Email journal: June 27, 2004, Rwanda The last week has been really exciting as far as progress on my fellowship is going. I arrived in Kigali, Rwanda Sunday afternoon the 20th of June, and that evening my family and I visited the Karas's, friends in Kigali. During the conversation my fellowship came up, and I found out that Mrs. Konah Karas had done research on child headed households in Kibungo and had access to documents, which might be useful in my own investigation. The Karas's also suggested a couple of organizations I might check into that are engaged in similar work throughout Rwanda, such as the Catholic Relief Services and CARE International. Monday morning I met with Ms. Speciose Kantengwa who had previously agreed to assist me in my search for a female translator. I need someone about my age that is willing to make daily and some overnight visits into Gikongoro with me, also someone who is comfortable with Microsoft Word and Excel. Thursday morning I drove down from Butare (where I am based) to Kigali for a meeting with Mr. Hagan, the Director of World Vision Rwanda (WV). WV had agreed to assist me with on the ground advisory and some logistical support, such as transportation and a rural sociologist who would be able to give my translator and I some general training in various interview and oral research methods. In return I agreed to give WV a copy of the completed write up. The meeting was very fruitful, I met with Mr. Kalisa, the manager of the WV Gikongoro program and Ms. Waginsa who has done extensive social research and was interested in helping to train my translator and I. The program WV is running in Gikongoro focuses on the psychological and physical needs of children. It looks at the difference in the development of children with mentors and children without. I had heard through my father that a group of psychologists from Tulane University, also linked with WV are working in Gikongoro doing similar work. We discussed the possibility of my being able to talk with them and share information and ideas. At the end of the meeting we fixed a time for next Wednesday to go into the community so I could see first hand what it was like, and be introduced to some of the community, so when I returned later, they would know who I am and what I am doing there. On Friday I met with Rosemary, the prospective translator, and we talked about what I was looking for and her experiences. She is a graduate of Tamil Nadu University in India and has a BA in Agricultural Science. Although I was originally looking for someone who was either a high school graduate or currently pursuing an undergraduate degree, I liked her personality and I think we will work well together. As indicated in my Anton Fellowship Proposal I am doing this field research to help me better understand how aspects of socio-cultural, political, environmental and economic factors affect the decisions communities and in particular those of youth headed households make, to help improve their living conditions. During my time in Rwanda I will be focusing specifically on the following questions; 1.) How do the common values and goals of the community encourage or discourage change? 2.) What role does the government or community leaders play in promoting agents for positive change within the community (for example, through the installation of health centres, education facilities, market and trade systems, communication infrastructure, publicity of laws and rights of citizens)? This includes the various sources of community support, i.e. mentors, relatives, and the impact of forged kinship ties. I am asking these questions because I feel without understanding the values of a society, or grasping the goals and hopes individuals and the community have established it is difficult to access why they might regard or represent themselves in a particular way. The same is true of the effects of external influences on a community, such as those produced by non-government organizations (NGOs) or government institutions. These questions may be modified at a later date as I learn more about the social environment and the factors at play in creating community ideology. However between now and Wednesday I need to come up with a tentative list of points/question to consider during my introductory visit to Gikongoro. According to Dr. Hammond from the Clark IDCE department, the beginning stages of social and anthropological field research are usually a little overwhelming, I certainly feel that way, but I am really excited to be starting and eager to know what I will find. And after all I have a great support group at Clark and here in Rwanda with the NGO community.