One of those times ...

That a project or activity actually works out

as envisioned.

As a part of our mandate as health volunteers 

is sex education classes or sensibilzations.

It can be a little sensitive as normally sex

isn't often discussed. Even more so in rural

areas. 

Last week one of the girls that was in our

theater group and also on the girls football

came to the maternity in the early stage of 

pregnancy. This one made me a little sad

(usually doesn't affect too much after all

these years) because she's a very intelligent,

active young lady with a possible big future

ahead of her. But now ...

The health center yearly receives trainees

or what they call stagaires to do what would

be considered a 2 month internship.

We had 5 very capable young ladies and two

were completing their studies as mid-wives.

So with these 2 stagaires we organized a 

girls only sex education class at the health 

center. 

A class of 35 girls ages between 14 to 16

showed up and the two Burkinabe stagaires

took charge and did a real tremendous job.

I just did the condom demonstration and

we didn't have a wooden penus but used a

7ft pole that was about the right width. It was

pretty humourous but it worked.

The girls were free to ask and talk about 

anything they wanted to. And they did.

It was energy filled and they laughed and

some of those crazy questions young kids

heard about sex was clarified. 

Having girls only is imperative here. The girls

to the last one didn't want any teachers or 

fellow boy students around. If they were, the

girls wouldn't speak.

So this one worked out well (not a usual 

happening) and next it's planning to talk

to the boys ... and then both together.

Oh yeah ... the picture was taken looking

out from the maternity building. It's just

to give a feeling of the health center grounds.

I must say as health centers go here in Burkina

this one is actually pretty nice. The lanes are

flanked by eucalyptus trees but there is the 

slight probldm with garbage. But we're working

on it.

Every so often things work out and everyone

gets that upbeat feeling ... just got to get

it to happen more often.