Indus KPK Pakistan surrounded by District Mardan, Buner and Hazara. Swabi is famous for agriculture and hospitality. The main source of income of the people is farming and livestock. Mainly people grow Wheat, maize, tobacco, sugarcane & vegetables and keep sheep, goats and buffalos.

The people of Swabi belong to Pathan tribe’s yousaf zai and utman zai and are famous for their culture and hospitality.

They warmly welcomed to a huge numbers of internally displaced people from Swat in 2009 due to military operation against Armed Opposition groups. They shared their homes and hujras (guest rooms) with these affected peoples and accommodate them till the settlement of dispute. Many NGOs including JEN worked in Swabi during that difficult period.

The people of Swabi are very social and polite and give honor to any one individual or organization working in their areas. They also support the development efforts made by organization in this area like water supply and sanitation schemes and infrastructure schemes.

The people of Swabi are mostly farmers and living with simple life. They keep livestock like Sheeps, cow, buffalo, and goats for their dairy product. They are using this dairy product in their food and also offer to guests.

The young generation of Swabi are mostly educated and doing jobs in different government and private organization. The education ratio of District Swabi is better than other areas of this province and the famous engineering university of Pakistan GIK is situated in Swabi. 



Some of JEN staffs are from Swabi and practice in social activities with different local community organization.

How are the IDPs now?

As long as the IDPs were living at origin before conflict their lives were worst at several aspects. Awareness of education in males was very less and that of female was totally zero. Their main sources of income were agriculture and livestock. Majority of them before displacement had no exposure to settled areas and cities. By nature they were narrow-minded and by culture they were conservative. Due to linguistic problems most of them would hesitate to go outside FATA. In a common case it would be a difficult job for an IDP to withdraw money from the bank using an ATM card. They had negative perceptions about humanitarian organizations.

After displacement most of them came to start living in D I Khan, Tank and some moved to Karachi. Humanitarian Organizations provided them shelter, food, NFIs and most importantly the high caliber staff dealt them with patience and politeness. Effective mobilization made them changing their minds and a hope to start recovers their lives.

Humanitarian organizations provided them capacity building trainings in terms of Health, Sanitation, Hygiene, Livelihood Recovery, Gender & Female Education and Protection etc. They interacted with the local people, who were more educated, patient, happy and bearing better social values.

Gradually they adjusted themselves with the local people. Their perception of biasedness reduced about other communities and tribes. They realized the importance of education and are more willing than ever to send their children to schools. They started interest in other sources of livelihood other than agriculture and livestock. They have come to know the role of humanitarian organizations. Now they know their rights as affected people and understand the law & justice system.

A challenge to make " Hanging Hina " by people living in temporary housing

JEN continues its efforts to promote community activities in temporary housing complex and as a part of its activities people living there are now challenging to make 'Hanging Hina': Hnaging Hina are dolls that represent Emperor and Empress and their servants and displayed on March 3 to celebrate the Doll's Festival(Girl's day); they are made of old kimono cloth and hung by code from ceilings so as to save space to display.

This challenge follows one in March, in which people challenged to make Hina Dolls: Hina Dolls also represent Emperor and their servants but displayed on a special step-altar, (See people challenging to make Hina Dolls here.)

The challenge came from the voice of people; people will make one cord of Hunging Hina every month to prepare for next year's Doll's Festival.

One day in April, they are working on making owl dolls. I heard someone say "Since I was not able to come last month, I did hope to come this month." They were seriously involved in their work. Owls are believed to bring good luck to people or help people to avoid hardship because the word owl in Japanese has the same sounds as words for "good luck" and "free from hardship".

【Many people have gathered as usual. 】

A woman who squinted her eyes saying "Oh, I can't see the needle!" had a help in threading a needle from her neighbor at the table. From what I heard, they had lived close to each other before the disaster. Although they have got to live in the temporary housing, bonds among their neighbors have taken root,

【Their cheerful conversations are almost audible】

After they enjoyed potluck luncheon at the noon over rice balls, pickles and hot soup hand-made by JEN staff, they continued to make owl dolls. There was also a male participant among them and the finish of his owl doll was so excellent that people couldn't imagine that it was his first try and raised a cheer. JEN will continue its supportive efforts to develop a community where many people naturally gather and get into conversation with each other.

