DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Fun Reading
Josh,
I am taking the liberty of answering publically, as many people are interested in being helpful.
It is clear that religion is important to you. Religious groups working in the CAR include:
http://www.bmm.org/BMM/WhereWeServe/Africa/centralafricanrepublic.htm
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/CF
http://www.icdinternational.org/about.html
http://www.fateb.net/
Many of these folks were born here or grew up here and would be willing to tell you the truth.
Other groups include:
http://www.merlin-usa.org/Where-we-work/Central-African-Republic.aspx
http://www.imcworldwide.org/section/work/africa_central/car
http://www.acted.org/2009/01/27/motorcycle-diary-in-the-central-african-republic/
... and the usuals, Medicins sans Frontiers, Human Rights Watch, etc.
Before even thinking of actually coming here, you should read and fully understand the Department of State Travel Warning: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_940.html
And finally, read the US Embassy website: http://bangui.usembassy.gov/ (Not much there yet, but at least it exists and has the latest travel information.)
The CAR is one of the most difficult, dangerous, and expensive countries on earth in which to try to operate. Good French and Sango are essential. Arabic is useful in the north. (But the north is pretty much inaccessible these days.) As a point of reference, many more Central Africans flee to Darfur as refugees than flee to the CAR. (About 3000, tops) In contrast, there are between 100,000 and 200,000 internally displaced persons in the CAR as well as over 80,000 refugees (mostly Fulani) split between Cameroon and Chad. Since February, another 15,000+ women and children have fled to Chad. Now you see why people prefer to go to Kenya. And besides, Kenya has hotels. And electricity. And water. And doesn't have Yellow Fever.
Charlie Jewel and Jim Hocking in particular can share real insights.
Happy reading! I hope this is useful.
Josh,
I am taking the liberty of answering publically, as many people are interested in being helpful.
It is clear that religion is important to you. Religious groups working in the CAR include:
http://www.bmm.org/BMM/WhereWeServe/Africa/centralafricanrepublic.htm
http://www.sim.org/index.php/country/CF
http://www.icdinternational.org/about.html
http://www.fateb.net/
Many of these folks were born here or grew up here and would be willing to tell you the truth.
Other groups include:
http://www.merlin-usa.org/Where-we-work/Central-African-Republic.aspx
http://www.imcworldwide.org/section/work/africa_central/car
http://www.acted.org/2009/01/27/motorcycle-diary-in-the-central-african-republic/
... and the usuals, Medicins sans Frontiers, Human Rights Watch, etc.
Before even thinking of actually coming here, you should read and fully understand the Department of State Travel Warning: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_940.html
And finally, read the US Embassy website: http://bangui.usembassy.gov/ (Not much there yet, but at least it exists and has the latest travel information.)
The CAR is one of the most difficult, dangerous, and expensive countries on earth in which to try to operate. Good French and Sango are essential. Arabic is useful in the north. (But the north is pretty much inaccessible these days.) As a point of reference, many more Central Africans flee to Darfur as refugees than flee to the CAR. (About 3000, tops) In contrast, there are between 100,000 and 200,000 internally displaced persons in the CAR as well as over 80,000 refugees (mostly Fulani) split between Cameroon and Chad. Since February, another 15,000+ women and children have fled to Chad. Now you see why people prefer to go to Kenya. And besides, Kenya has hotels. And electricity. And water. And doesn't have Yellow Fever.
Charlie Jewel and Jim Hocking in particular can share real insights.
Happy reading! I hope this is useful.
Last edited: