The Debra Kouda Podcast Debra Kouda

You know what will always be amazing to me?
Receiving donations to help a cause that you have put together 🙂
A close second is seeing a moose 🫎 or the Northern Lights - never gets old!
This past week we received donations to help Jean and his family. If you missed that story, you can read about it here.

And so, we have started the work on our end.
You would think that after all this time we would have figured out the best way to send money internationally. But let me tell you - it is so difficult…and costly. Western Union is reliable, and instead of going digital, we sent it via human interaction and ended up paying an arm and a leg for it. The amount that they take off the top during the exchange of currency is just ridiculous. About a month ago we were scammed while making a transaction through Moneygram and are still working to get our money back. If anyone has any better ideas on how to send money internationally, I am all ears!
Anyhoo…back to the matter at hand. We have purchased the motorcycle and helmet for the papa to restart his job as a taxi motorcycle driver, and we presented it to him yesterday.
The motorcycle that we purchased is imported from Nigeria, and thanks to higher custom fees, the price of the motos (what we tend to call them in Benin), has gone up as well. Just like gas prices here in the US! Nonetheless, these are fantastic motos, with an extra long seat that is comfortable for any passenger (or passengers!). You can’t resist smiling when you see the joy on his face when the moto was given to him.

We found an apartment for the family to live in and paid six months upfront, as well as the deposit, etc. The space is tiny, but there is an indoor shower, and it is at a price point that they will be able to afford for now. During these next 6 months we will help them get in the habit of saving money so that with time, they can move into a larger apartment. Currently, we are waiting for the landlord to repair the floor. After that, we plan to paint the interior of the apartment before the family moves in.
And, I found out today, that they have already enrolled one of their daughters back into school! All because they know that they will now have the means to pay the school fees with his income as a taxi moto driver.
We are now working on giving the mother funds to restart her fruit commerce business, as well as providing them with some furniture and a small cooking stove.
If you're passionate about making a meaningful difference and want to be a part of transforming this family's life, reach out to me to contribute to this incredible opportunity! I am so happy to be able to share this story with you as it unfolds, and together, we can uplift and support them on their journey to a brighter future.

The Doctorate
On the research/doctorate front, I have started the process of submitting the study to the ASU Institutional Review Board (IRB), the group that makes sure research is conducted ethically.
During the first semester of my doctoral program, we read a book by Dan Butin who had some wonderful ways of understanding the differences between the process and the journey of a Doctorate of Education student. First off, there are three very distinct phases within the process that one must go through to finish. By way of the image below, I am in the Preparation Stage, Step 5 (Submit IRB - upon proposal approval).
The transition into a practitioner scholar is a profound journey. Honestly, this particular aspect hasn’t been addressed much within our program classes - but it includes a huge identity shift - one that comes easy to some and not so easy to others. It's a phase where your relationship with your professors evolves into one of collegiality, shedding the student label. There is a change in how you view the world and approach issues. It becomes about a certain way of thinking about a problem and the steps and research that you will take to try and find a solution. Butin (2019) boldly cal

