February 18th
I got a call a few weeks ago from a guy at the U.S. Embassy
in Lome asking if I’d be willing to give a presentation at the University of
Kara on February 18th about women’s empowerment in the United
States.
I’d given a presentation there a few weeks earlier with a
few other PCVs on what the Peace Corps is and the work we are doing here in
Togo. I had a really great experience; I’m awed by the idea of being a guest
speaker at one of two universities in the entire country; and YES I would love
the opportunity to talk about badass women in the U.S.
So, I casually accepted the invitation.
Little did I know the amazing experience I was in for. . .
I got into Kara this morning around 8am and called Zak to
let him know I was free to meet at whatever time before the presentation at
2:30.
He explained that it was the 10th year
anniversary of the University of Kara and that the Public Affairs Officer of
the U.S. Embassy was also here. This morning they’d be going to a huge ceremony
with an address from the President of Togo. Afterwards, both of them would meet
me at Maroc’s (the place I usually bum around on the internet here in Kara) and
we could go to the presentation together.
Big deal #1: I’m meeting the Officer of Public Affairs for
the U.S. Embassy?
Glad I wore my favorite pagne dress.
Before their arrival, I spent the rest of my morning making
a powerpoint for my presentation. It included a brief history of American women’s
movements from just the last 100 years; examples of female leaders in the
realms of politics, literature, pop culture, and business; and issues
successful women still face in today’s society.
The embassy representatives arrived around 1pm and asked if
they could treat me to lunch. The Public Affairs officer started asking me
questions about my work with the Peace Corps and what my life was like in
village. Five minutes into the conversation, a guy that was with us asked if
we’d be willing to continue the conversation in the form of an interview and
have it recorded. We both agreed.
For 15 minutes I answered the Officer of Public Affairs
questions again, about my work and life in village. I also talked about my
views on sustainability and how to incorporate that into the development
efforts we make as PCVs.
Big deal #2: Found out that’s going to be included in a
national radio broadcast sometime this week.
We enjoyed a nice meal – one I’m rarely willing to fork up
the money for on my own. Afterwards we headed to the university. I remembered some of the students from
my previous visit and was happy to be seeing them again.
Without wasting anytime, I started my presentation --
SLIDE: Timeline of women in politics.
SLIDE(s): Dominant women of different domains (I asked
people to raise their hands if they’d heard of any of them):
- Politics: Hillary Clinton, Sandra Day O’Connor, Sonia
Sotomayor
(People knew of Hillary Clinton as the person who lost to
Obama. He’s kind of an important figure here. Obama paraphernalia anyone?)
- Pop Culture: Oprah. duh.
(Only 2 had heard of Oprah.)
- Literature: Maya Angelou and Julia Alvarez
(People had heard of Maya Angelou. There’s actually an
optional literature course at the university that includes some of her works.)
- Business: Sheryl Sandberg
(I asked people to raise their hand if they’d heard of
Facebook and explained she was in charge of the whole freakin’ thing. Only
about 5 had, but it made a point.)
SLIDE: Statistics on the impact women are having in today’s
business world.
SLIDE: Then I tried to relate the issues successful women
face in the U.S. to the same issues that women all over the world face –
cultural norms, work/family life balance, stereotypes, etc.
I addressed the female students present in the room and
asked for examples of how these issues specifically affect women here in Togo.
And if they had affected them personally. I tried to start a discussion about
how a lot of them struggle through receiving any form of education because of
pressures to help in the home. How many of them give up “careers” because it is
more important in their culture to raise children. How a woman who is well
educated and successful may be seen as unwilling to give everything it takes to
her family.
I then I asked them if they had any idea how powerful they
were as Togolese women. I talked about the strength and grace I have witnessed
among this country’s women in the last 8 months. How it awes me and makes me
proud to also be a woman.
Many were too shy to speak back to me. But while I had their
attention, I threw in a few words about how they were the future female leaders
of this country. With their college education, they would be able to assume
roles of influence and really make a difference towards gender equality here in
Togo. That they were already exceptional beings. And it was their
responsibility to work so that more girls would have this opportunity.
