This summer I have been busy helping out with several camps here in Thies. One camp took place at a local high school and was sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and Access English program. There were two other Peace Corps volunteers helping Joyce and Teni-Ola, as well as several Senegalese teachers. The camp lasted a week long and around 50 boys and girls participated. All activities were conducted in English, to help build students' English capacities. Here are some photos from the week.
Tug of war!
Wheel barrow race.
Team dance.
Limbo.
Potato sack race.
In classroom activities, this was a game where students had to say a word associated with a category Joyce wrote on the board. The first student to correctly say a word won.
Having spent a year in Brazil with Rotary International I made several friendships that have lasted to this day. Wanting to help with Senegal's food security, the Rotaract club of São Manuel, Brazil donated over 100 packages of seeds and sent them to me in Senegal. Favorites of my agriculture department include parsley, hot pepper, and lettuce. I have been very grateful for the exchange while introducing Brazil to Senegalese culture, language, and current affairs. Here is the thank you letter I wrote the club in Portuguese, first, followed by the English version. Also, if you aren't familiar with Rotary International, check it out. It is a fantastic organization that performs some major community service. And it originated in my home state, Illinois!
Rotaract São Manuel
São Manuel, Brasil
9/8/2012
Quero agradecer a São Manuel Rotaract Clube para a doação de sementes. Eu aprecio a sua vontade de ajudar com meu trabalho com os Estados Unidos Corpo de Paz na África Sub-saariana. Eu ja plantei os sementes na minha jardim de demonstração que é uma divisão do Departamento de Agricultura, em Thies, no Senegal. Lá Senegal e vir ver o meu jardim para obter uma melhor compreensão das práticas de jardinagem para produzir alimentos de qualidad. Além disso, eu já distribuiu algumas das sementes a outros voluntários que usaram-los da mesma maneira, mas em suas respectivas comunidades. A salsa tem sido um favorito do Senegal, porque já usá-lo ao cozinhar peixes. Por mim, eu gosto do coentro, especialmente fazendo molho de manga. A maioria senegaleses nunca ter visto ou ouvido falar de coentro antes de agora, como eu lentamente introduzir-lhes.
Senegal está faltando qualidade e variedade na comida para comer. Diferentemente do Brasil, Senegal é em grande parte deserto, onde chove apenas três ou quatro meses do ano. Estação chuvosa do ano passado foi devastadoramente curta, então a produção de alimentos foi ainda mais magro. Eu me lembro quantos tipos de frutos deliciosos: o Brasil produz mamão, a goiaba, e carambola. A maioria das frutas no Senegal tem que ser importado e é muito caro para a população local a consumir diariamente. Existe também um equívoco que ser saudável, fruta não precisa de ser comido frequentemente, apenas cerca de uma vez por semana. Além de produzir mais vegetais, eu estou tentando aumentar o consumo de frutas através da distribuição de melhores variedades de árvores frutíferas na minha comunidade do entorno.
Em geral, a dieta senegalês é considerado muito pobres. Às vezes um dia inteiro de refeições será composto de pão branco com café para café da manhã, arroz com um pouco de peixe seco para o almoço, e arroz com pasta de tomate para o jantar. Dependendo da riqueza da família e quantidade de pessoas, o tamanho da parcela é considerada inadequada. No Senegal, as refeições são comidos em torno de uma bacia única, onde toda a família se reúne em torno sobre ele. Diferentemente do Brasil, onde eu me lembro refeições horas e horas com duração, no Senegal, você tem que comer rápido desde o seu provável não há comida suficiente para todos.
Mais uma vez, obrigado pela generosidade do seu clube e compaixão. Com sua ajuda, estamos a aliviar os problemas de segurança alimentar Senegal enfrenta atualmente. Eu incluí algumas fotos do meu jardim para ajudá-lo a entender melhor o meu projeto, e onde as sementes estão sendo plantadas. Estar no Senegal faz-me perder a fauna exuberantes e belas praias brasileiras. Espero voltar ao Brasil em breve.
