Girls...We RUN this World!!!

I think Beyonce said it best in the lyrics to her hit song “Girls Who Run the World”…..........

‘How we’re smart enough to make these millions

                     Strong enough to bare the children

               Then get back to business’

As a young girl who grew up in America, I was taught these words to be true; but here in Senegal it is a very different picture.

While Senegal is nowhere near the Dark Ages in terms of gender roles, they are still nowhere close to what we are used to in America. Young girls here in Senegal don’t have access to the same opportunities we are used to growing up in America. I remember when I was young… going to summer camps, playing soccer with friends, going to the movies and having lots of fun sleepovers. I also got the opportunity to continue my schooling and go on to a fancy University and graduate with a degree. Girls here in Senegal rarely ever get to participate in such activities, let alone finish middle school. Unfortunately, the majority of young girls here are encouraged to drop out of school at a young age to take on more household responsibilities and are pressured into early marriages. They grow up so fast because of all the responsibilities placed on them at such a young age (like helping take care of the young children not in school or doing the cooking, cleaning and laundry) that they never really get the chance to be kids and have fun.   I know when I was that young, I  definitely wasn’t in charge of cooking dinner, or doing the laundry… although I’m sure my parents probably  would have liked me to help out a little more than I did around the houseJ.

Gender roles in Senegal are very much influenced by tradition and the Islamic religion. It is a Patriarchal society in which the position of women is one of dependence. The men are the ones who have the opportunity to continue schooling and get a job. They are the ones who alone can have a say in how many wives they would like and are also generally the sole owners of houses and other large items. It’s not a couple that owns a home; it’s the husband. Women have less liberties here than we are used to in America.

These gender roles give girls little say about their own aspirations and hopes, and limits them to becoming housewives and mothers. Instead of encouraging  young  girls to excel in their academics and pursue other opportunities, the social norms here in Senegal  pressure these young girls to take on more responsibilities at home and into early marriages. For these young girls to even have the self confidence and belief in themselves to chase their goals and aspirations, they have to be educated. These girls need to know that they do have a say in their life choices and they can accomplish whatever it is they want to do.

That is why 18 Peace Corps Volunteers in the Northern Central region of Senegal (including myself) will be holding a week-long leadership development camp for girls between the ages of 13-16; in order to help promote girls education and empower the young girls of Senegal. The purpose of the camp is to help inspire and help these girls to become strong independent leaders in their community and to pursue their hopes and dreams. Believe in themselves.  We aim to help open the eyes of these young girls to the endless possibilities there are for them. We want to help  educate and inspire them to continue their schooling and reach for the stars! This camp also allows girls the chance to meet many other girls who are the same age, yet are from so many other different backgrounds and communities, allowing them the opportunity to hopefully make friends for a lifetime.

 It is my hope to be able to take 3 young girls from my village to this inspirational week-long camp, so they too can have a chance to enjoy a fun educational summer camp. I want them to walk away from this experience with lots of memories that they can use as inner resources to believe in themselves and chase all their aspirations and hopes …..but we cannot do this alone. Help us to educate these young girls to empower them to live up to all of their potentials and to give them a chance to enjoy a week-long summer camp like the ones we all remember and loved growing up. Any donation you can make would be greatly appreciated. Every little bit counts.Please check out this Peace Corps website for more information on our week long girl’s leadership camp and how you can help donate to our cause.

http://campgemsabopp.wordpress.com/donate

Please pass this on to any one that you know who would be interested in supporting our project. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and checking out the website!

GEM SA BOPP (Believe In Yourself)