Working Anniversary of Sorts

If I’d have never met the Guy in the picture would have never met the Girl. Thank you Doctor.

Recently, I came across a Linkedin post/notice attached to the site of good friend William Hogan, colleague, and long-time member of the development assistance scene who, it announced, was celebrating a work anniversary. Got me thinking about just how time and the years have gone by. It came to me that I was right in the midst of one or my own, a work anniversary of sorts, half a century, 50 years in the business of “international development cooperation and assistance,” as we often referred to the sector in which we were involved!

The gentleman in the picture, perhaps recognizable by some or many, is Dr. William “Bill” Kirker. The wonderful woman beside him, my wife. Respectively friend for 50 years and wife for 40 plus!

An anniversary story more out of recognition of and for the good Dr. in the Picture, taken in Columbia, South Carolina at his residence a few years ago.

Dr. Kirker, Bill to many, is the father, brainchild, architect, and founder of one of Americas most iconic Non-Government Organizations. Located in Honolulu and having recently returned from Niger, West Africa Bill founded “AFRICARE” and sought to put together a team of volunteers who would head out to where he just recently returned from, the Eastern end of Niger, at the time, one of most isolated parts of the country. The village of Maine- Soroa, a stone’s throw from the shores of the ever-shrinking Lake Tchad was the exact destination for this new team and birthplace of this new NGO. He was not alone in his quest to establish a new not for profit, others were inspired by the idea as well, he also found inspiration and a driving force in his dear wife Barbara Kirker.

Bill was highly confident and an eternal optimist who enthusiastically encouraged a newly formed team that imminent departure to a place many had never heard of previously was just over the horizon. When asked about travel by anxious members he would smile and with confidence respond that Africare would soon put people, their boots and medical supplies on the ground in Niger. With a brimming smile it was hard to see just how monumental a task this really was. Sitting around the table, team members were reassured that funding was on its way, the cheque was in the mail.

The short version, the big one did not come through, but much needed medical supplies, materials and a reasonable amount of funds was enough to get the ball rolling. In late 1970 those likely to go got shots in the arm, Yellow Fever, in preparation for imminent lift off. The shot provided immunity but was also uplifting and a spirit booster. I got mine and in a recent search though my archives produced an old yellow immunization booklet showing the date and location, Honolulu Oct. 1970. Good for ten years, I’ve had four more since. Bill’s team felt enthused. I felt I was far too young and wanting in many ways, however, it was his wife Barb who egged me on, “take a leap,” I remember her saying.

Things slowed down and it seemed the lift off was perhaps going to be postponed, perhaps indefinitely. Maybe the Africare lift off was off, I returned to my hometown, Vancouver, and set my sights on continuing the learning process. Although still enthused and hopeful I remained excited. The winter of 70-71 was truly a wait and see game of patience and promise! Spring approached and departure seemed to slip by. And then, a call came from the Pan American Airlines office, an agent explained to my mother there was an airline ticket to be picked up. She politely advised they had the wrong number. A second call, somewhat more detailed but the response was the same. A third more determined agent got through directly to me and there as a ticket for a Mr. Sinclair from Vancouver to Niamey, Niger, via Toronto, Washington, Paris and into Niamey on then pride of Africa, Air Afrique.

Dr. William Kirker, and wife Barbara, along with his growing team of organizers in Washington, DC through dedication, perseverance and hard work, pretty much willed the new Africare team off the ground. The first team would soon take a fledging flight to a little-known destination for many of us.

I personally had to sit down with concerned parents, family, and friends and make a life altering decision. It was now well into spring of 71 it took but a few moments and fleeting thoughts, stay or head off to the unknown. I immediately thought of Barb Kirker’s words while at a restaurant in Waikiki, Tiny Bubbles in the background, "take the leap"! I went to Pan Am picked up one of those old-style tickets with the pull-out red carbon paper, parents bought one of those blue freightliner trunks at Sears and bought what we guessed would be what you’d need when going to a place you have no idea what’s needed. A few personal affects, they were going by air freight, my mother thought you could not go wrong with a good set of cast iron pots and pans! Allotted one hundred lbs. of personal effects for two years!

I got prepared and ready as best possible. I deviated off the direct path and went to the Niger Embassy in DC and met with Oumarou Garba Youssoufou, one of the original members of Africare. He looked young but was 10 years my superior. I must have looked like I'd require a chaperone before going any further. Visa in hand off to Paris, France and a room with no view, a toilet but at the end of the hall, I had never seen a bidet before, cheese tasted nothing like Kraft and the wine was much better than that which came in a “jug,” Peugeot and Mobylette, no idea what they were, this was a learning experience for most.

The first Africare team of just under 20 individuals, a few had been to Niger previously and were returnees, most like me were not on their way. We merged at Orly and the rude awakening was but 5 short hours away.

The team arrived in Niamey April 1971, warmest part of the year, mid-day and it was no less than 200 maybe 300 degrees on the tarmac, maybe more! Those days you walked down the stairs and off to the terminal, you went seeking shade, there was none.

The heat was, if nothing else, a new feeling. Furthermore, the phrase “it’s a dry heat” made no sense and did not apply here. Our orientation...it was immediate and on the spot, it did not take long to grasp the concept, adapt quickly to your new environment. 

Dr. William Kirker, his lovely wife at his side, and after a million smiles, infinite words of encouragement, an effervescent glow of pride on his face, he led his team to its final destination, the Republic of Niger. Eventually after getting acclimatized and over the first bouts of afflictions, the ones ya don’t catch in the snow and temperate zones the team hopped aboard an old DC-3 and made its way to Maine-Soroa. I was in fact too young to begin to imagine just how much effort it took Dr. Kirker to will a dream come true. Now 50 years after our touchdown in 1971 Bill’s Africare is now an iconic American NGO, an amazing accomplishment.

The first team went through some difficult times and in the end our departure from our posts was sadly premature. But enough time to fall in love and catch the bug. Help was needed, welcomed assistance came from then President of the Republic to help out. Although leaving for home early the seed was planted, the organization was learning to fly, as it did with the assistance of increased efforts by some experienced directors and original members. Africare was handed a new look, got a new lease on life and is now a real and veritable NGO successful story.

My thanks to a courageous humanitarian. A man with a vision and a heart as big as the Sahara when it came to his unyielding conviction to help and assist other human beings.

Happy Anniversary to the first lift off of Africare’ s first team, its founder, Dr. William Kirker, and its gang of adventurous team members. We went out with some well-intentioned experiences to share with our new hosts; in my case I came back having learnt far more than what I gave or had to offer a loving and accepting community. 

Half a century later, Africare the NGO lives on and the efforts of the Dr. William Kirker and his wife Barbara carries on through the work of KAMRA, Kirker African Medical Relief Association, https://www.kirkerassociation.org/

As for me I never really made it back home, thank you Bill for encouraging me to spend the next 50 traveling the world and meeting with and working with some fascinating people in more than 100 countries, who’s counting.

Gordon Sinclair