Obrigada,
Kathleen Barclay, United States Peace Corps- Senegal
English Version-
I want to thank the Sao Manuel Rotaract Club for your donation of seeds. I really appreciate your willingness to assist with my work as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer in Sub-Saharan Africa. I have planted many of the seeds already in my demonstration garden which is a division of the Department of Agriculture in Thies, Senegal. There, Senegalese come and view my garden to get a better understanding of improved gardening practices to produce more and better quality food. In addition, I have distributed some of the seeds to other volunteers who have used them in the same manner, but in their respective communities. The parsley has been a favorite of the Senegalese, since they already use it while cooking fish. As for myself, I enjoy the cilantro, especially making mango salsa with readily available, fresh mangos. Most Senegalese have never seen or heard of cilantro before now, as I slowly introduce it to them.
Senegal is missing quality and variety in the food to eat. Unlike Brazil, Senegal is largely desert where it rains only three to four months out of the year. Last year’s rainy season was devastatingly short, so food production was even slimmer. I remember how many types of delicious fruits Brazil produces: papayas, guavas, carambala, etc. Most fruit in Senegal has to be imported and is too expensive for locals to consume on a daily basis. There is also a misconception that to be healthy, fruit does not need to be eaten often. In addition to producing more vegetables, I am trying to increase fruit consumption by distributing better varieties of fruit trees in my surrounding community.
Overall, the Senegalese diet is considered by many very poor. Sometimes a day’s worth of meals will consist of white bread with coffee for breakfast, rice with a little dried fish for lunch, and rice with tomato paste for dinner. Depending on the wealth of the family and amount of people, portion size is considered minimal, as well. In Senegal, meals are eaten around a single bowl, where the entire family gathers. Unlike Brazil, where I remember meals lasting hours upon hours, in Senegal you eat rapidly.
Again, thank you for your club’s generosity and compassion. With your help, we are alleviating the food security issues Senegal currently faces. I have included some photos of my garden to help you better understand my project, and where your seeds are being sown. Being in Senegal makes me miss the lush Brazilian fauna and beautiful beaches. I hope to return to Brazil soon.
Thank you,
Kathleen Barclay
United States Peace Corps
Increasing recognition of flowers- “greening” and “beautifying” the city.
The SEEDS English class was an initiative spearheaded by
Peace Corps volunteer Kathleen Barclay, to teach ESOL classes to students of the
SEEDS Basketball Academy in Thies, Senegal improving their English skills and preparing
them for upcoming opportunities to study and play basketball in the United
States. Class was held every Sunday from
11:00 AM- 12:30 PM in a provided classroom space of CNEPS commencing April 22, 2012
and concluding June 24, 2012. Comprehensively,
more than 50 hours of the volunteer’s time was donated including total
classroom teaching time of 15 hours and preparatory time of 35 hours. Approximately
15-20 SEEDS students were present each class, which varied according to students
who were required to attend basketball games. Students consisted of younger boys ages 15 to
19 whom had been selected as hopefuls to receive an invitation by scholarship to
study and play at preparatory schools in the United States. Students’ long term goals were aimed at continuing
to play basketball for top universities and eventually the National Basketball
Association (NBA). Intending to act as
preparatory and all-inclusive for the TOEFL exam, classes emphasized grammar,
proper speech and conversational skills, as well as sentence structure and writing
dexterity. I conducted research and
prepared class lessons according to students’ needs and provided necessary class supplies.
Classes covered topics students expressed an interest in
including American pop culture and history, the NBA and relevant basketball
terminology, Senegalese current affairs, and others. Students chose American names and designed name
cards they utilized every class. Each
student was also assigned a folder where their homework and other class
assignments were kept. I collected
students’ folders after each class for safe keeping. Students were encouraged to work collectively
in groups, develop effective communication and public speaking skills, as well
as maintain a professional work atmosphere.
Each class students were given assignments, in the form of homework, to
write on topics ranging from career ambitions to personal heroes. Group exercises, working in pairs, and
individual tasks were all implemented throughout classes.