Long time
It has been way too long since I have posted to this newsletter. I am sure that you are all on pins and needles about what is going on in our lives!
I’ll just hit some highlights which I will dive into further in the upcoming weeks.
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* I am a doctoral candidate! This means that I am no longer a student…and am ready to complete the research that I proposed in my dissertation proposal defense - which is focused on the topic of transformational tourism.
* This leads me to…our tourism business. The Kouda Company is undergoing a major revival. Can you actually call it a revival if it never lifted off the ground in the first place?? Anyhow, it is in the beginning stages of a start-up now…making a pitch for investors, branding, logos, a new website, marketing research…all the things!
* This newsletter…It will be a way for me to write, share, communicate, and build community with people about motherhood, homeschooling, entrepreneurship, doctoral studies, research, tourism, and so much more. Sounds like a crazy mix of subjects, but that is my life and I would like to lean into sharing my story with others.
Jean’s Story
Although we have been in the US for a little while now, we remain closely connected to events unfolding in Benin. My husband, D'Aquin, was recently nominated to serve as the president of a new nonprofit organization called Support for Disabled People, dedicated to assisting individuals with disabilities in our region of Benin.
Their mission is to advocate for the rights of individuals with disabilities in crucial areas such as health, information access, education, employment, income, and culture.
A few weeks ago, D’Aquin headed to Benin to visit family and take care of some business. As he was arriving at his hotel around midnight, a young boy who was sitting close by asked if he could help D’Aquin with his bags. Of course, D’Aquin said. When the boy stood up, D’Aquin saw that the boy was handicapped, his legs caving inwards at the knees. D’Aquin was moved by the boy’s willingness to help, even though he was disabled.
With his new role as president of Support for Disabled People fresh on his mind, D’Aquin wanted to know more about the boy, whose name was Jean (pronounced like “John” with a French accent). The following morning the opportunity presented itself, as Jean was sitting in the same place as the night before. The video below is Jean’s story.
After watching the video, you can see that the story goes way beyond Jean. His parents lost their means to make a living and provide housing for their family when they had to pay all the medical bills during Jean’s illness.
D'Aquin has already enrolled Jean in one of the Support for Disabled People programs, which will assist him in locating and financing an apprenticeship to pursue a career as a tailor. Sadly, at this time, the program does not provide support for entire families.
We would like to find a way to get the family back on their feet. This means getting the mother and father working again and renting an apartment that is off the dirt ground. We have thought long and hard about the best way to do this, because we have learned over the years that simply giving them money will not necessarily help them.
Here is our plan:
$725 Motorcycle and helmet for the father, so that he can begin his work as a taxi motorcycle driver again.
$200 Provide the mother with funds to purchase goods to sell, previously she sold fruit (pineapple, coconuts, mango, etc) on the side of the road.
$225 Find them a place to rent that is affordable for them and pay full rent (including water and electricity) for 3 months and partial rent for the following 3 months.
$300 Provide them with furniture and kitchen essentials
After 6 months, we will evaluate an

I celebrated a birthday last week - I honestly don’t have a problem telling you my age - but I think it wise to just keep everyone guessing 🙂
My oldest son, Aden, surprised me with the most beautiful gift, my very first Lego set! Oh yes, I have purchased many sets of Lego, but this was the first that was my very own, a bouquet of wildflowers.
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Fun facts!
Since I recently celebrated my birthday, I thought I would share a few fun facts that many of you might not know!
* I enjoy watching “morning routine” videos on YouTube…and Korean cooking videos
* I sing.
* I am an amazing whistler (if you don’t believe me comment below and I will share an example with you!)…and I often whistle under stress without any knowledge. For example, during the biochem final exam as a senior in college, I started whistling in a quiet auditorium full of students. I had no idea that I was making noise. When I finally realized that I was whistling, I immediately stopped and prayed that no one had heard me!
* My favorite movies are Mary Poppins (the original) and Love Actually, although the Lego Movies are not far behind!
* I ran a half-marathon in 2019.
* I do not enjoy doing the dishes.
* My favorite candle is from a little candle shop in Sugar Loaf, NY where my father grew up.
* I am an Apple fan and almost worked for the famous company.
* My favorite meal is pounded yam and peanut sauce with chicken.
* I am on level 1446 of the Two Dots app.
Reflection ☁️
This birthday has brought about a lot of contemplation and reflection. I suppose this happens every year, but for some reason, it has a deeper pull this year, perhaps it is my age??!!
The below questions have been percolating over the last couple of weeks…
“Am I where I thought I would be?” “Am I on a path currently that I want to be on?” “Am I making the right decisions for my children, my family?” “Am I doing things because others want me to or because I want to?”
I have a bucket list of goals I would like to accomplish. What I have realized is that it is FEAR holding me back from really pursuing those goals that seem downright audacious (to most people anyway).
I am constantly reminded by a few of my colleagues in the doctoral program that in the first “get to know who I am video” assignment, I am now famous for saying that my, “pie in the sky goal is to completely overhaul the education system in Benin.”
Oftentimes I wonder where that person is or if it was me who made that statement two years ago, and did I actually believe it? It was me, and I have a video to prove it.
But, the FEAR of judgment, failure, and success, have had a serious hold on my mindset these last couple of years.
A rather serious conclusion to arrive at - but I know in my bones that I am the one holding myself back.
One of my favorite motivational speakers is Robin Arzon. She is a VP at Peloton and I have been listening to her for years as an instructor through the Peloton app. During her last appearance on the Rich Roll podcast, she cited three questions that she uses in journaling:
* “Why not me?”
* “What is my why?”
* “What would I do if I was twice as confident and twice as strong?”
Here is the YouTube video clip if you want her explain these questions a bit further.
Although my journaling habit is somewhat rusty, these are powerful questions that I have asked myself to help get the ball rolling again.
Final thoughts 💭
I realize this is not the most upbeat post that I have written - but ladies and gentlemen, this newsletter is all about real life. And as I am learning, there is power in telling your story, even when it is not “social media” perfect.
This next year is going to be one of many adventures and I am looking forward to sharing them with you.
Feel free to send me your stories as well. There is so much growth an

