Julia, one of our friends living up in URR (far east of the country) had the excellent idea to interview Ida, one of Peace Corps/The Gambia's long-time language and culture facilitator, who also happens to be a former teacher (see pic below). Julia asked Ida to share her insights on the state of girls' education in The Gambia, and I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged by her responses. It's easy to get down and jaded looking at things in the short-term here, but it's important to remember that the kind of change we are looking to effect in the country is a long, slow process. Just because we can't see the progress during the two years we are here doesn't mean it isn't happening. Here are some excerpts from the interview:
"In my generation, people thought if they sent their daughters to school, they would have sex outside of marriage or become prostitutes. They worried that their daughters would not be able to do the compound work and would be less desirable to husbands if they were not able to take care of the family. Now all that is changing. When men are looking for a wife, they are choosing more education women. This means families are deciding to educate their daughters so they will find a good husband. Additionally, with more female teachers as examples of good Muslim women who take care of their husbands, people can see that girls can be educated with a good job and also be a good wife. Men who are educated and go on to work outside the compound use what they make to support their own compound. However, when women are making money outside the compound, they share it with their parents, since they are provided for by their husbands. Seeing this encourages families to support their daughters' educations so they will have more financial help in the future. Also, compounds where both the husband and wife have jobs have more financial security.
When I was in school (working in a Serehule community), only 10% of the students were female, so I tried to encourage people to send their daughters by using myself as an example. I'm a Serehule. I'm married. Being a teacher won't stop girls from being the women their parents want them to be. If you educate your daughters, then they will be teachers, nurses, and health workers in your community. Girls are doing wonderful things for their families."
"Jahanka and Serehule villages that didn't have western schools before now have lower basic, upper basic, and senior secondary schools in many communities. Also, you are seeing more Jahankas and Serehules in higher government positions because they're better educated now and able to get those positions. Also, there are fewer early marriages now. Men and women are choosing their own husband or wife now, or if it is arranged, it is at least with someone they love."
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