In the end, I don’t know what they got out of my
presentation. I don’t know if it sparked enough to light a fire, or if it was
just me getting super heated about something they haven’t yet realized. Either
way, I hope they took away something. And I hope what ever that may be is
translated to inspiring another female in Togo in the future..
One has to hope. Or else, what are all of us doing who
invest in development work? Immediate impacts are not our strong suit.
After my presentation, the Officer of Public Affairs also
asked the audience if they could name the female leaders in their own country.
Seven ministers of the President’s cabinet are female. Together, the students
could only name 3. It was great to witness this group of young Togolese people
realize the powerful roles that women are already starting to come into in this
country.
When the discussion concluded, we watched the Pursuit of
Happiness.
Big deal #3: During the movie, I was called outside to do a
television interview with two Togolese stations on my presentation at the
University and how my work in village incorporated women. In. French.
Now, my French is good enough now where I feel comfortable
working in village. The people are also very forgiving. But national
television? That’s something to make you nervous.
I gave a brief synopsis of my presentation and talked about
my efforts towards women empowerment here in Togo. I mentioned my health club
promoted equal opportunity because it was mixed with boys and girls and that
the health group I’m creating to work under my dispensaire will empower women
by giving them leadership roles in the community, allowing them to aid in the
health education of every single family in Kemerida.
I only had to pause once to ask what the word for
“challenges” was in French.
Compared to my level of public speaking in English: 2
But for my level of public speaking in French: 7. Not too
shabby. Plus they can edit where I look all confused and awkward. Which I’ve
accepted as just my natural persona here.. People seem to dig it. I think they
find it endearing.
After the interview, we went back inside to finish the film.
When the film was over, there a brief discussion by the students about it’s
meaning. The ideas of hard work, determination, and hope were thrown around a
lot. One woman in the back raised her hand and first in French, then in
English, discussed how the over all message of the film was that no
circumstances can force you to give up on a dream. Only you can do that. And
only you can’t. It’s up to you to fight for what your heart seeks and it’s up
to you to fight for your own happiness through the realization of those dreams.
Amen, sister.
Big deal FOR EVERYTHING: The University of Kara is one of
two colleges in the entire country of Togo. And this is only the 10th
Anniversary. While most of the women in the room were too shy to speak up, or
really even look you in the eye, this woman raises her hand and perfectly, in
two languages different from her mother tongue, provides that insight about a
movie she had to watch with subtitles. WOW. What an incredible place to be in
at such an incredible moment.
I really enjoyed giving my presentation. In fact, I got so
worked up in it I started sweating. Despite being in 1 of like 10 places in the
whole country with air conditioning. But it’s not what I can say about the
achievements of women in America that made this day so special. It was
listening to the small population of college students in Sub-Saharan Africa
talk about dreams, and hope, and determination.
We take for granted the whole American dream thing. And the
whole college thing. I can’t speak for everyone, but for me it’s always pretty
much been a guarantee. But to be in this room with all the students who, just
in the CEG (middle school), may not have even considered college because well,
the University of Kara didn’t exist yet, who are now here making these points,
that taught me a lot more than I ever could have told them about empowerment.
The presentation ended about 5:30 and I really needed to
head back to village. However, Zac asked that I please stay because they’d
invited other PCVs in the area to have snacks around 6:30 at Hotel Kara. I was
reluctant, but told him I’d just get a hotel for the night and I’d stay.
Big deal # whatever-#-I’m-on: When we got back to the Hotel
Kara, he talked to the front desk and got me my own room. I COULD NEVER AFFORD
THIS PLACE ON MY PCV BUDGET. I was actually speechless. Hello air conditioning
and hot water. I haven’t seen much of you in the last 9 months.
I had the incredible opportunity to meet the Officer of
Public Affairs, give a presentation on a subject on passionate about, and am
now writing this blog from the fanciest hotel room I’ll probably see for the
next 18 months.
Hello incredible day spent in Togo. Work I feel good about
and huge perks!
Learning more and more every day how lucky I am to be here,
Kumealo
