The Girls Club

Meeting Date: November 11, 2001 Topic: Introductory meeting for the new year Teacher's name: Fatou Cisse- the Girls Club Director Astou Sylla Peace Corps Volunteers Present: Robin Whitaker Girls in attendance and home village: Awa Sylla Thila, Passy Region Ndeye Jie Sylla Thila, Passy Region Arame Sylla Thila, Passy Region Ami Sylla Thila, Passy Region Sokhna Sylla Thila, Passy Region Amy Sylla Thila, Passy Region Ansie Gaye Ngayene Momar Yacine Gaye Ngayene Momar Ramatoulaye Gaye Ngayene Momar Fana Gaye Ngayene Momar Fatim Gaye Ngayene Momar Awa Bousso Thioguene Arame Bousso Thioguene Essei Diallo Thioguene Mame Drama Bousso Thioguene A successful beginning! The girls arrived a little later than we had hoped, but once everyone was there things went smoothly. I introduced myself in my broken Wolof and then let Fatou Cisse take it from there. She introduced herself and gave a wonderful description of the purpose of the Club and our goals and objectives. We then played a game where we passed a ball around and learned each other's names- it was fun and a good ice-breaker. We then did a spontaneous role-play that ended up being amusing and helpful. Since the girls had arrived rather late, it was then time for lunch. We wrapped up the meeting after lunch. Overall, the girls seem interested and excited about the Club. We have scheduled the next meeting for December the 9th. Since it will be Ramadan, we will probably do our best just to do something low key (during Ramadan, Muslims do not eat during the day). I was pleased with our first meeting and Fatou's enthusiasm. She seems to be animated and knowledgeable and I have confidence in her ability to make the Girls Club a success! Meeting Date: December 9, 2001 Topic: Women's Rights Teacher's name: Fatou Cisse- Girls Club Director Coumba Deme- A Woman's Rights and Youth Rights Worker Peace Corps Volunteers Present: Robin Whitaker Girls in attendance and home village: Awa Sylla Thila, Passy Region Ndeye Jie Sylla Thila, Passy Region Arame Sylla Thila, Passy Region Ami Sylla Thila, Passy Region Sokhna Sylla Thila, Passy Region Amy Sylla Thila, Passy Region Ansie Gaye Ngayene Momar Yacine Gaye Ngayene Momar Ramatoulaye Gaye Ngayene Momar Fana Gaye Ngayene Momar Fatim Gaye Ngayene Momar Awa Bousso Thioguene Arame Bousso Thioguene Essei Diallo Thioguene Mame Drama Bousso Thioguene Letter from the Peace Corp Volunteer working with SEF December 9th, 2001 Hi Judy, You will find the report from the second Girls Club Meeting enclosed. What a GREAT meeting. The girls were attentive and so interested!! Our next meeting is scheduled for January 20th. We are hoping to have a malaria discussion with a hygiene session and anti-bacterial soap making demonstration. I actually did this with another group a few months ago, so I think it should be fun. Fatou is still doing a great job as the director. She's organized and "on top of it." Overall I am so pleased with how this Club is working out!! I'm really enjoying doing the Girls Club and I believe the positive impacts that it's having on the participants is of great value. Thank you all again and I will be in touch. Take Care, Robin Whitaker

The meeting went really well. Everyone was present. We started at 10:30am and finished at 1:00pm. We had a short meeting because it's Ramadan. We invited a guest - Coumba Deme, who works with Les Centres d'information Jouridiques (CIJ) and Reseau Africain Pour Le Developpement Intregre (RADI). She spoke about:

1. Marriage - when is too young
2. Violation and why no one talks about it
3. Sexual harassment in the workplace and at home
4. VRAIMENT (REALLY) the rights of women


The girls were VERY interested. They asked a lot of questions and they were very attentive. They took a great interest in Coumba. Coumba Deme said she was available for them to come and talk to her if they needed her help. Fatou thanked Coumba for being there and told the girls to come earlier next time. We are planning on January 20th, 2002 to do a meeting with Astou Sylla on malaria, hygiene, and anti-bacterial soap making.

Meeting Date: January 20, 2002

Topics: Domestic Violence, Malaria/Hygiene/Sanitation and Antibacterial Soap Making

Meeting Date: February 2, 2003

Topics: Gestion & Soap Extension

Evaluation: The meeting began a little late and we were short of two girls. Tabaski is coming soon so many people are away already visiting family. We began with an introduction on the day's topics - management/bookkeeping and soap extension. Some girls had brought their notebooks and pens, but others forgot. We stopped the meeting and bought some for those who forgot so everyone was prepared to participate fully and record the lesson.

Fatou began with explaining the importance and numerous possibilities with organizing. She explained the concept of groupements and how a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, etc. all operate in such groups. She explained the importance of saving money in a caisse for potential income-generation (i.e.: savings clubs). It seemed new to the girls and they were very interested. We proceeded onto a lesson on gestion and some basic business skills and bookkeeping. Fatu expressed the importance in documenting expenses and the concept of receipts for following expenses. The lesson took slightly longer than we anticipated because Fatu carried it out in both French, Wolof and Arabic since not all girls can write French or Wolof. Thankfully she knows all the languages! All the girls got it and wrote down everything to have for their future information. We then broke for lunch and then finished with the soap extension demonstration. We had some girls help out with the process. All the girls were excited to learn the process and take home some samples of soap.

Overall the meeting was very full and comprehensive. We hope to get them there a little earlier next time since the weather is getting warmer and the girls get tired quicker.