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2003 Nouadibou Big Sisters/Little Sisters
Nouadibou's Big Sister/Little Sister Conference took place this year on the weekend of May 16-17. There were ten "big sisters" chosen from the 5th and 6th year high school center members who had the highest attendance rates. Each was paired with one of ten 6th-year primary school girls. These "little sisters" were chosen by their schools. They came from three different schools on the outskirts of the city, schools which had participated in the program last year. The number of girls who participated this year was cut from last year's 29, as we had less volunteers to help out. Therefore, the DREF helped us select the few poorest primary schools from last year's participating schools.Despite the rushed preparations for the program following April's events, plus the unanticipated illness of one volunteer, the program was quite successful. The lycee director, the DREF, and all of the people and organizations we asked to help us were great. The only thing more I could ask for next year is official protocol letters for the authorities.
The program began early Friday morning with the pick-up of the primary school girls on a municipal bus authorized by the mayor. Unfortunately this was a bit chaotic, as I made the mistake of having only school names, but not school numbers, for the bus driver! Also, a couple of the girls had not gotten their permission slips completed. After they tracked down their parents and everything was worked out, we arrived at the center for breakfast and the opening ceremony only slightly late. The center is conveniently attached to the educatinal center "Centre Maaouya," where there is a conference room and a library. This center server as our main meeting point.
We headed to the "Port Autonome" for an organized tour focusing on women's work there. This was unfortunately the only disappoinment during the conference. It being a weekend, we were told the offices weren't open and there was not much for us to see, despite supposedly concrete plans made for us. The girls wandered around the port for an hour, we went back to the center early, and Whitney conducted an activity while I went to pick up lunch. The activity, in which the big sisters taught the little sisters a few basic phrases in English and Spanish, worked out really well. It was a challenge for the girls, but they all successfully presented what they had learned.
After lunch we added some time into the schedule for the girls to rest, and then we had a seminar with two professional women who work at "SNIM." Both women are quite accomplished, having studied in the States, and they spoke to the girls about the importance of finding a goal and sticking to it.
Following the seminar was an AIDS sensibilisation and then time for pause. Time was running short and the girls were tired, so we had a short, impromptu activity. The girls sat in a circle, and both the older and younger girls shared a future aspiration (in connection with the seminar earlier that day). Before calling it a day and going home, they gave us a hand cleaning up.
Day two began much more smoothly, with an easy pick-up of the young girls and clean-up of breakfast. We had a panel of three professional women--a librarian, a teacher, and a woman in accounting--speak to the girls. The discussion was interactive and lasted about an hour and a half. It was very successful; the issues of women's varied resposibilities, sex roles, and our changing times were addressed at length.
After the panel, we left for the cybercafe, where each big sister and her little sister paired up on a computer for two hours. The staff at the cybercafe helped the girls, as well as one of our professional women who accompanied us. The girls explored the Internet and Microsoft Word. I also asked the little girls to be sure to use some time for typing, because it seemed as though most of them have never been in front of a keyboard. A good idea for next year might be to have a more guided activity. Two hours was a long time--it actually had not been planned that way. Originally, each girl was supposed to have her own computer for an hour. However, the girls seemed occupied for the fulltime, and it was great to have a hands-on activity for them.
Lunch was fruit and sandwiches as the day before, again followed by some rest. In the afternoon we prepared to close the conference with sketches. We divided the girls up into four or five groups and presented them with three scenarios. In each scenario, a young woman was faced with a difficult situation and could make a negative or a positive decision. We asked each group to choose a scenario and invent a decision, good or bad, and the consequences of the decision. The girls could either write a conclusion or act it out, and they were also given materials to draw accompanying pictures if they wanted. We had one particularly animated presentation, the girls put their drawings up on our banner, and overall, the activity worked out wonderfully.
After presentation of certificates and "thank-you" for the mentors, the girls were returned to their primary schools. Though many of the younger girls were timid and quiet, it seems as though they profited from the weekend. For many of them, it would be a good guess to say that they rarely come into the city, never mind use a computer or reflect on the importance of their education. My counterpart also told me that many of the girls spent quite a bit of time in the bathroom. Believe it or not, the toilets apparetly intrigued them!
The older sisters profited in that the seminars were likewise directed at them. The also had a share of responsibility in the center by being asked to make the commitment for the weekend. Finally, hopefully the weekend inspired them to think about making future commitments to women's education.
Written by Lori M.--GMC Manager
