Ok, so I know I've been all about asking ya'll for money lately, but I thought I would try one more time with my last big project here. Here, let me paint you the picture:
Girls here have it hard. Much harder than the boys. Cooking, drawing water, washing, math, science... you name it and they do it. Most don't ever get the option to go to school- in fact many times they're married off by the time they become teenagers. Most of us at that age were bratty and awkward looking; whereas, these girls are running households and breastfeeding. It's a sad reality here.
As I've said before there is a direct link to girls' education/female empowerment and the level of development of a country. Trust me, I've seen charts...in college (a place 99.9999% of my girls will never see). Who is that .0001% you ask? Let me tell you about one of my best friends here. Her name is Rougy. She's a 15ish year old girl in middle school who lives in the village next to mine. I came across her last year, when I helped to put on a girls' camp for extraordinarily hard-working teenage girls. On one side, she's like most other teenage girls I hang out with-we listen to my Ipod together, look at whatever magazines/photos I get sent to me, and learn Senegal's latest dance moves. At the same time she has a work ethic of Wall Street day-trader. She is the top of her class. She's super active in the community, she's a doer, she's a mover. If this was sorority life, she would be my "rush crush." Last year, her father told her she was to be married. He had accepted her bride price, and she was not to finish her schooling. Devastated, but being the fighter that she is, she never gave up hope. She opened up about the situation at our girls' camp. It couldn't have been better timing, as an amazing Senegalese woman who works for Peace Corps named Awa had come down to help facilitate the camp. She has a way with words, and a way with people, so when she talks, people listen. She had an intervention with Rougy's dad. They discussed it all-early marriage, health detriments to teenage pregnancy, the possibilities for Rougy's future as a wife versus her opportunities should she finish school. It was an incredible exchange. By the end of it, Rougy's dad was white-faced. He was embarrassed. He had never valued or understood his daughter's intellect or her potential until that moment. For the first time he could see the benefits of keeping his daughter in school. In a teary exchange, he vowed to return the bride price and pledged to continue her education.
Unfortunately, money is also a defining factor in girls' education. Rougy's family barely scrapes by, much less has enough to pay her tuition, buy notepads/paper/supplies etc. This past year, thankfully, Rougy was the well-deserved recipient of Peace Corps Senegal's Michelle Sylvester Scholarship. Her achievements, academic and community-wide, were recognized and publicly honored. I couldn't have been more proud of her. She's just a teenage girl, but she has the potential to break down Senegalese barriers for women in general.
In order to continue helping girls like Rougy stay in school, a few other volunteers and I are planning something different - the first ever Peace Corps-related marathon. It's happening March 3, 2012. We are reaching out to everyone for support.We would love nothing more than to see you pounding the pavement alongside our Volunteers, Peace Corps staff, Senegalese, and Oprah (no, really; we have a plan).
The race will be run in the spirit of continuing girls' education, with emphasis on informing and changing local attitudes and, hopefully, inspiring girls to think of themselves as capable of continuing their studies, having a career, and balancing that with family.
To meet the goals we’ve set for ourselves, to really achieve something special with this marathon, we need donations...lots of them: family, friends, American or Senegalese companies, school clubs, famous celebrities, the guy who goes through your trash every morning – you get the picture. Anyone can lend a hand. That's why I need you. Help me spread the word back home! I love all of ya'll dearly, but to any and all accomplices for this project, I promise BEAUTIFUL souvenirs. Any FedEx workers out there? Anyone with a daughter in school? Memphis Runners' Track Club Members? Doesn't matter who it is, pass the message on! We need publicity! (...but we also need money)
Fundraised money will be used in a couple big areas. One is our Michelle Sylvester Scholarships, in which we reward high-achieving but economically disadvantaged girls with funds to pay for school and supplies, something their families cannot always afford. Another are Peace Corps Senegal’s country-wide girls’ leadership camps, in which girls are able to talk to and learn from successful Senegalese women, think outside the “village box,” and develop their own personal identities, life skills, and self-confidence. Funds will also be used for other GAD (Gender and Development) activities.
This marathon is going to be a game-changer. Girls’ education and empowerment, of all things, deserves this. Join me in helping to make this possible!
This marathon is going to be a game-changer. Girls’ education and empowerment, of all things, deserves this. Join me in helping to make this possible!
You can find the cause on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/
**FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE A DONATION** (it makes wonderful Christmas/Hannakuah/Kwanza/
As of right now, we will be doing everything through the country fund.
1. Just click here:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/
2. From there they click on Donate, which prompts you to fill in credit card information. On that page there is a comment section where we would like all donors to comment, "Marathon for Education," so that we will know what funds actually belong to us...whoopee! PS: TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
https://www.peacecorps.gov/
2. From there they click on Donate, which prompts you to fill in credit card information. On that page there is a comment section where we would like all donors to comment, "Marathon for Education," so that we will know what funds actually belong to us...whoopee! PS: TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
For comments, questions, concerns, etc. – email me (anna.alsobrook@gmail.com) or senegalrunforeducation1@gmail.
The best present I could ever ask for is for ya'll to help me spread the word on this. I miss you all dearly, and hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday season!
I love and miss you all!
Anna
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