His adventure started in a tiny, impoverished village
seven miles off the main road in Togo, West Africa, where constant
drumming and random screams are the norm. David Gooze is 25 pounds
lighter since becoming a Peace Corps volunteer in Kemeni, a two-thousand
person community. Despite Togo's small population, they speak 40 different
languages! French, however, is the official language.
"I wanted to try something that's completely different," explained
David, son of Madison South Rotary member Rob Gooze, regarding his
interest in serving in Togo. The food certainly qualifies as unusual for
an American. He's eaten monkey, bush rats, a breakfast of beans and
rice every day, but meat just once per month.
"They treat their animals like children," explains David, allowing
them to roam freely. Dogs, however, are another matter. If you visit,
leave Bowzer at home. The villagers have no affinity for canines and are
happy to eat them.
David describes these "subsistence farmers" as warm and accepting,
hardly allowing him to do any work there, despite the great amount of
labor necessary to farm. As a white, male guest, David is very high on
the social order, always seated next to the village chief.
David tries to promote gender equality in this patriarchal society
where girls and women eat last and are expected to devote their lives to
raising children, washing dishes and cleaning. To promote a better
quality of life for girls, he spearheaded a soccer tournament just for
them, and surprisingly, the people accepted it. And the girls loved
participating. '"Girls shouldn't be playing soccer, but okay,"' David
recalls the chief telling him. Soccer has been a high point for him.
"It's my favorite part of being there," he says.
Besides promoting gender equity in sports, David has also been
involved in educating males about the use of condoms. He says girls can
sometimes have ten or more children.
The African experience has made him appreciate America and the great
abundance we enjoy. He's also met a "best friend" who happens to be a
60-year-old Muslim African. "How else could I have met somebody like
him?" David ponders.
His visit back home in Oregon is drawing to a close. David begins
his journey back to Togo on Sunday and will remain there until September
of next year, when his Peace Corps commitment concludes.