Bonjour mes amis. Je suis ici!
I hope you all had a nice turkey day and are now gearing up for Christmas. I can’t believe it’s almost December! Let’s see, I think my Christmas wish this year will be for a little snow here in Avrankou. Just a dusting. ;-)
I’ll try to do better writing. I have been busy with work plus I am spending more time with my two best friends here. The first has been bed-ridden for three months with a nasty foot infection that won’t seem to heal. The second just lost her husband to a United States visa for three years. So it hasn’t been so easy for us here lately, but everyone is always optimistic and that helps.
Work goes well. The past few months I have been concentrating on my orphanage project. Now it is on the Peace Corps website and I hope we get the money raised quickly. I continue to do computer training with students and some adults (artisans) at my NGO. I have started working with a high school nearby. I am doing an English club with about 20 students and looking to do an exchange in the US with them. One day, about a month ago, the director asked me to help out in his English class, as it would be beneficial for the kids. I ended up loving it and we are now team-teaching for the academic year. It is 4 hours a week, and 1st year English, so really easy. I also like the fact that it gives me some structure in my schedule. About a month ago I launched a girls club as well. Started at 5, now down to 3. But the remaining three I know well and have confidence in. The small number may actually be better for our work as well. First I refresh them on different topics such as HIV/AIDS, nutrition, basic financial management, environment, etc. that they have already learned in the past at Camp G.L.O.W. We will study these together and then go into their three different schools and give our program to different classrooms. We will space it out throughout the academic year. We’ll do AIDS sessions soon, to coincide with the Int’l HIV/AIDS day on Dec 1. I hope we are ready by then. It’s a really cool project and I truly hope it works out. They are committed, yet as the school year moves on, students here, especially girls, become under a lot of pressure work wise. Many chores at home on top of school and everything else here – it’s not easy. I try to help by limiting our meetings, making them fun, paying their transportation to and from, and constantly praising them for their efforts.
So I was at this traditional healer’s festival a few weeks ago here in Avrankou. Very fascinating. It reminded me at times of the Des Moines arts festival. There were gorgeous fetishes of real painted snakes in bottles, handcrafted “healing jewelry” and colorful potions and powders to cure various problems. I myself bought a little bottle of black powder for about 40 cents USD. If I ever get the courage to mix this into a drink or something, I shouldn’t have any more memory problems. ;-) It was really neat though- all these old village healers who don’t speak much French and have all their interesting things for sale on their tables. AND THE COOL PART IS THEY ALL HAVE BUISNESS CARDS! They do really well- in selling these products and in actual medical care chex eux. I don’t know the percentage of Beninese who go to traditional healers instead of actual hospital doctors, but I would guess around 50% and a lot higher in rural areas.
Yesterday I started a little garden project with my friend’s son in their backyard. It’ll be interesting -- we planted 9 different veggies from the states in small quantities. What will be a success in this HOT tropical climate? Tune in next time to find out. I wouldn’t put my money on the turnips though, but you never know. I will use the remaining seeds to do projects with my English club and a women’s group.
Well, that’s it for now. Thanks for reading. Love from Benin. Sara
I’ll try to do better writing. I have been busy with work plus I am spending more time with my two best friends here. The first has been bed-ridden for three months with a nasty foot infection that won’t seem to heal. The second just lost her husband to a United States visa for three years. So it hasn’t been so easy for us here lately, but everyone is always optimistic and that helps.
Work goes well. The past few months I have been concentrating on my orphanage project. Now it is on the Peace Corps website and I hope we get the money raised quickly. I continue to do computer training with students and some adults (artisans) at my NGO. I have started working with a high school nearby. I am doing an English club with about 20 students and looking to do an exchange in the US with them. One day, about a month ago, the director asked me to help out in his English class, as it would be beneficial for the kids. I ended up loving it and we are now team-teaching for the academic year. It is 4 hours a week, and 1st year English, so really easy. I also like the fact that it gives me some structure in my schedule. About a month ago I launched a girls club as well. Started at 5, now down to 3. But the remaining three I know well and have confidence in. The small number may actually be better for our work as well. First I refresh them on different topics such as HIV/AIDS, nutrition, basic financial management, environment, etc. that they have already learned in the past at Camp G.L.O.W. We will study these together and then go into their three different schools and give our program to different classrooms. We will space it out throughout the academic year. We’ll do AIDS sessions soon, to coincide with the Int’l HIV/AIDS day on Dec 1. I hope we are ready by then. It’s a really cool project and I truly hope it works out. They are committed, yet as the school year moves on, students here, especially girls, become under a lot of pressure work wise. Many chores at home on top of school and everything else here – it’s not easy. I try to help by limiting our meetings, making them fun, paying their transportation to and from, and constantly praising them for their efforts.
So I was at this traditional healer’s festival a few weeks ago here in Avrankou. Very fascinating. It reminded me at times of the Des Moines arts festival. There were gorgeous fetishes of real painted snakes in bottles, handcrafted “healing jewelry” and colorful potions and powders to cure various problems. I myself bought a little bottle of black powder for about 40 cents USD. If I ever get the courage to mix this into a drink or something, I shouldn’t have any more memory problems. ;-) It was really neat though- all these old village healers who don’t speak much French and have all their interesting things for sale on their tables. AND THE COOL PART IS THEY ALL HAVE BUISNESS CARDS! They do really well- in selling these products and in actual medical care chex eux. I don’t know the percentage of Beninese who go to traditional healers instead of actual hospital doctors, but I would guess around 50% and a lot higher in rural areas.
Yesterday I started a little garden project with my friend’s son in their backyard. It’ll be interesting -- we planted 9 different veggies from the states in small quantities. What will be a success in this HOT tropical climate? Tune in next time to find out. I wouldn’t put my money on the turnips though, but you never know. I will use the remaining seeds to do projects with my English club and a women’s group.
Well, that’s it for now. Thanks for reading. Love from Benin. Sara
posted by Sara Birkenholz at 7:46 AM
3 Comments:
Hi Sara...I don't know if you realize it being there, but you are doing so much! It is amazing that you are able to accomplish all of that in a little over a year and in a situation that is so foreign to you! I wish you the best and am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers! Miss you!
I found you! DId you realize your Paris photos still hang in my classroom? Trisca is well and Olivia is three! Write us so we can converse. kmick@garner.k12.ia.us
Peace, Mr. mick
Hi Sara, I journeyed to your blog after an article ran about you in the Newton Daily News. I just wanted to say that I think what you are doing is incredible and I wish you the best of luck with your new project. I can't imagine the difference you are making in your area! Keep up the good work and stay healthy!!
Sara (Carlock) Koon
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