"I am your captain now"

By Mollie Cohen

At the beginning of the week our team leaders announced a thrilling development – each day a different member of our team was to be team leader, for the next 2 weeks. Fear and apprehension spread through the office like wildfire… who was to be first we asked? Who was to bear the weight of such responsibility? We gazed around the room, until suddenly, there was silence… Augustin’s name was called; he was the chosen one. 

The week followed with: Mary, Dramane, Mollie, and Josephine. At the end of each day everyone gave feedback on how well the team leader of that day did – the consistent way to improve for almost everyone was to buy the team a nice cold beverage, Brakina preferably, at the end of the day. Being team leader even for a day let everyone see how difficult it is to balance the whole team and make sure everyone is happy. Overall, everyone thus far has found the experience both insightful and challenging.

From the left: Sonia, Salifou, Khader, Josephine,
 Sophie, Augustin, Asseta, Jo, Dramane, Mollie, Albert, Mary,
Amy and Barry

The Chief Executive of International Service, Jo Baker came for a visit at the beginning of the week. Jo was on a tour of every single project that is being carried out by International Service in Burkina Faso and Ghana. Although we did discuss how we feel our project is going, and how the UK volunteers are finding Burkina Faso, the conversation quickly drifted when Khader asked about Jo’s career. Jo attributed her success to her positivity, passion, and self-belief. All members of our team came out feeling very inspired, and empowered after receiving some really sound advice –if you really want something then go for it, don’t give up for anything or anyone (very cliché, but very true). After meeting Jo it became apparent how and why International Service’s vision is so solid, International Service ‘empower women, children and young people, and disabled people to access their rights in developing countries across the world.’ Throughout Jo’s career she has kept very true to this same vision, it was while doing volunteering work in Tajikistan that George Soros became aware of her and what she was doing, from this he gave her a job. The team also had taken some amazing pictures with Jo before she visited one host home to witness if the security and safeguarding requirements set by ICS are met.

Khader teaching Catherine

Feeling inspired by a powerful, international, woman we have spent the majority of this week continuing our planning for International Women’s Day. There is a very strong political agenda and context behind the day itself, but in some countries this has been slightly lost and the day has become more of a celebration of women. For our collaborative event with Kabeela we do not want to lose sight of this political context, and the fight for equality between men and women.

Khader and Josephine also managed to tick off another hour off our check list, by completing another English Lesson with the Secretary at APIL. Everyone is now being greeted with ‘good morning’ and ‘have a good weekend’ – clearly the teachers are doing their job well.