Maps.
Maps, not something we think about all the time, but certainly something not enough Senegalese people do not have chances to see. Case and point: Most students I have shown a world map to cannot find Senegal, some cannot find Africa; my host brother has asked me if Israel and Afghanistan are bordering countries of the United States; I have been asked how long it takes to drive from Senegal to the United States; most women in Nafadji think the United States and France are the same place; I could go on.
Volunteers in Senegal love doing world map projects all over schools in Senegal. Not only is it a fun collaborative project and we can visit each other and have three night slumber parties, but it makes schools colorful and gives kids the opportunity to know where they are and learn about the world. All it takes is a bunch of paint, brushes, pencils and lots of sunscreen and portable speakers. David, Kellen, Kate, Yasmin and I recently did one in Kellen’s vllage called Bembou. As we drew and painted, kids and adults alike came to stare at us paint, like it was a TV show or something. Every time a teacher walked past they joked that we were from whatever country we were painting. For a while there I was painting Asia so I got to be everything from Russian to Kazakhstani. Unfortunately, I missed the great unveiling but Kellen says everyone was absolutely thrilled and confused by the world being round situation. Looking forward to more world map slumber parties in villages nearby!
maps.
