This Ain't No Babysitter's Club

Considering that my most recent posts have all been about food, I thought I would try something new and write about what I am actually doing (other than eating) here in Cameroon. I have neglected to write about work not because there isn’t much to write about but, rather, because there is too much to sum up. I guess that’s a good thing.

As mentioned in a previous post, I am using the school vacation time to pursue some of the other project ideas that I didn’t have time for during the school year. One of these projects was to start a girl’s club. My ultimate goal of the club is simple: to provide girls the opportunity and space to be simply girls. As you might imagine, girls have quite a lot of work they are responsible for between caring for younger siblings, cooking, cleaning and washing clothes. During the summer months, many of them also help with their families’ farms and, at least in my neighborhood, frequent Qu’ranic school. So now, at least once a week, they gather in my living room to learn about their inner and outer girl selves and the importance of valuing who they are.

Although I hope to incorporate activities pertaining to girl’s and women’s health in future club meetings, right now we are focusing on building self-confidence. Our first activity was a name-tag making activity. They were to draw things that helped define who they are and illustrated their qualities. Thinking of a way to creatively express who they are – or even describe who they are in words – was a challenge for them at first. They began by copying the example I made for myself which means that they are adventurous and love traveling the world, enjoy teaching English, and live for drinking coffee among other things. I was worried that the activity wouldn’t pass well but decided to wait and give it time. With time, I saw the wheels turning in their heads as they began to personalize their badges a bit more. One girl realized that she is a hard worker and drew a farm with the crops she helps her family cultivate. After that moment, the other girls began exploring the qualities that make them unique: some thought of the dishes they cook really well, others acknowledged that they are strong in school, and they all found that they valued their families.

With each meeting that passes, they get more and more comfortable in my living room. They come to giggle, draw, dance, and to talk about their crushes and their dreams. They continually impress me with their optimism in air of their hardships and I often think I am learning more from this club than they are. But I guess that’s a good thing