A busy week

First of all, whoever gave that first 100 dollars towards constructing the latrines, thank you very, very much! You're awsome.

It has been a very busy week for me. Which feels good, but is also stressful! I've been running back and forth to Kaolack working on things for the Bookmobile. Our truck looks fantastic, but we are still trying to find financing and materials to install the shelving. I set a date to pick up some more books in Dakar in a couple days. I just bought ten big metal trunks to store books in, which the paticipating Peace Corps Volunteers will distribute in their villages. Now that we have those, the books can get out there even though the truck is not complete. Mme. Viola Vaughn was honored with a ceremony last week, celebrating her nomination as a 2008 CNN Hero. Kind of a big deal! The US Ambassador was there, as well as the Peace Corps Country Director, and many other important people - local and regional officials, work partners, media, etc. Two of my good friends brought their girls' groups, who are working in conjunction with 10,000 Girls. It was completely amazing to watch them speak in front of everyone, many as confident as any American kid used to public speaking, some shy but trying so hard and doing a fantastic job. This program really helps girls blossom. They have so much confidence and spunk! It's really quite wonderful. Yesterday I gave out the other Michelle Sylvester scholarship to the middle school girls who won in a nearby town. Everyone is so grateful for that, even though it is such a little thing; but it could make a big difference in a girl's success in school this year, now that she doesn't have to worry about finding money for supplies and inscription fees. I'm also working iwth a fledgling young women's group in the village, who is buying soap for 125cga in Kaolack, to resell for 150cfa, to get a small profit. Its good practice, but I found a lady who can train them to make the soap themselves from scratch, so I hope to hook them up sometime next month. Now I'm in Kaolack again, having to run around like crazy to get a few more things done before my Mom comes to visit. The entire village is ecstatic that she's going to spend several days there. It should be an adventure!