So I know it's been awhile since my last post.......but I wanted to do a short recap of all that's been going on since my Mali trip:
It's the New Year! Alhumdililah! 2012 is the year I return to Amerik--I seriously can't believe it! It's crazy to think that by the time I return, I wouldn't have seen anyone in my family in 2 years!!! I miss them sooo much! Anyone want to come and visit me (After elections of course)???
My Peace Corps service has just flown by! But with the new year comes new projects, and I really am trying to finish as much as possible before I take off in August. So after a few weeks up north in the Dakar/Thies region in the beginning of January (mostly for work, summits, and drunken shenanigans), I started my first Junior Achievement at one of the local elementary schools in Kounkane. Junior Achievement is a really great program that introduces kids to basic business and economic concepts. The level I did is very basics and introduces the kids with whom I work how communities function and how people work together.
I started at Ecole 3, and we did two and a half weeks, meeting twice a week until the five sessions were over. I taught 20 kids, about 5th or 6th grade level equivalent, about how a community functions. We also talked about types of production, the role of the governement, how to make decisions/weighing the options, and the cycle of money. It was actually really really fun! My kids were great, attentive, and very involved! At the end of the fifth session I brought soda and cookies for the kids to celebrate what they've learned and achieved :) I just started my second Junior Achievement at Ecole 2 last week, and that should last me until the end of February. I really want to do one at all of the elementary schools in Kounkane (there are 4) and hopefully one in the neighboring village in Thianfara Koba, but we shall see how it works out. It's been a bit difficult at some of the schools getting teachers or principles on board to help and organize this......inchallah it works out :)
What else have I been up to??? Well, I was "training" for a 10k race that is taking place in Tambacounda on March 4th to raise money for the Michelle Sylvester Scholarship program that keeps girls educated :) But somehow I messed up my right foot, I think it's a tendon problem because it didn't swell, but I can't really put a lot of pressure on it so I think I'm gonna have to forfeit running in the race. No worries though, you can still donate, and you should, $5, $10, even $15 goes a really long way here for supporting girls with staying in school! Plus there are still A LOT of volunteers who will be running for the girls, and not just a 10k like i was planning. There is a 5k, 10k, and a half marathon, all taking place in the beginning of hot/dry season in Senegal in probably one of the hottest regions in the country. Crazy right? So if you have a spare $5 or $10, please donate so we can keep this program continuing for the brilliant and beautiful girls of Senegal :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia8xgXyXBo4 Watch the Promo Video :)
https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=685-CFD Click Donate and write "Marathon for Education" in comment section
So that''s about all I've been up to: work, planning, and trying to finish up my Peace Corps service on a strong note, inchallah :) So I'll try to update my blog more this year, but no guarantees, I'm sort of running out of stuff that I find interesting to blog about :)
A la prochaine......