【An owl doll made by a mail participant 】

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Back in Haiti!

It has been 10 days since I came back into Haiti with JEN.

10 great days during which I saw so many improvement and changing in the streets of Port au Prince or on the road to our field office in Grand Goave, driving through Martissant, Carrefour, Mariani, Gressier or Leogane.

All these places where I drove through so many times from March 2010 and July 2011! Everywhere I see changing! Most of the debris has completely disappeared, making the road usable on its full width! And portions of the national road number 2 severely affected by the earthquake have been renovated, improving the traffic conditions impressively!

It didn’t fix fully the problem of traffic jams in Port au Prince though! Even though the capital did change for the better quite a lot in my eyes! With many more public lights installed, commuting overcrowded bus stop better located and organized and significant improvement of the garbage collection system the whole atmosphere of the city is changed! Seeing hundreds of children in their school uniform waiting on secure spaces for buses that are free has also been fantastic!

Discovering at once all this improvement made me thinking that had been out of the country 9 months! 9 months I spent in Europe where the media were only mentioning once in a while Haiti, always when hurricanes, political tensions or general instability… true enough but I have some memories going all the way back from March 2010 and things have definitely changed and are changing still!

If this visual very first contact back into Haiti was excellent, the better had to come with meeting again with former and new colleagues, speaking créole and meeting constantly with known and friendly faces, from the guard I hardly knew at Port au Prince Office to the local authorities in Leogane!

It was great to meet again with some colleagues that I did recruit 2 years ago when emergency time made us walk all day long in the mountain, assessing the damages of the earthquake house by house with terrified population living in spontaneous camps!

Remembering this challenging and physically exhausting period and comparing with today there is no comparison! As for the staff updating me on what happened during my absence there is no comparison either! Their self confidence and general overview of the situation have improved so much!

I’m definitely truly happy to be back in Haiti! After this long break of 9 months it is fully refreshed and inspired by my 16 previous months spent here that I start on a new project for JEN in Leogane.
This new project consider in supporting YEC in its renovation activities of the streets of Leogane centre, my task and responsibility is to ensure a good organization of the hard labor crew from Leogane employed by the specialized Haitians building companies operating under YEC authority.

More coordination and reporting than pure field activities like in the previous WASH program I was involved previously but for sure still a real challenge as it is a completely different part of “cultural differences” I do have to learn!

【3/24/2012 Day 3 Recital at a meeting place in Kesennuma city】

After Mr.Karan spent two days performing piano recitals for two days from March 22 at Ishinomaki city, he moved into Kesennuma.

Today we were blessed with fine weather, as if we had no snow last night. We visited a relatively small temporary housing complex of about 50 houses in Kesennuma city. The installation of the air-conditioning units was going on and so residents looked busy in observing the procedures of the installation. We thanked them for taking time to join the concert in spite of such busy situation. When they heard "Sakura Sakura" or "Koujyou no Tsuki" coming from his piano, some of them hummed tunes together. The scene also made my heart warm. After the recital, he and his audience enhanced friendship over tea.

【3/25/2012 Day 4 Recital at Nakayashi-Kitsusa in Ishinomaki city】

On the final day, when Mr. Karan arrived at "Nakayashi-kitsusa", a community cafe at Nakayashiki in Ishinomaki city, college students and children already waited for him. Children looked at Mr. Karan from distance, being interested in a person from overseas. At first, they were almost impossible to say something to him, but finally they plucked up the courage to say "Hello" to him and got excited by getting Mr. Karan's friendly reply "Hello!" Before the recital started, they help us call in neighbors to join in over the loudspeaker.




When Mr.Karan began preparing to perform pieces, his audience listened to his performance quietly and carefully as if they believed the concert had begun. It seemed that they had longed for the opening, he began performing five minutes earlier than originally scheduled and " Nakayashi-kitsusa " resounded with wonderful classical music.

Mr. Karan started the recital with his speech in Japanese, performed Greek music and finally finished by giving encores, Japanese melodies
.
When he began to perform "Sakura Sakura" or "Koujyou no Tsuki", his audience also began to sing. The sweet melodies played by him gave his listeners a comfort and nursery songs of Japan reminded them of good old days. Some of them were touched and shed tears to think of this and that. Every people said "Good!","That's a comfort!"; They seemed to have enjoyed the recital fully.