Before I get into the meat and potatoes of this post…has anyone ever just had a craving for cookies so you went ahead and made them - even if you hadn’t planned to? Well, it happened to me today. One minute I was writing and the next I was googling the best recipe for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.
Soon after the mixer was whirling 🍪.
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Let me tell you - they turned out just the way I dreamed. Not like the ones in the grocery store but puffy and soft on the inside with the nice crunch of the chocolate chips.
And the aroma. I wish I could bottle it up and send it to you through this newsletter because it was heavenly.
The dissertation
Now, onto the question which I know some of you must have. I have mentioned in previous posts that I am working on my dissertation proposal for my Doctorate of Education (EdD). What I realized this past week is that while I am very familiar with the terminology associated with higher education, many people might not be. So, maybe it would help to explain it.
Now, for those of you who are familiar with the term, you most likely associate dissertation with a PhD, or a Doctorate of Philosophy. Of course, there are many types of doctoral degrees, of which the Doctorate of Education happens to be one.
A simple difference between a PhD of Education and an EdD of Education:
A Doctor of Education (EdD) is a professional degree designed for practitioners pursuing educational leadership roles. A PhD in education, on the other hand, is designed to prepare graduates for research and teaching roles.
Now, I will go ahead and explain the dissertation and how I am completing it based on my program at Arizona State University, as it is what I have the most experience with.
I am a part of a 3-year action research program, where you conduct three cycles of research during your time as a student. In case you have never heard of action research, it is a philosophy and methodology of research that:
…seeks transformative change through the simultaneous process of taking action and doing research, which are linked together by critical reflection.
As of the writing of this post, I have finished two cycles of research and my dissertation research is the third.
When you reach the 8th semester (we don’t have summer breaks!) it is time for you to defend your dissertation proposal to your selected committee. The dissertation proposal is essentially a contract you are entering into with your committee about the research that you plan to conduct.
The committee consists of three people (normally) - the chair (head of the committee) and two others.
According to the Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, a dissertation (noun) is defined as:
an extended usually written treatment of a subject
specifically: one submitted for a doctorate
In other words, a long formal piece of writing on one particular subject.
The dissertation proposal I am composing consists of three written chapters:
* The introduction and purpose of the study/research - historical, larger, and local context
* The literature review - the theoretical background for your intended research
* The methodology - the recipe you will use to conduct your research
The dissertation proposal defense is a formal event, and in my case will take place online. I will prepare a 20-minute presentation about my research plan, summarizing my written proposal. The committee would have read my proposal beforehand and come to the defense with questions and/or suggestions which they will ask when my presentation is over.
For my program, there is a second part to the dissertation proposal defense, and that is an oral comprehensive examination. I have two options for this part:
* Receive questions one week before the dissertation defense, allowing time to prepare a response or…
* Questions are asked on the day of the defense, so you are gi

