Things at my gmc (girls mentoring center) have finally started to pick up these past few weeks as the school year finally begins to get under way here. Unlike america, even when the government says school will start on a certain day, it doesnt. Directors dont come and teachers arent given schedules till a few weeks later and after about a week of class actually starting kids start to show up regularly. Kind of frustrating when im so eager to get my center up and running but i am dependant on school being in session to do so. But the past few weeks i have been trying to get the word out about the center from talking to teachers, putting up posters, talking to girls around the school and going into classes.
To apply to be a member girls had to write an essay on "what is the importance of girl's education" and be between a 2eme-5eme grade level (about the equivalent of 7th-10th grade). I got a lot of responses and was very happy to see that i was able to pick out my ideal number of girls for the center. I have 26 girls, split pretty evenly throughout the 4 grade levels. Tomorrow I am going to post the list of new members and then sunday will be the first day of the center! (we have an islamic sunday-thursday work week). Im planning on having two days of getting to know you activities and then, inshallah, will have a little open house on thursday for the girls, their parents, school directors, and other important women/people in the community. The center will be open probably about 4 days after school for a few hours and will also meet one morning a weekend for basketball club (exact times and days are dependent of the girls availability).
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wow teresa. so i just found out today that you have a blog. it was like a novel i couldn't put down. i read it from beginning to end throughout 2 hours of lecture (which i am totally confused on...i blame you) and then finished as soon as i got home from school. it sounds like you are doing wonderful things and are really experincing the life of a local. I am so proud, jealous, excited, etc. for everything that you are doing. i can just picture you wearing your obama shirt and having people cheer you on as you walk down the street. it sounds like you are doing really well and i am so happy for you. keep up the good work and i will be tuned into the blog to hear about everything that you are up to.
I there, I'm your cousin (of some sort). Son of Betty and Dick McLaughlin from Youngstown, and I am the black sheep that left the US in 83 and never returned. Joined the Marine Corps and went to Japan, Chad and Ireland and now live in France.
Hope you are enjoying your Mauritanian Minute
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