Multiple teams to go into the countries is fine. We don't have to collaborate, but we do have the option. Different groups in Mauritania
Group from Cornell looking at Tidjikja (2 guys) 2 guys (central)
Matt and Mark (
2 girls from Uflorida- probably up to Atar (north)- a few GMCs
Number one place is the region (Bababe--a lot of villages to work in. Number one.
Halpulaar ethnicity. Really welcoming. Probably more so than most other regions.
Zach Swank (in Bababe) and Matt Protacio (kaedi) and Mark McMurray (Bogue)-Mark and Matt are both ICT volunteers-specifically work with computers.
Zach is environmental education--works with primary schools, works with right age group with after school activities.
Doesn't teach in schools because of language, but they work with teachers on integrating lessons on environemental themes and free to do whatever: environmental clubs. As much as the school director. Zach has a really supportive community. Teach abuut pollution, planting trees.
He won't actually know--summer, Mauritania, everyone is nomadic. A little less nomadic in city. People will move out.
Eco health camp (might incorporate into out program), looking for health camp, at end of July (week) invite 100 people to the one in Bababe--made up of 27 volunteers, 40 girls, and chaperones, mentors, teachers.
Will send us proposal working on. Can incorporate--2 girls coming from each center.
They will be out of school during the time that we are there/
One of the cornell guys has a brother in Mauritania--wanted to visit his brother and to do program. They are working on applicaiton without working with Ginger
Sustainability-Mauritania is not the most open country to outside intervention. Don't usually let outsiders in that easily. Peace corps has a really established reputationspeak local language, live with communities (2 year period). Government accepts. Peace Corps has memorandum of understanding with government-government will let Peace Corps do whatever they want. In this area (Boghe, Kaedi, bababe) volutneers have been working for a really long time.
Educational system is pretty bad-every few years, national institute of pedagogy will rewrite books. They were supposed to given to schoolchildren for free. all books ended up on black market. They didn't realize that there was a difference. School directors are placed in their positions by gov. Are known for selling everything-nothing ever makes it to the kids. Corruption is huge.
Education is valued: 2 things people want for kids is computer training and girls educaiton. Men aren't around a whole lot-in the Moor culture-men go work for 9 months (commerce) and then come back for a few months. Family network is very big.
GMCs are like the american school system insterted into Mauritania. Supproted by the community and by the women's condition. Originally an initiative started by special kind of funding-secondary project. Girls clubs, informal thing and then=> centers. Such a popoular program-started for volunteers to
Peace Corps would be entrance into the community--they know all the community leaders, kids, parents,
Peace Corps would make sure the kids would have the computer and that they don't disappear.
One of the things with Mauritanian culture is-whatever the kids bring back is the family's-the kids don't get to keep anything. Parents would take it and sell it or use as display.
GMCs-computers can stay when kids-lending library.
Zach--he doesn't have a GMC. His community is so supportive that the school could be a place to house it. He would be a liaison.
Don't know if usb cartridge could work. Could attach internet to the server. We'll look into that. Matt and Mark will look.
We would definitely stay with host families, or with volunteers.
Kaedi-women are very strong. Regionally known for tie-dying.
Agrcultural, Fishing communities, close to river, irrigation farming. We're coming before rainy season (throughout July-probably come around July 20th). Road is paved-no problems with flooding. Fields don't need protecting until something like September.
GMCs-mentors that are already involved. Zach's communityadults will be willing to help. World Vision in that area-a lot of children's activities. Big in the area. Help organize adults.
40 km to Boghe and Kaedi miles--an hour in each direction. We can also split up. We will have a lot of volunteer support. There is public transportation between all the cities.
The computers would be stored in GMCs or with Zach.
Sustainability is hard, but once people leave, things fall apart. Peace Corps keeps projects going asap
Resources are not very good--Peace Corps needs more training guides.
Masters Thesis--more aware of political situation. 4 generals have been right hands of president for 30 years and then they took it upon themselves to be the advisors. Democratically elected president since 1960 and there was a military coup. Military takes over
Peace Corps doesn't work with US embassy. They keep away from the embassy. They kind of recognize the interim government, watch out. Try not to talk politics--don't get involved.
Kids can't afford pens and pencils and books. A lot of education is based on memorization. Have tried to start new initiatives: kids aren't allowed to be menial laborers, or be beaten. Teachers are unhappy-it's a government work. Teacher will be posted randomly-can be very unhappy. They just don't show up. School may or may not exist.
kids in rural places kind of go to school part time. Required to do work part time. Will get 12 year olds in 2nd grade. Illiterate etc. Huge range on education
Boghe has one of the most educated communities outside of the capital. Anti-government
Bababe--community is very good. Give them
Comminitu type:
1. Bring idea and have to fight to get people to go along with it
2. Bring idea and everything gets done
Bababe is #2--really supportive.
All 3 places--we would probably get
divided computers evenly--we would get
We could limit class size, only taking this level at school--one class might be (2nd grade) 100 kids in it. Summer so might be a little less. If we have 33 computers=> 2:1 saturation. is what we would be shooting for.
During than time of year-power outages. Hot time of the year. try to minimize electricity usage-rolling blackouts. can guage when the blackouts are going to happen. Should be able to charge the laptops every day-don't worry about the solar panels in the budget.
Curricula for the kids-Zach can do environment. Matt and Mark are ccomputer people. Both have other volunteers in their sites. Has environmental education volunteer, english teacher, Health volunteer-health programs? Boghe english, health, and they have all the sectors
Can write for all of them
Lessons on health, women's education, english lessons.
Internent access--look up nutrition information to the animals, information. So just being taught how to use the internet.
Ginger should be herea ll week Pest training on Thursday. Before she leaves, she will have internet access afterwards. She can make sure she
Last minute--
She will write up everything in french and english-letter from Zach, Matt, Mark-
We can work in the centers or the schools. Zach is so on top of everything: he can find a place and get We have a lot of freedom in terms of using the faciities.