Group XVI description
From Rpcvdraft
70 Volunteers, Ag/Rd Group. Sept. 1965 through June 1967 (or so).” (Mike Goodkind, 23 Mar 2000)
Contents |
Training
“We trained at Michigan State U in East Lansing.” (Mike Goodkind, 26 Mar 2000) " I thought we spent 8 weeks there and started training in July? We had the use of bicycles. An all male group, we lived in a dorm, studied language, culture, community development, how to raise pigs and took care of Carl Sandburg goats among other things. I learned that volunteers were 'deselected'" --Rcollman 20:51, 31 October 2007 (EST)
St. Croix
"We went to St. Croix in the US Virgins for 4 weeks of training. We lived at and did construction at a camp (boy scouts?) on the dry side of the island. Some of us worked really hard. I remember claiming that my own work was hurricane proof, by the time a hurricane came it would be long gone. Half of us would ride in the "stake truck" over the mountains into Christianstead every night." --Rcollman 20:51, 31 October 2007 (EST)
We cycled through Antiguia in groups of 10 or so, living separately with families who were scattered all over the islands. Here I learned all about how wonderful mangos were to eat and that too much of mango could act like a powerful laxative in the middle of the night. While my group was there a jet liner crashed into the volcano on the southern end of the island. After training my flight number was the one that had crashed. And of course there was a mechanical problem with one of the flaps which cause the plane to fly just slightly off kilter from PR to NYC. --Rcollman 20:51, 31 October 2007 (EST)
After our initial 8 weeks of training at MSU and about 4 weeks in St. Croix, we went home on leave to pack. Many of us flew into NYC and even the country boys managed to find a 'the house', where we took a bus to JFK and flew to Lagos.--Rcollman 20:51, 31 October 2007 (EST)
In Country
"I guess we had an in country briefing. Our group divided into regions and mine flew into Enugu. Part of our training was to go on tour. I don't recall staff telling us who would be going where."--Rcollman 20:52, 31 October 2007 (EST)
Service
Nigeria XVI was an Ag Rd group. Each region was slightly different, and each volunteer's situation was different.
Eastern Region
Nigeria XVI volunteers were assigned to positions in the new Ministry of Rural Development and the equally new Division of Rural Development. We were paid 50 Nigerian Pounds a month. With the military coup, the civil service essentially ran the administrative areas. A typical volunteer might live in government housing and report to both the Divisional Officer who in tern would report to the Ministry of Rural Development. Jacob Agwu was Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development and joined us while we were on tour.
Job situations varied because of many factors. Just to name a few, the attitude of the local civil servants, receptiveness of villagers, ability of the volunteers and plain chance. I think the Hondo Motorcycles were not an option for our group. Most of us had Mini-Mokes and some of us were upgraded with Land Rovers after a year.
"The previous Ag/Rd volunteer had laid a lot of ground work in Ikot Ekpene Division. My transition While there was only 1 community farm organized, within a year I had 8 going. When I left there were 12 community oil palm farms and a rice demonstration project all very active. I also was involved with a few poultry and bridge building projects. I relied upon the Ministry of Agriculture extension agents for expertise in growing crops. Most of my work involved community meetings and working out problems.--Rcollman 20:51, 31 October 2007 (EST)
End of Service
Most of Nigeria XVI left just before fighting actually broke out in the Nigerian/Biafrian civil war.
