I'm feeling grateful and inspired after finishing up my biggest project so far. THANK YOU SO MUCH to friends and family who donated to the conference!
We had 22 vibrant middle-school girls and their accompanying fathers for an intensive camp-style workshop on gender equality.
The participants came from all over the region - by public transport, horse cart, or whatever means were available. For many of the more remote girls, this was their first time in a city. They stayed for 3 nights and were exposed to new ideas and thought-provoking speakers on women's rights in Senegal.
Some of the best sessions were group discussions on reproductive health, family nutrition, and educational empowerment. The fathers and their daughters had some individual sessions and some working together. It was really moving to watch the daughters create action plans with their fathers about the future. These types of conversations are rare in the typical Senegalese family.
Friendship bracelets and building a quilt for the future were favorites with the girls.
Writing action-plans helped serve the purpose of exposing the participants to all of the possibilities for a young woman in Senegal.
My girls from my village - Aminata Ndao, Awa Sall, and Deynaba Diallo. It was awesome to get much closer to them, learn more about their goals, and play sleepover games.
Kadidiatou Sow and Mariama Ba, lookin' serious. The go-to pose for photos.
We played relay races and soccer games which were both hilarious and educational!
It was cool for the girls to make new friends from different villages and different ethnic groups.
The incredible motivational speaker Awa Traore discusses taking control of your body, life, and future.
Team-building activities like pass the hula-hoop and the human knot.
The participants were encouraged to bring the new ideas fro the conference back to their villages and act as positive agents of change in the community.
Soccer is a great medium to start the discussion on gender equality. We also featured a career panel of successful working women from the region to inspire the group.
Beautiful Pulaar beads.
New friends and gorgeous smiles.
Presenting the awards and certificates
Thanks to Peace Corps Senegal, The Soul Project, and generous friends at home for the support!