From what I heard, the tsunami has carried away numbers of pianos in this region and students who had been learning piano at a nearby piano class missed playing piano and joined today's concert. It seemed such circumstances have made today's concert a special event for people in the region. He was so popular that people asked him for autographs and photos taken with him. Although he and children got friendly, they had to say goodbye and children said to him "You'll come see us again, I hope?"," Could you teach us the piano,again?"




Mr.Karan gave local people a comfort and pleasure through music in every place he visited. After his performances, people looked pleased with their eyes bright and expressed their thanks "Arigatou".

We came to realize over the last four days that what we really need is not words but music, music is able to unite us into one.JEN will continue to walk with people to help them renew their courage and hopes.

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【On March 22, day 1 Recital at Ogihama primary school and HANA house in Ishinomaki city】

Greek Pianist Panos Karan made his first visit to Japan last August after the disaster with his electric piano in order to cheer up people by music and held recitals at shelters and other plac
es. One year after the disaster, he revisited Japan to express his condolence and encourage people through music and made a recital tour around Japan; in Miyagi prefecture he held piano recitals at Ishinomaki city, Kesennuma and so on.

The first recital in Miyagi prefecture was held at Ogihama primary school in the Oshika Peninsula. Teachers, students and local people gathered to enjoy listening to his piano at its gymnasium, the recital venue, where the memory of the graduation ceremony the day before lingered on in everyone's heart. First, Mr. Karan introduced himself and shared his wishes for the recovery of the distressed areas with people there in his thoughtful speech in Japanese.
Then he played seven pieces of music in all such as Chaikovski Chopin Haendel, Greece music and finally Japanese music "Sakura Sakura" and the venue turned into a healing space.

【At Ogihama primary school seven current students listened to Mr. Panos Karan play 】


When he finished his performance, some of the audience voluntarily stood up and applauded. He gave them encores.

【Mr. Panos Karan received great applause.】

Local people and teachers warmly welcomed Mr. Karan and the recital finished by taking a commemorative photo with nice smiles on their faces.
Then he moved to HANA house, a community cafe in Kaduma district to perform the second recital of the day. When he arrived, many children already got together and so he held a small piano class for them.

【Children were very interested in Mr. Panos Karan's piano class】

Mr. Karan surrounded by children and taught them how to play piano. They look at him with such serious eyes that we couldn't help smiling.

【A recital in the sunshine】

In the warm afternoon sunshine, his performance ended peacefully and people there were comforted by his music and children's smiles.

【On March 22, day 2 Recitals at two different temporary housing meeting places in Ishinomaki city】

Day 2, recitals took place at two different temporary housing meeting places in Ishinomaki city.
Many people gathered at the venue one after another inspired by the melody and also nurses who returned from a tour of house calls in temporary housing joined the recital.

【A large audience of local people at the recital 】

"Thanks for holding a concert like this! A great comfort to me!", "I was so impressed to listen to a person from overseas performing 'Sakura Sakura' for us, an exotic Japanese song for him,"

These remarks showed how they felt and they didn't want to stop applauding saying "Encore! Encore!" It was while he was playing unscheduled "Koujyou no Tsuki (The Moon over a Ruined Castle)", a Japanese nostalgic melody from the score that people began to sing together "In spring, at the tall tower, the blossom -watching carousel... " and they felt so united that some of them were moved to tears. A woman brightly said "My husband, died in the disaster, used to listen to classical music at home. Everything including CD's had been swept away and so I haven't been able to listen to them anymore. But today I'm awfully glad I could listen to a live piano playing. All of them are familiar to me."

In the afternoon, he held the second recital of the day at another meeting place. Some people already waited in line in front of the meeting place. The audience there was also excited about his performance and called for "Turkischer Marsch" as an encore. He willingly improvised the encore. Finally, they shook hands and shoot photos. Wherever Mr. Karan went, he was very popular.

Particularly, women were so curious about him that they asked him questions in a friendly atmosphere such as "How old are you? Are you married? Is there someone you're seeing? You are so cool!"

Mr.Karan said "Although we can't communicate by words, we can convey our thoughts through music and it's happening here. This is a truly significant thing for us and I'm very happy to see that." Next day, Mr. Karan will head for Kesennuma city.

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