For the past two years David Forney has taught English and presented classes on the threat of HIV/AIDS to students of all ages in an African village in Cameroon as a Peace Corps volunteer
Milton man is a real public servant in Africa
(Published Sunday, June 19, 2005 11:42:25 PM CDT)
By Carla McCann/Gazette Staff
Milton
David Forney's wanderlust led him first to Washington, D.C., and then to Africa.
His journey was filled with many lessons, formidable obstacles and concessions.
But the 1996 Milton High School graduate met the challenges with creativity and compassion. And along the way, Forney forged lifelong friendships.
After graduating from UW-Madison in 2000 with a political science degree, Forney got a job working as a legislative aide on Capitol Hill.
But two years of that was enough, Forney said.
"When I got to Washington, I wasn't learning," he said. "I was bored. I wanted to get out and continue to learn."
He also wanted to perform some type of public service.
"There's not much public service in Washington," Forney said.
And he wanted to go on an adventure.
The solution was to join the Peace Corps.
For the past two years, as a Peace Corps volunteer, Forney has taught English and presented classes on the threat of HIV/AIDS to students of all ages in an African village in Cameroon.
The school had about 1,300 students ranging in age from 14 to mid-20s, one official teacher and several Peace Corps volunteers.
The differences between American schools and the African school were vast, Forney said.
Just keeping students' attention was a challenge, he added.
"I had about 130 kids in class," Forney said. "They sat on benches, five to a bench. Only about 4 percent or 5 percent really were interested in learning. I had to entertain them to keep their attention and try to teach."
One of the problems in teaching the village students is that parents haven't embraced the value of education. Many of those parents never attended school. They have farmed all of their lives to make a living, Forney said.
"At 18, students often retake several grades," Forney said.
It's also common for students to fail national exams and be held back, Forney said.
Village girls faced an additional barrier to getting an education because most aren't allowed to go to school.
"I had very few girls in class," Forney said.
The majority of the 15,000 to 20,000 villagers are Muslims, who believe their daughters belong at home, not at school, Forney said.
"The boys would be out playing soccer, while the girls would be at home working," he said.
With a classroom filled mostly with boys, who weren't convinced they wanted to be there, maintaining a learning environment was a challenge, Forney said.
"If I kept everyone disciplined, it was a successful day."
He discovered that most of the students are well informed about HIV/AIDS. But the disease continues to spread because of cultural barriers, Forney said.
They practice polygamy and often have affairs outside of their marriages, he said.
"I had one older man tell me that Allah decides who will get AIDS; actions don't matter. It's predestined," Forney said.
Although Forney often felt like he was fighting a losing battle in the classroom, he treasured the opportunity to step into the lives of the people within this developing country. He also made lifelong friendships among the villagers, Forney said.
"My best friend there is a French teacher," he said.
The official languages in the village are French and English. Most of the students also spoke one or more additional languages, Forney said.
Because Forney's friend has no college degree, the school doesn't pay him to teach. The man receives $80 a month from the parent-teacher organization, but must depend on his brother for additional financial support, Forney said.
"He's very well educated, though," Forney said. "In a place where there are no libraries, he has 200 books in his house. But he has no opportunities."
Although his adventure in Africa has ended, Forney always will carry fond memories of the people he met there. He also gained a new perspective on life.
"Coming back, I realized just how rich our nation is and how much we waste," Forney said. "We take wealth and opportunity for granted."
Forney recently completed his contract with the Peace Corps and is at home visiting his parents, Larry and Virginia, until the end of the month. Then, he's going to Paris, France, to study.
From there, it's anyone's guess where Forney's wanderlust will lead him.
"I love New York City," he said.
