Interview with Effrom Harrison
Effrom Harrison went on the June 2004 trip of THEMOSES FUND TO Africa. He has graciously consented to be the first person interviewed for this website.
1. How did you hear of THE MOSES FUND?
I actually stumbled into the Moses Fund by accident. It began while delivering an express mail (my day job) to one of the businesses at this strip mall on Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa. I noticed this one store whose name caught my attention. It was the African Corner. Being of Afrikan descent, i'm always intrigued by all things concerning the continent; therefore, i had to enter this shop. Although my time was short during that first visit, i was able to get to know Suliman, one of the employees and later on Kiro, the owner. My promise to them was that i would return later to check things out more thoroughly. Upon each of my subsequent visits, whether it was to buy something or just browse and listen to reggae music, i found myself being drawn to all the photos displayed throughout the store and the outside windows. Naturally i had to ask who were these beautiful people and why were they all smiling? In short, the answer was the Moses Fund, and the rest, as the old cliche goes, is history.
What are your personal interests in helping African children?
I'm a child of Afrika, just as all of us are; some of us just don't know it yet. As one famous person once said, "just because a mother hen lays her eggs in an oven does not mean her hatchlings are called biscuits," i also am an Afrikan; although not physically born there. Therefore, my interest is very personal because i have a duty to help my homeland and all its people however i can. The Moses Fund is a great vehicle for me to do this because it allows me to channel my energies toward the youth, plus focusing on the children in particular is so critical, because after all, they are the future of Afrika.
What year did you go to Africa? What countries did you visit?
The year i returned to the Mother Land, or as we say, "SANKOFA", an Akan word meaning "one must return to the past in order to move forward", was June of 2004. The countries included Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.
4. What were your expectations prior to going, how did the experience compare?
As a student of Afrikan culture and its people, my expectations were perhaps not typical of someone that is unaware of Afrikan society. Living in the west we often hear of the negative things that are happening in Afrika. This is further exacerbated by the images that we see on the local/national news being broadcast right into our living rooms on a daily basis. If one were to believe the propaganda; ie, backward people, corrupt leaders, war, drought, famine and of course aids, and i think lots of people do believe it, then who would ever want to go to Afrika, much less care about helping it. Yet, this is the distorted view we so often have about Afrika, especially sub-Saharan Afrika. Granted these things do exist in Afrika, but perhaps not on the scale that is projected. One must remember that Afrika is a big place. It has over 40 countries within and outside of its borders. You can place 2 of the United States inside of it with room left over. My point is that there are other countries on other continents that have some of these same problems, but are not perceived so negatively in the west as is Afrika. I think the real question we should ask ourselves is not why Afrika seems to be suffering so much, but rather why does the west seem to prosper so much? In short, my expectations were not based on erroneous characterizations about Afrika, brought to us by western media, but by carefully researching information and actually talking to Afrikans, and non-Afrikans, who have been there. Thus, my actual experience on the ground was one of joy and jubilation, because spirit had prepared me to go with an open heart. To state it more simply, i was returning home to see my family and they welcomed me with open arms.
How does THE MOSES FUND help the children of Africa?
Well i can tell you that the Moses Fund is involved with many projects in Afrika, such as improving schools, building homes, starting casava mills and peanut shelling businesses, distributing condoms, disseminating aids information, starting youth clubs, delivering prosthetics and much more. All which either directly or indirectly help the children. But there are many organizations in Afrika doing similar things, so in that respect we are no different. Yet, where we attempt to make the greatest impact in our projects is on the minds and attitudes of those involved in the projects and who it will affect. The emphasis is placed on the people rather than the project. This process is not as simple as constructing a building, but we hope that by winning hearts and minds it will help change attitudes and develop more confidence and self esteem, thus, establishing a self determination to become self-sufficient. This, i think is our greatest gift to the children/people in Afrika
6. What brought you the greatest feeling of satisfaction while you were there?
As far as the Moses Fund and the projects, i'm very impressed with what has been done thus far, although the resources have been very limited. It gives me much hope and anticipation that if and when the resources become plentiful, there is no limit as to what the Moses Fund can accomplish. Similarly, i'm just as impressed with the ingenuity and resilience of Afrikan people. Yes, there is a lack of monetary resources, but not all Afrikans are waiting around for some hand out. Afrikans are on the move; building, creating, studying, learning and of course singing and dancing and celebrating life as they have always done.
7. Describe a couple of experiences you had while interacting with children.
Thinking back, there were just too many incidents with the children to single out only a couple of experiences. To me all of the encounters were special. Something i did note about the children is that all of them wear a smile, even the street kids. In the school we visited i noticed that all the kids were well groomed and in nice uniforms. They all seemed well disciplined. The kids in the families we visited all seemed to be well behaved, not out of control, and respected not only us as guest, but all of the adults. It seemed like all the children had a role to play no matter how young and the duties were performed in a playful, non-aggressive manner. There was a playful curiosity about who the strangers were, with the girls being a little more shy to approach you than the boys, but all in all the kids are the motivation that drives me within the Moses Fund.
8. When do you plan to go again?
I only left Afrika physically, yet the images in my head are still so clear and vivid that i know mentally all of me did not cross back over the Atlantic, so a part of me remains there i'm sure. Only spirit knows when i'll be able to join with that part again.
9. What is it about THE MOSES FUND that is different from other organizations?
On a personal note I'm grateful to be a part of the Moses Fund. It is satisfying to see that fellow members know the value of Afrika and Afrikan people and don't think of them as backward and primitive. I also know that the Moses Fund is just one avenue to help restore Afrika and its people to the greatness that it once had in the world and i'm fortunate to be among a group of people that share a similar idea.
sincerely,
thanks for the opportunity to respond to your questions.
effrom "axe" harrison
1. How did you hear of THE MOSES FUND?
I actually stumbled into the Moses Fund by accident. It began while delivering an express mail (my day job) to one of the businesses at this strip mall on Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa. I noticed this one store whose name caught my attention. It was the African Corner. Being of Afrikan descent, i'm always intrigued by all things concerning the continent; therefore, i had to enter this shop. Although my time was short during that first visit, i was able to get to know Suliman, one of the employees and later on Kiro, the owner. My promise to them was that i would return later to check things out more thoroughly. Upon each of my subsequent visits, whether it was to buy something or just browse and listen to reggae music, i found myself being drawn to all the photos displayed throughout the store and the outside windows. Naturally i had to ask who were these beautiful people and why were they all smiling? In short, the answer was the Moses Fund, and the rest, as the old cliche goes, is history.
What are your personal interests in helping African children?
I'm a child of Afrika, just as all of us are; some of us just don't know it yet. As one famous person once said, "just because a mother hen lays her eggs in an oven does not mean her hatchlings are called biscuits," i also am an Afrikan; although not physically born there. Therefore, my interest is very personal because i have a duty to help my homeland and all its people however i can. The Moses Fund is a great vehicle for me to do this because it allows me to channel my energies toward the youth, plus focusing on the children in particular is so critical, because after all, they are the future of Afrika.
What year did you go to Africa? What countries did you visit?
The year i returned to the Mother Land, or as we say, "SANKOFA", an Akan word meaning "one must return to the past in order to move forward", was June of 2004. The countries included Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda.
4. What were your expectations prior to going, how did the experience compare?
As a student of Afrikan culture and its people, my expectations were perhaps not typical of someone that is unaware of Afrikan society. Living in the west we often hear of the negative things that are happening in Afrika. This is further exacerbated by the images that we see on the local/national news being broadcast right into our living rooms on a daily basis. If one were to believe the propaganda; ie, backward people, corrupt leaders, war, drought, famine and of course aids, and i think lots of people do believe it, then who would ever want to go to Afrika, much less care about helping it. Yet, this is the distorted view we so often have about Afrika, especially sub-Saharan Afrika. Granted these things do exist in Afrika, but perhaps not on the scale that is projected. One must remember that Afrika is a big place. It has over 40 countries within and outside of its borders. You can place 2 of the United States inside of it with room left over. My point is that there are other countries on other continents that have some of these same problems, but are not perceived so negatively in the west as is Afrika. I think the real question we should ask ourselves is not why Afrika seems to be suffering so much, but rather why does the west seem to prosper so much? In short, my expectations were not based on erroneous characterizations about Afrika, brought to us by western media, but by carefully researching information and actually talking to Afrikans, and non-Afrikans, who have been there. Thus, my actual experience on the ground was one of joy and jubilation, because spirit had prepared me to go with an open heart. To state it more simply, i was returning home to see my family and they welcomed me with open arms.
How does THE MOSES FUND help the children of Africa?
Well i can tell you that the Moses Fund is involved with many projects in Afrika, such as improving schools, building homes, starting casava mills and peanut shelling businesses, distributing condoms, disseminating aids information, starting youth clubs, delivering prosthetics and much more. All which either directly or indirectly help the children. But there are many organizations in Afrika doing similar things, so in that respect we are no different. Yet, where we attempt to make the greatest impact in our projects is on the minds and attitudes of those involved in the projects and who it will affect. The emphasis is placed on the people rather than the project. This process is not as simple as constructing a building, but we hope that by winning hearts and minds it will help change attitudes and develop more confidence and self esteem, thus, establishing a self determination to become self-sufficient. This, i think is our greatest gift to the children/people in Afrika
6. What brought you the greatest feeling of satisfaction while you were there?
As far as the Moses Fund and the projects, i'm very impressed with what has been done thus far, although the resources have been very limited. It gives me much hope and anticipation that if and when the resources become plentiful, there is no limit as to what the Moses Fund can accomplish. Similarly, i'm just as impressed with the ingenuity and resilience of Afrikan people. Yes, there is a lack of monetary resources, but not all Afrikans are waiting around for some hand out. Afrikans are on the move; building, creating, studying, learning and of course singing and dancing and celebrating life as they have always done.
7. Describe a couple of experiences you had while interacting with children.
Thinking back, there were just too many incidents with the children to single out only a couple of experiences. To me all of the encounters were special. Something i did note about the children is that all of them wear a smile, even the street kids. In the school we visited i noticed that all the kids were well groomed and in nice uniforms. They all seemed well disciplined. The kids in the families we visited all seemed to be well behaved, not out of control, and respected not only us as guest, but all of the adults. It seemed like all the children had a role to play no matter how young and the duties were performed in a playful, non-aggressive manner. There was a playful curiosity about who the strangers were, with the girls being a little more shy to approach you than the boys, but all in all the kids are the motivation that drives me within the Moses Fund.
8. When do you plan to go again?
I only left Afrika physically, yet the images in my head are still so clear and vivid that i know mentally all of me did not cross back over the Atlantic, so a part of me remains there i'm sure. Only spirit knows when i'll be able to join with that part again.
9. What is it about THE MOSES FUND that is different from other organizations?
On a personal note I'm grateful to be a part of the Moses Fund. It is satisfying to see that fellow members know the value of Afrika and Afrikan people and don't think of them as backward and primitive. I also know that the Moses Fund is just one avenue to help restore Afrika and its people to the greatness that it once had in the world and i'm fortunate to be among a group of people that share a similar idea.
sincerely,
thanks for the opportunity to respond to your questions.
effrom "axe" harrison
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