Happy New Year
A new year has come and my days here in Senegal are counted, but memories from a splendid autumn 2009 are still captured in my mind.
Many Finnish friends have come and gone. Leea came in mid November to accomplish a hostel formation project, instructing three of the boys already working at Centre Sunuker in running a hostel. The project is proceeding very well.
The formation is very practical, allowing the boys to participate in an active way. They have been on excursions, visiting hostels in Dakar as well as la Ministére du Tourisme for marketing and information regarding registration. The boys have been acquainted with the reception and with customer service among other things during the classes.
I have had the pleasure to get to know Merja, who was here for about two weeks in early December, to assist the local librarian Jean-Louis with new ideas for the library. Thanks to her, a library make-over is taking part as we speak. New bookshelves are about to be built, a table for the librarian has been arranged, the library has been given new lights and the chairs for the students are about to be renovated. The children, as well as the students of the neighborhood, have even gotten new books to read. As Merja arrived on the day of the Muslim Tabaski feast,
she was almost literally thrown into the Senegalese kitchen together with the rest of the Finns, to prepare the Tabaski dinner with the Senegalese women. We spent the day eating, eating and eating, as well as wearing traditional Senegalese clothes made of colorful tissues. The Senegalese people do not go easy on the glitter when they throw a party.
Henriikka and Tapio left last week, after having spent almost two months here. Henriikka has been knitting with the children’s club, using colorful recycled tissues. She has been preparing new sheets for the center residence as well. Tapio arranged a lecture for the children’s club, presenting biofuel, purification of water and bleaching of hair among other things.
On the day of la Thamkarité, the Muslim New Year, the Children’s club went on an excursion to the lighthouse la Phare de Mammelle, thanks to the money donated by a friend of my family. The sun was shining as we went walking up the hill to the lighthouse and the view over the city was amazing.
The children were so happy to smell the fresh air of the ocean and they played games together when we reached the top of the mountain. After spending a couple of hours at the lighthouse, we finished the day off by having hamburgers, ice cream and cake on a restaurant at la Virage.
The children have been very active during the last two months. Reetta, who came in late December accompanied by her sister Marja and her daughter Koivu, held a drama class for the children last Saturday. The class consisted of different theatrical games, which help them to express themselves. The children were surprisingly shy, but very gifted in their different tasks. Reetta will continue her work for the rest of January. The children will also be working with Liina this week, making ear rings of recycled bottle caps.
Working among the different projects taking part at the center, has been a rewarding and unforgettable experience. Santhiaba has a lot of possibilities, as there is a strong will of development among the people. I will miss the hospitality, the laughter, the fellowship and the compassion here. I will miss the late nights under the full moon, the kettle simmering on the gas fire as I play a game of Uno together with the boys of the neighborhood. All of a sudden, somebody starts dancing to tones of Youssou N dour while another is clapping his hands to the rhythm - ambiance is guaranteed. No hidden smiles, no worries about tomorrow. Welcome to centre Sunuker, welcome to Senegal.
Julia
Many Finnish friends have come and gone. Leea came in mid November to accomplish a hostel formation project, instructing three of the boys already working at Centre Sunuker in running a hostel. The project is proceeding very well.
The formation is very practical, allowing the boys to participate in an active way. They have been on excursions, visiting hostels in Dakar as well as la Ministére du Tourisme for marketing and information regarding registration. The boys have been acquainted with the reception and with customer service among other things during the classes. I have had the pleasure to get to know Merja, who was here for about two weeks in early December, to assist the local librarian Jean-Louis with new ideas for the library. Thanks to her, a library make-over is taking part as we speak. New bookshelves are about to be built, a table for the librarian has been arranged, the library has been given new lights and the chairs for the students are about to be renovated. The children, as well as the students of the neighborhood, have even gotten new books to read. As Merja arrived on the day of the Muslim Tabaski feast,
she was almost literally thrown into the Senegalese kitchen together with the rest of the Finns, to prepare the Tabaski dinner with the Senegalese women. We spent the day eating, eating and eating, as well as wearing traditional Senegalese clothes made of colorful tissues. The Senegalese people do not go easy on the glitter when they throw a party. Henriikka and Tapio left last week, after having spent almost two months here. Henriikka has been knitting with the children’s club, using colorful recycled tissues. She has been preparing new sheets for the center residence as well. Tapio arranged a lecture for the children’s club, presenting biofuel, purification of water and bleaching of hair among other things.
On the day of la Thamkarité, the Muslim New Year, the Children’s club went on an excursion to the lighthouse la Phare de Mammelle, thanks to the money donated by a friend of my family. The sun was shining as we went walking up the hill to the lighthouse and the view over the city was amazing.
The children were so happy to smell the fresh air of the ocean and they played games together when we reached the top of the mountain. After spending a couple of hours at the lighthouse, we finished the day off by having hamburgers, ice cream and cake on a restaurant at la Virage. The children have been very active during the last two months. Reetta, who came in late December accompanied by her sister Marja and her daughter Koivu, held a drama class for the children last Saturday. The class consisted of different theatrical games, which help them to express themselves. The children were surprisingly shy, but very gifted in their different tasks. Reetta will continue her work for the rest of January. The children will also be working with Liina this week, making ear rings of recycled bottle caps.
Working among the different projects taking part at the center, has been a rewarding and unforgettable experience. Santhiaba has a lot of possibilities, as there is a strong will of development among the people. I will miss the hospitality, the laughter, the fellowship and the compassion here. I will miss the late nights under the full moon, the kettle simmering on the gas fire as I play a game of Uno together with the boys of the neighborhood. All of a sudden, somebody starts dancing to tones of Youssou N dour while another is clapping his hands to the rhythm - ambiance is guaranteed. No hidden smiles, no worries about tomorrow. Welcome to centre Sunuker, welcome to Senegal.
Julia
posted by Babacar | 3:24 AM
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