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Editorial Midwives Share your Experience

by ngalula | August 21, 2012 at 8:07 AM

ngalula

Tags:

Media and Communications

Hello to all the editorial midwives,

I just thought I'd check in and share with you my experience with my laison and campaign cohort so far.
Connecting with all Congolese women has been rather slow so far and as I talked to Scott about it, it seems like the main problem is the Internet connection and the high number of women who are now learning how to use a computer for the first time in their lives.

Maybe you did as well, but I had the chance to read some stories already and I think there is such a great potential. I commented the articles and encouraged the writers but I'm really wishing there will be the opportunity to relate more with them.

What about you? How is it going so far? Any suggestions on how we could collaborate more?

I would also like to keep in touch with one another so if you are on social networks (Facebook, Skype, Twitter, Wordpress...) feel free to add me.

All the best,
Bea

Comments

Hi Bea,

My experience is similar. I have very intermittent contact with Solange, my now friend and partner in this adventure. She has told me that sometimes her Internet connection is pretty slow and doesn’t allow her to upload documents/photos. She is working on a text that she wrote – and that I read and commented – but has yet to post it. Perhaps this is why. I usually have better luck chatting with her on Facebook and/or Skype.
This week I will try to get some of the translations done.

What is your Twitter account? Mine is @mitipoo

Take care,

Annie

Hi Annie,

It's great to hear from you!
Shamefully so far I haven't thought about finding Vivian on Facebook, but I did as soon as I read about your experience! Thanks for sharing. I understand from speaking to Scott as well that the Internet connection is rather slow there ... What time do you usually manage to chat with Solange?

I just managed to make some translations today and it was good I guess.

And here is my twitter accout @kabutakapua
You can also find me on Facebook.

Best,
Bea

Hello Bea and Annie,

I'm in touch with Ange, who, like your liaisons, has little internet connectivity and is also campaigning for political office at the moment. I'm slowly, but surely reading through the women's stories and am finding them very interesting and enriching (and sometimes heart-wrenching). It's been difficult to communicate often with Ange and others in the "cohort" because of unfamiliarity with technology and lack of infrastructure. I feel a little useless at times. I'm open to any and all of your suggestions.

My direct e-mail is: heraud.abby [at] gmail.com

Take care and good luck,

Abby

Hello everyone,

I'm encouraged to hear that I'm not the only one with this problem. I do sometimes feel worthless because I don't seem to be talking to Wilhelmine often. For instance, today, she responded to an email from me for the first time in almost 3 weeks! It makes me feel like I am wasting time, but I have to remember that I am here to support her and not to feel pressured to work quickly towards a goal.

During the lag time in trying to connect with her, I will start doing some translation work, which I haven't done yet. Has everyone else been doing that?

Take care,

Sarah

Thanks Sarah and Abby for sharing your experience as well.
I completely understand what you mean when you say you feel a bit useless but I also think that for our liaisons it's just so important to know we're here!

I started doing some translation myself, nothing too lenghty and I tried to keep the spirit of the message.
Have you listened to Neema's message? It's amazing she's in the US now, I would like so much to meet everyone in person but London is keeping me busy in these days.

Please let's keep each other updated on the progress of the collaboration, it really helps to hear from you as well.

Best,
Bea

At first the connection was slow with all the women, but at the present moment it seemed to have picked up a bit but I have just a few of the women writing. Did anyone get to touch base and received feedback from all the women in their cohorts and if so how did you go about accomplishing that?