Girls Club

Afternoon....

Yesterday was a nice day because I met the Girls Club that I'll be working with for the next few years. There was a SA 15 volunteer living in my village before I came her (note: I'm SA 18), and she completed her service once I began mine here last week. Anyway, she helped start a girls club in the village with girls from the local primary school that I'll be working with. Since she left, I've been designated her replacement in regards to teaching the girls about Life Skills. Life Skills refers to a variety of topics like self esteem, making the right decisions, physical health, safety, etc, etc.

I'm excited for the opportunity to get directly involved with girls in my village, and it's GREAT that the volunteer before me already established this club because usually the most difficult part is the actual process of getting it started. They meet 1-2 times a week, and do other things like put together dance routines (traditional and non-traditional dances), and then perform them for area organizations. They are excited about teaching me some routines :)

Yesterday was fun because I began the tedious process of learning the girls names. But when I kept asking them their names, several gave me the English version of their Sepedi name. I told them I want to learn their Sepedi names, but I still think they were trying to appease me by telling me their English names. I also taught them a few American games, like Red Rover and Down By the River. They got a kick out of them, and they taught me some South African games as well. Being a part of this girls club is going to be a great experience and allow me to be involved in something outside of my school "duties".

The girls are pretty intrigued with me as well. When I told them I'm learning to speak Sepedi, one outgoing girl started quizzing me by asking me what shirt, head scarf, and other articles of clothing were in Sepedi. I also spent most of the session having each one want to be my partner in the various games we played, or simply standing a few inches from my face and analyzing EVERY part of me. I'm looking forward to getting to know the girls over the next few years!

I'll be giving my first Life Skills lesson this Wednesday, so I need to think of something good and creative to start off with....

Later...