Successes
I visibly saw growth throughout the entirety of these classes,
especially among students’ public speaking and cognitive abilities. Students spoke fluently and eloquently utilizing
vocabulary and grammar gained from attending class. Students were more likely to communicate with
each other outside the classroom in English and were not fearful of speaking in
English in front of their colleagues in class. Understanding of American culture grew with
the assistance of three guest speakers Colin Vandergraaf (United States Embassy
Fellows), Rose Donatien (IFESH), and Lisa Floran (Peace Corps) who spoke about
their experiences in the United States and their home states. Also, students regularly
were given the opportunity to borrow magazines and films to read, watch during
the upcoming week. Finally, comprehension
and cognitive abilities were enlightened through group exercises and lectures
emphasizing critical thinking and “brain storming.” During a lightening round review session held
the final class, students proved their learning comprehension by defining vocabulary
and concepts they had learned throughout the entire three months of class.
Future Improvements
It was extremely hard to keep attendance since students
would sometimes be required to leave half-way through class to attend a
game. Sundays were suggested to be the
least hectic day for students, but it would be beneficial for them to have a
set time each week that is solely used for English class time that they can
consistently commit to attend. It is recommended
that students agree on a set day and time each week, with the support of their
coaches, and abide by that arrangement.
Students, however, did seem to keep interested in the class and
attendance was not an issue otherwise.
The major issue with attendance was class normally had to start late
because students were consistently tardy. Also, a lack of supplies made it more difficult to teach and I often purchased basic materials
for students including folders, pens, and chalk. The classroom was furnished with a
chalkboard, white board, desks and chairs.
Students were required to bring their own notebooks and pens. Some students (approximately 4) had their own English/French dictionaries. As their teacher, it was difficult to keep
students engaged with a lack of teaching materials and resources. A projector and
copier would both be incredibly useful for future
classes. However, SAT/ACT study guide
books and French/English dictionaries were supplied for each student thanks to donations
I received from the United States Embassy in Dakar. These materials were given to the director of
the academy to retain until next fall, when classes recommence.
Conclusion
The SEEDS English program was considered quite successful
and the director of the academy has requested the program’s continuance this
upcoming school year, 2012/2013. I plan
to implement the same strategies mentioned above to ensure student participation
and substantial academic success, as well as research possible improvement to
the program. Goals include actively monitoring
and evaluating students’ academic progress and needs, maintaining detailed
records of class lessons, and creating an open-office hour time where students
can receive one-on-one tutoring for student specific questions.
--------------------------------------------
Read more about the SEEDS Basketball Academy.
Also make sure to check out the official trailer of "Elevate."
Group shot at the beginning of classes, April 2012.
Final class group shot, June 2012.
Colin Vandergraaf teaching the class about basketball terminology.
Students with donated books by the United States Embassy.
So, I really wish I would have had a list of things to bring with me when I found out I was going to come to Senegal with Peace Corps. Here is my list of things that I would have brought, or at least ideas, to get you started. This list is mainly geared towards the female population and agriculture volunteers, but it can be useful for everyone. Here it is-
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Suggested Packing
List (for Women)
T-shirts (think pocket T’s)
Tank tops (spaghetti straps, or shoulder covering tank tops) *see note below
Long sleeve shirts
Hoodie or Sweatshirt Jacket
Coat (think fleece or similar- it can get down to 40’s)
Shorts *see note below
Pants (jeans, sweatpants)
Skirts
Professional outfit (dress or nice pants and collared
shirt)
Underwear (the more the better)
Bras
Swimming Suit
Leggings (you can’t show your knees here so these are
used a lot by volunteers wearing shorter skirts, shorts, etc.) *see note below
Sleeping Bag (you can find these lightweight and compact- I
would really recommend bringing one)
Flip flops/ Sandals
Tennis shoes
Hiking/work boots
Dressy shoes
Hat
Belt
DryWick Towel- bodysize or L (towels can be found here, but
they take time to dry especially during rainy season)
Contact Solution- enough for 2 years
Toiletries- Shampoo, Conditioner, Body Wash, Razors are all
expensive but available at “toubab” shops. Deodorant- is also hard to find and expensive.
Snacks
External Hard Drive-1 terabyte, bring it.
Computer- bring one and a good case because you will be traveling with it a
lot.
iPad, iPod, etc.