Fall holds a special place in my heart, even though I enjoy both of the transition seasons we experience here in the Northwest. About 2 weeks ago, the first flock of Canadian geese flew over - signaling the changing of the tide from summer to fall.
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At least this sign does for me - as I’m writing this, I realize many people have never seen geese migrate from the north to the south. It is quite a sight to behold, especially when you see flocks of over 100 birds all “v’d” up to make the long journey. And they do not go quietly, they certainly are a loud bunch when they fly over rooftops - I often wonder what all of that chatter is about. I’m sure some Canadian geese researchers could tell me more about it.
It has been a busy time since the last newsletter came out…
The annual fair took place less than a block away from where we live. So there were 11 days of concerts, rodeos, and the demolition derby. And much more traffic on our somewhat already busy street.
Aden and Ben set up and ran their second annual lemonade stand, taking advantage of the masses of people going to and from the fair. They even concocted a new product this year, which was called the “Purple Shake” - and was a take-off of “the Grimace” shake that McDonald’s had for about a month last June. It was a success and a delicious combination of vanilla ice cream, milk, raspberries, and blueberries that hit the spot on the hot August days. I honestly wasn’t sure how this idea was going to pan out, but we figured out a system, and on the first day they sold more shakes than I thought they could have! Just goes to show that as adults we do not always know the outcomes of what we may think are crazy ideas.
After the fair was over I had about a week left before the fall semester started for my doctorate program. Hard to believe, but I will be defending my dissertation proposal this November and starting up research in the spring. This is somewhat of a daunting task for me as I almost completely changed my dissertation topic last June. Am I worried? Nah. After talking with a couple of my professors this past week, I have realized this is just part of the doctoral process. I have learned and grown so much during these last two years. It is incredible when I look back at what I thought I wanted to do during my first semester and where I am now. Fantastic really if I allow myself time for reflection.
Then the boys and I took a road trip down to Oregon to visit some college friends that I hadn’t seen in years. It was a great drive, and I always enjoy visiting the state where I spent four years after high school. We stayed in my friend’s tiny house that they have in their backyard and it was a truly wonderful experience. I have always been intrigued by the tiny living spaces and this did not disappoint! We visited a carousel museum, ate some delicious cupcakes, and even saw a production of Pinocchio. Plus there was plenty of time to play and just catch up with old friends. On the way home, we drove up the Oregon coast and put our feet in the Pacific, which was freezing!
Oh, and how could I forget? My parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary! They have reached the golden years :)
These seasonal transitions also trigger something in me to re-organize and move around furniture. This year was no exception and the boys worked tirelessly with me as we made some major furniture changes. Does anyone else go through this? I’m sure that it can’t just be me!
I am looking forward to enjoying the rest of the fall and all that it has to offer, including some apple picking 🍎!
And for all of you, I hope that you enjoy “fall” wherever you may be.
Stay well and smile often…
Debra
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Kouda's

First off, I would like to say thank you for all your support during this past year regarding my entrepreneurship ventures.
I put together 2 pitches this year asking for $20K through a program, Venture Devils, at ASU. While I received amazing feedback on the pitches, I did not receive any funding.
Each time I went back to the drawing board as to where the issue was and how I could change the development plan of Ékodjayé, the T3 Innovation Hub in Benin.
What I realized after the pitch in the spring has been monumental in how I am approaching this venture, as well as my doctoral dissertation.
(That is right…I will be defending my dissertation proposal this fall!)
I went back to my WHY…
In Benin, after you finish your general education (through high school in US terms), you take le Bac, the national test, which determines your eligibility to move on and continue your studies at the University level.
Over the last 5 years, the average passing rate of the 33,000 students who took le Bac in our region was 40%. This means that over the past 5 years, 13,000 students passed, while 20,000 were left without the opportunity to go on and continue their studies at the university level. And this is just in our region of the country.
This is the group that we are wanting to address - to provide hope and opportunities.
The T3 Alliance programs, which I was using on adapting for Èkodjayé, were developed to exist within a formal education setting.
However, in Benin, we are not working within a formal education setting. And yet, I was trying to take the T3 Alliance program and make it fit within an informal education setting. This was the lightbulb that popped on after the last pitch.
This past year has provided many networking opportunities and has allowed me to have conversations with people that might help me address this issue, including being invited to the Clinton Global Initiative University.
One conversation that brought about different answers to the above dilemma was this question - if the students (and in this case, the students are community members - not students in a formal education environment) go through these different curriculums, do you have a job waiting for them at the end?
No. I don’t.
In the T3 Alliance model, the students move on to the University and finish their education where a job is most likely a reality at the end of their studies (especially within the fields that they are studying).
So the new idea that has developed is this -
I am going to tap into The Kouda Company, the tourism business that my husband and I started just as the pandemic began in 2020.
My dissertation is going to focus on the idea of knowledge sharing in tourism. For example, let’s say you are an orthopedic surgeon in the US and you decide to tour Benin. We would put members of the community together so that you could present how orthopedic medicine works in the US (or wherever you happen to be from). In the vein of knowledge sharing, we would then organize a visit for you to see how the traditional bone healers work in the local villages.
This idea of knowledge sharing and experiential learning is very exciting and provides an opportunity for people from different cultures and different parts of the world to share how they handle similar situations. For friendships and networking opportunities to develop.
As you can probably tell, I’m still working on the best way to explain this type of tourism, but I will get there.
The Kouda Company will also form a foundation, at this point, it will probably be called Èkodjayé, which will be the informal education environment hosting apprenticeships programs. When the student has finished the apprenticeship program, they receive a certificate of completion, in the field of their choice, and we as an organization would have made connections with local and national businesses so that would have a job available to them at the end.
The picture below shows the mind map of the beginnings of thi