Sharing Knowledge, Laughter, Lives

Women around the world work hard for their families, their children, their community – and often put their own needs and health last.  In Dagabo, Mali women are working before sunrise to long past sunset.  But over the last few years a tradition has developed that when the US and Mali One Global Village team is in Dagabo during an annual mission, nights in the village belong to the women.  The sounds of peanuts being shelled, much laughter, and rapid-fire discussion go on late into the night.

Koro and Hawa translate and moderate to make sure everyone has a chance to ask questions of Dr. Tammy and other female medical professionals (such as nurses Kay and Cassie in the photo to the left). We talk about issues they’ve faced over the last year, new businesses they’ve started, catch them up on our discussions about the school and their students, get in some gossip and teasing, but mostly we talk about their health concerns and questions.  Hawa shares some of what she teaches the older students in her Healthy Behaviors program, which is new information for many.

The women in Dagabo have told us that even just those few nights each year has helped dispel misconceptions and made them more aware of choices they can make and actions to take to manage their and their children’s health.