Jul

27

By Karin ter Horst

I’m getting more and more integrated in the Nigerian society. My stomach is able to handle my dinner and I’m greeting people by saying: ‘How far?!’ I’ve to tell you that the conversation is directly over at the same moment, but so far it’s fine. I also know now that I shouldn’t pay 3000 naira’s for a trip of five minutes in a cab and that I have to talk about the softness of the corn that I want to buy at the market.

But there’s something and I can’t get used to it. People want to take pictures of me, all the time. I’m not that popular in the Netherlands, you have to know. It’s not that I’m special, but my Dutch presence just stands out more here. The same thing happened last week. One of the girls who had applied for the 3rd W.TEC Girls Technology Camp had already finished her selection test and interview, when she returned to the office to snap a picture. With me.

At this moment we’re very busy with the preparations of the camp, which will be starting in about two weeks. I was really surprised to meet girls who have never touched or used a computer. Off course, I’m from the Netherlands where a lot of things are just normal and possible. There’s always water, electricity, good education for everyone and a minimum salary in any case. In my work at W.TEC I face the differences between countries.

Dutch people aren’t better persons and life in general isn’t better in the Netherlands. No, in the Netherlands there are more opportunities. These opportunities offering better possibilities in the future. I’ve met a lot of motivated and ambitious Nigerians in the last few weeks. There are enough people who want to work hard and want to learn. But the possibilities and needed support aren’t there.

I came here to change the world, to make a change. But I realize and I know it’s not possible for me in 6 weeks in Africa – to be realistic. But an important thing is that you have to start somewhere. Every single person who will face better opportunities to develop themselves and others is worthy. Besides, in my opinion the local people are the real change agents. They have the ability to communicate in the common way and to connect with the right people. I’ve a lot of respect for the activities and the employees from W.TEC. Women and girls will be given the chance to equip themselves with ICT- and leadership skills. That empowers them and makes them able to develop themselves. These women and girls are the people who can have the needed impact in the Nigerian society in the future.

When I will leave Africa, the world will be still the same. There will be still a gap between poor and rich. Just a little group of the children will have the same possibilities in here as in the Netherlands. But I will bring an inspiring experience back home and I would have had the chance to deliver my contribution to the development of 15 wonderful Nigerian girls – the girls who are going to make the difference within a few years in the Nigerian society. And also a very important contribution: there are some people in Lagos who has a photo with a smiling oyibo.


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