Nook/Kindles- lightweight and can hold loads of books in a compact space,batteries last a long time.
Plug adapter and electricity converter- you can buy them in country if
they break but I would encourage you to bring them so you have one upon arrival.
Memory sticks
Camera
Headlamp
Flashlight
Multi-tool- think Leatherman or Swiss Army Knife. I use mine almost every day.
Water Bottle
Backpack
Makeup- you might actually want this at one point.
***Anything that will show your knees, is not appropriate outside of Dakar. Mid to upper shin is acceptable. If you want to bring shorts or skirts that
will show your knees be prepared to wear leggings beneath to cover yourself up.
***During PST (Pre-Service Training)
the training center will not want you to show your shoulders so t-shirts are good.
Things you will
not need:
Mosquito net
Water purifier
Medicine- we are supplied with in our own Medical Kits and pharmacies are all over.
Fun things:
Games- cards, Bananagrams, etc.
Hammock
Cooking supplies
Tupperware
Pillow
Blanket
Earplugs or Noise Cancelling headphones
Yoga Mat
Exercise gear
Crayons, Markers, Colored Pencils, stuff for the kids
Rechargeable batteries and charger
Bike supplies- you will be given a Trek bicycle that you
will either depend on or never use subject to your site and its paved road
situation. It will have a messenger rack on the
back. Peace Corps provides us with a bike pump,
tools for repair, tire patches, helmet, oil, and water bottle.
So this past Christmas was sort of a bust, so I won't spend too much time discussing it. I spent the morning attending church in an outfit I had made from local Senegalese fabric laden with Jesus. It was a mock, and honestly tacky, attempt at an old tradition I had growing up where I would pick out a new "Christmas dress" for that year's midnight church service. Senegalese sometimes literally "wear" their religion by displaying fabric laden with Jesus himself, a prophet, etc. I came back home and then spent the entire rest of the day at a funeral. The photo above is of 3 women who attended this funeral. Really, it was incredible that I ended up at a funeral on Christmas.
New Years was a little better. I took a 6 hour car ride up north to St. Louis. It was great to spend time with my friend Kate and see her village. Her family took me in like one of their own and I got to experience village life including sleeping in a thatch roof hut, pulling water, and escaping the fast paced life of those with electricity for a whole 24 hours. It was quite honestly the highlight of my New Years festivities. Above is a photo of kids within her family's compound, and below is a photo (just to prove it!) that I can and did pull my own water- this was to water some cabbages.
My friend and her host mother and brother showing off some of their produce within their field. Below is Kate's hut which was quite impressively "homey" and well maintained. I actually really enjoyed myself- which I myself am shocked at. I think it is hard for us to imagine living without running water and electricity, but in fact- I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Granted I do enjoy my cold beverages and abilities to utilize a running water shower and sink- but I could do without the hustle and bustle that electricity dumps on me in Mbour. It is quite noisy with television, loud music, etc. I hear it all. Sheep, babies, chickens... the list goes on really. But not to get sidetracked- I had a great time with Kate and hope I can go back and visit her amazing village and family.
Here is St. Louis. First photo without garbage, second photo with. Like any city in Senegal, it has its sanitation problems which are a real eyesore when it comes to tourism. The city itself was a beautiful mix of the old and new worlds with French colonialism thrown in quite evidently everywhere. It was nice to get to see another Peace Corps volunteer's site and demo garden. But who am I kidding, all Peace Corps volunteers go to big cities for are the French pastries, right?! Well, that is one of the perks, which comes at a mighty fine price as well, around 700 Fcfa per pastry. That is approximately $1.50. In addition, we all ended up getting stranded in St. Louis due to a transportation strike that lasted two days. During those two days we did what most Americans would do- drank cappuccinos and spent a lot of time of the internet. I might also mention that we ate a lot of crax. Crax are a cheesy puff like food that comes in a small red bag with a picture of a famous Senegalese wrestler on the front. One volunteer thought we needed an economy sized bag, so they were purchased for our eating delight. The last pictures demonstrate everything mentioned above. Enjoy!
