Au Revoir Nos Cheres Amies

Immediately after returning from the United States, there was Camp Sucess. I didn't have time to go back to Manigri, I met everyone in Djougou with a duffel bag full of tuna fish and ostrich jerky. I had always been told that the highlight of one's service was camp. Within the first day it was easy to see why. The way the girls' eyes lit up when they sang and danced. How motivated and interested they were in every activity- even the more difficult ones. How many of them had never seen a city as big as Djougou, or perhaps had ever been outside of their villages- and there they were, at a cyber cafe in the biggest city in their region, googling Michael Jackson.

My post has had a special relationship with this camp for almost five years. The first Volunteer in Manigri, John, created it with my current counterpart Olivier. Olivier then worked with Carly for two years on the same camp, culminating in a mega-ultra huge wonderful fantastic spectacle known as the current Camp Success, where 12 villages send 60 girls to Djougou for six days. It's the largest girls' camp in the country and also the most intense. By the end of it, there wasn't a dry eye in the room as my girls sang "Au revoir de notre cheres amies", one singer barely able to croak out the refrain, tears streaming down her face.

In teams of eight and paired with both a Volunteer and a HCN "Tanti", they learned about sexual health, stress, the importance of education and self esteem. They spoke to a panel of great professional women, they climbed a mountain, they saw Tata Sambas, they learned the greater art of journaling, they did yoga and sang songs. So many songs. So, so, so many songs.

We talked through-out the planning process about whether or not a girl could come back for a third year to Camp Sucess. It didn't feel right somehow that the same girls could come year after year when in reality we needed to help as many as possible. It was heartbreaking to watch the girls say goodbye to their friends. It was also heartbreaking watching my friends say goodbye to the girls knowing they too would be absent next year. As we do two year tours, so will they. And in between laughing and crying we'll find time to work and teach and learn. (oh yes, I am that cheesy)

Jessica Bruce, Naima Ferrell, Melissa Perry and Benjamin Jakob will all be leaving the greater Bassila Commune in two weeks for their homes abroad. I want everyone to know what an enormous inspiration and help they've been to me this past year, and that no one will ever be able to replace them. I only hope I can do what I can next year to be as half as influential as they have been to me.

I will leave Saturday to work Stage for the new Volunteers who have just arrived. I will not be back in Manigri until likely September. If I am at all difficult to reach during this time I apologize, I imagine a busy and interesting month is ahead.