EMPRESS MENEN EARTHLIGHT REASONING – March 22, 2008
TAKE ACTION FORUM: BUILDING A BETTER RASTAFARI I-MMUNITY
TOPIC: REPATRIATION
Moderator: Mama Sherine Bonsu
IMMEDIATE TAKE ACTION PLAN:
• Create a practical guide for repatriation
• Ahmaric classes
LONG TERM PLANS:
• Strengthening links in Africa
• Preparation self/family to repatriate
Number of participants: 10
QUESTIONS:
Repatriation roll call – who is planning to repatriate? When? Where?
- Most plan to repatriate but not sure when
- Ras Wayne Rose and Ras Carl Philpott..part-time repatriates
to Ethiopia, both have residence/land there
- Top places to repatriate: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Ivory Coast
(Cote D’ivoire)
Suggestions for preparation for repatriation
- Creating individual/family 5 year plan to outline how one
will make the transition
- Begin individual/family savings account strictly for
repatriation
- Learn to plant/farm, dry and preserve foods general
agriculture
o 3 participants in this workshop have experience with
gardening/farming
o Community garden in 13th and Kansas (moderator to investigate)
- Strengthen links with Africa by:
o Making trade links (for those with businesses) – this will
aid in making the transition as the respective government will see
those making this links as contributors to their economy…
o Connect with repatriates from our community (DC and broader)
- As a community we need to create a cohesive and incremental
(step-by-step) plan of action for repatriation
- Need to identify ones who will is actively planning to leave
(long-term/short-term) as will still need ones on both sides
- Need for a “Repatriation Base” place, building in the city or
outside to function as a learning center/location for Ises/RBA
- Find ways to enter the country i.e. Investments, Non-
governmental organization, non-profit, etc.
Topic ideas for the practical guide to repatriation:
Note: Was informed by Ras Carl Philpott of the Fundraising for the
Jamaican Rastafarian Development Community School (JRDC) Shashamane
Settlement that their organization has created such a guide, however
it is currently not available for distribution due to elements that
require participant permission. He said I could have a copy as we do
not wish to reinvent the wheel.
Participant contributions:
- Expectations vs. Realities of repatriation
- Legal issues
- Need for a individual/family plan (most important – almost
equivalent to a retirement plan)
- Overstanding the cultural differences, customs, habits, etc.
o Brought up question for Rastafari community to consider: Are
we repatriating as a nation state (Rastafari) or to integrate with
the respective culture?
- Financial preparations
- Are you ready…be honest
- 1 to 5 year plan to prepare for transition
- Purge…what do you really need
- Resources (e.g. pricing for shipping container, embassy
contacts,
- Immigration Issues (e.g. residential status)
- Learn the language (Ahmaric, Twi, French)
- Reach out to a repatriate…learn about their experience…in
their own words
- What are you going to do when you get there?
- “Dance a yard before you dance abroad”…
- Housing
- Work
- Transportation
