My I.F.Y.E. Experience in Botswana 



JENNIFER BARTON 



Have you ever carried water on your head? Taught 

 a group of children who don't speak EngHsh to 

 play Duck, Duck, Goose? Been scared by a 

 hippo? Roasted chicken intestines over a fire? Been 

 moved to tears by children singing and dancing for you, 

 or by a simple gift of pottery made from cow dung and 

 ashes? These are just a few of the experiences I had last 

 year as an International 4-H Youth Exchange Delegate to 

 Botswana, Africa. People ask me if I took nine months 

 "off" to be an I.F.Y.E. Actually, it was definitely nine 

 months "on" to life, and a most amazing time which I 

 wouldn't trade for anything. 



The I.F.Y.E. program is an incredible opportunity 

 for people ages 19 to 30 who are interested in learn- 

 ing firsthand about the culture and lifestyle of another 

 country. Each year, two delegates are chosen from 

 New Hampshire to represent our state and country in 

 this exchange with many different countries around 

 the world. The "I.F.Y.E.s" stay with host families in 

 their assigned country for three or six months and 

 learn the lifestyle by living it! When New Hampshire 

 participants return to the state, they do a ten-week 

 tour, giving slide presentations to school and civic 

 clubs. Donations from these talks help to fund I.F.Y.E. 

 trips for next year. 



So where is this country? Botswana is in the center 

 of the southern tip of Africa, is about the size of 

 Texas, and has a population of about 1.3 million. It is 

 a stable, peaceful country with a democratic form of 

 government, having gained independence from En- 

 gland in 1966. The national language is Setswana, al- 

 though many people also speak English and their own 

 tribal language as well. I got to learn greetings in four 

 different dialects, and even received two new names in 

 the native languages ("Neo" and "Kapako"). The 

 Batswana live in mud or cement houses and cooking 

 is done mostly outside, over an open fire. The large 

 cities have computers and street lights, but conve- 

 niences like electricity, running water in houses, and 



phones are just starting to become available in some 

 rural villages. About four-fifths of the country is 

 Kalahari Desert sands, which was wild for this New 

 Hampshire woman to see! It was so flat, sandy, and 

 wide open! It took me a couple days to get over the 

 feeling that I must be at the beach. The Okavango 

 Delta and Chobe River in the north provide a lush 

 green oasis for the wildlife and people. 



While Botswana was my home for more than five 

 months, I got to stay with six host families in six dif- 

 ferent villages around the country. Each family agreed 

 to take me for about three weeks and it is amazing 

 what close bonds can develop in that short time. 

 Gradually, I came to learn the traditions and customs. 

 Like stopping for tea whenever you have a visitor. Or 

 bowing slightly when you greet an elder. 1 was im- 

 mersed in the lifestyle of Botswana, participating in 

 the daily activities: preparing food, taking care of the 

 animals, going to school, helping neighbors. 



Although most of Botswana's economy is based on 

 the export of diamonds and beef, subsistence agricul- 

 ture is still what sustains most of the people there. Ev- 

 eryone aspires to raise his own animals — chickens, 

 goats, donkeys, cattle; in fact, a typical bride price (or 

 "lobola") is about ten head of cows. They grow their 

 own crops: particularly maize (white corn) and sor- 

 ghum. They also grow millet, melons, beans, sweet 

 reed, and vegetables in some areas. Much of the supple- 

 mental food comes from South Africa. Many of the 

 farmers I talked to asked me about the strange habit 

 we have in America of growing corn to feed to our 

 animals! In parts of the country, I was amazed at what 

 the sandy soil would grow, and how little could sus- 

 tain the foraging animals. People here are very con- 

 cerned about the effects of the El Nino weather 

 patterns. 



The Botswana government does a lot for the people 

 in the area of agricultural education and development. 

 Every village has an Extension educator to help the 



TH E PL ANTSMAN 



