When I experience a month like this past one, I can't help but feel lucky to be here. In this one month alone, I think I've made more advances in my work here than in all my other 24 months combined.
It all started with a presentation I gave to a girls' health club. The topic, female genital mutilation, is of course a controversial and sensitive one, yet a subject I've spent years studying. Given the fact that FGM is widely practiced here, one can imagine the difficulties I anticipated. Yet, after an hour and a half of discussing the practice with these high school girls, my eyes opened and my mind expanded. I was there solely to provide information on how the practice is done, who does it, where, why, and its health consequences. I was not there to judge or change their minds. I just wanted them to have as much information as possible so they could make informed decisions for their futures and their daughters' futures. By the end of my discussion, several of the girls began finishing my sentences for me, indicating that they had processed the information and could begin to tell me about the health consequences. A true accomplishment!
The following weekend, those same girls came to Kaedi for a women's health day with the 30 girls I mentor every week. We had 4 hours of skits, songs, activities, and presentations on AIDS, nutrition, hygiene, and reproductive health. In a conservative society like this one, it can be difficult to openly talk about these topics. Yet, these girls are so curious and spent a lot of time asking questions. Reaching out to them will hopefully aid them in making safe and healthy decisions about their bodies.
Two days later, my roommate Cat, and I put on a dedication ceremony to unveil the new school supplies, toys, and books our friends and even strangers donated to a local kidnergarden. Imagine seeing 50 children's eyes light up when they saw their new desks, blackboards, books, toys, and crayons. Thanks to my friend Jill and several anonymous donors, these kids will have countless days of fun and active learning ahead of them.
May came to a close three days later with the last big project of my service. Thanks to funding I secured from the US Embassy, I was able to hire local specialists to train 25 youth group members on how to be peer educators for AIDS and STDs. After 3 days of training, these active youth were able to go back to their friends and families and share the knowledge they have learned. The project ended with a community-wide AIDS awareness evening of music, singing, dancing, and theater. It was by far the highest point of my service here.
Janine
