Help us!! Camp Gem Sa Bopp

In writing these blogs and posting pictures I don't feel as if I've really done much to show you guys what I do here and the types of conditions we are working in. I think maybe because I'm either venting about certain situations and also I don't want to worry anyone at home about where I am. The thing is, my lifestyle here is pretty amazing because I come from a privileged background, being American, and I am also being funded by the US Government. I am a women that has been educated; been given the opportunity and the choice to go to school and continue on to college.

Most of the young girls here don't have the support, whether it be emotionally or financially, to attend school. Once a girl starts to grow up they are expected to work around the home and eventually be married. If a family can only send one child: son or daughter to school, there really is no choice. Obviously this is NOT every family situation, but many.

I and many other Peace Corps Senegal volunteers participate in the Michelle Sylvester Scholarship Program that helps pay for tuition and school supplies to deserving middle-school girls. It's a wonderful program and I am so happy to participate in it. BUT I have something else going on as well.

Some of my fellow volunteers and I are putting together a Leadership Camp for these scholarship winners in our region. It is a one-week camp, every day aiming at building strengths and teaching new skills. We have for example, Environment Day, Career Day, Arts&Culture Day, Health Day, and Business Day. We will bring in professionals from many fields to tell their stories to these bright young girls. There will also be sports, team building exercises and an American Cookout!

We are looking for funding from our friends, family, returned Peace Corps Volunteers and American Citizens. Your donations will go a long way in providing these young girls a chance to visit one of the largest cities in Senegal as well as learn about the many options their lives have in store.

PLEASE check out our website below for more information and where you can donate!
           
     It's for the girls...

http://campgemsabopp.wordpress.com/

Yang yang, gamou, family reunions

Visiting Yang Yang...

 AnnMarie and I dressed to impress..

Baby sister Mama and cousin Ramata

 Cauldron of onions AnnMarie and I spent hours cutting. Hanging out with the ladies in the kitchen gets you the best gossip about everyone in the family. Since the gamou was essentially a family reunion, there was a lot of people to talk about! I'm still confused who is 'so and so's' sister's brothers' uncle who was married to that other girl's brother who shares a father with that other guy...I just tuned it out a little.

    Family, friends and places on my bedroom wall. I'm slowly creating a willow tree, or slowly going nuts.

Aunt Ndioba and little sister Ndiaye Touba

 

Mural time at the health post in Yang Yang!

More Pictures: Out of Order

Unicorns in Senegal!

The best meal I've had in Senegal, no my host family did not make it. Thank you so much Joan, Philipe and Maxine for hosting me in Dakar!

Our cow and Pulaar...back in America

 Laundry day at home..

 Installing the new kids, stick beds!

 Yang Yang Gammou, almost all forms of transportation represented here

Grandma

Yang Yang Historical Museum

Camels

Linguere in December

Goats hanging out on my poop hole

My street

bathroom..shower, poop hole

Helen and Sparky at the Linguere office

Eight-hour car ride, why not braid our hair?

Installing the New Kids!!

Little chunk with his gris-gris.

I was lucky enough to accompany Justin to a health causerie in the village Dakhar Mboudou.

Fields of manure, pretty standard in village.

Horse Transportation is the way to go through deep sand..

This is the river Ferlo that "runs" through our region. As you can see, no water.

The railroad that used to run through the region..

Me and my little sister "Mama" at the Yang Yang Gamou. We were dressed to the nines.