Kaaba Soumaré is my courageous African sister. Kaaba is the reason the school we formed in Bamako, Mali, is successful. She works full-time as the CEO of PIYELI, a microfinance institition as well as volunteer Director of the school in Bamako. Without Kaaba, the school would not exist.
In this week’s update from Mali, Kaaba wrote:
“Les nouvelles de Hèrè qui ne sont pas très bonnes.
Fatoumata Sangaré et Mamou Diarra sont enceintes, donc elles ont été renvoyées.
Astan Traoré est décédée suite à une maladie.”
Translation:
“The news from Hèrè jè (the training center) is not very good. Fatoumata Sangaré and Mamou Diarra are pregnant and thus expelled from the center. Astan Traoré died after an illness (malaria)“
I am heart sick. Every part of my being is ANGRY. If I scream loudly enough will the world hear? If I jump off this roof will our collective will work harder to eradicate poverty?
A child who lost her parents at 2 and hungers for love at 15, thinks the young man paying attention will fill the emptiness in her soul. Rape is part of daily life. For the uneducated, birth control causes sterilization so the elders tell young women not to accept it. There is no clean water, so the young woman washes in still standing pools surrounded by mosquitos. And she dies.
I am thinking of staying on this roof forever.
Can you see my fist in the air?!
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=814a18da-7191-4c66-a048-dd577df367e3)
Hi, I'm Carol. I'm living in a tent on the roof until 1 million people each donate $1 to the Fabric of Life Foundation and share how they are making a difference in their world.
August 31st, 2009 at 11:30 pm
This is heartbreaking.
The other day, I was clumsily attempting to explain to Carol that because I have not seen this type of poverty firsthand, because I have not met these young women, and because I have not witnessed the daily struggles that severe poverty places on a life, I understand our work at Fabric of Life in a more “abstract” sense than what Carol understands it to be, as she is well-traveled and has worked so extensively on the ground among impoverished populations. She’s seen the faces of the dying and held the hands of these women and cried with them and laughed with them… For several years now, I’ve read book after book about slums, hunger, disease, death, and also about initiatives to create change and alleviate suffering associated with poverty. I read these books and I study this in graduate school to intensify my discomfort with a reality that I don’t completely understand; that I have so much only because of chance and choice and good luck and opportunity, and billions have nothing not because of anything they’ve done or not done, but because of chance and no choice and bad luck and no opportunity. Reading, thus far, has been my only real exposure to severe poverty.
I suppose what I was trying to explain to Carol is that many of us who have not witnessed severe poverty “feed” off of what she and others have seen firsthand, and we hear her stories of the young women in Mali, of death and of lack of chance, and our hearts break. For some reason, I’ve had this idea that it will take me going to Mali or to Bolivia or to Haiti to truly “get it” and get angry enough to make real change. I’m learning though that it cannot be because of personally knowing a woman like Astan Traoré that I will not accept that Malaria is killing millions… If this were the case, very few that can take action would take action. We have to read these stories and really, really believe them. We must be moved enough to act from afar – and this is not necessarily easy nor does it come naturally to many of us, including myself, that are very comfortable and well-off here in our lives of plenty. If it did come naturally to everyone, my boss and mentor would not be living on the roof of her Fair Trade shop. So let’s go, think hard about and believe these stories, be moved by them, take them as reality and don’t accept this reality. Donate a dollar, volunteer, tell and re-tell the stories, get angry like Carol.
We won’t all go to Mali. We won’t all go to Haiti, but we better believe as strongly as Carol that these atrocities happen everyday whether we witness them or not. I’m so moved by the volunteers that need only hear the story of young women who once begged on the streets of Mali, to devote endless hours to the cause. I’m learning that I shouldn’t need to witness this type of poverty firsthand to be moved to act and fight, really fight, for change. (And it’s clearly a fight or else we would have reached one million dollars days ago!). Thank God for the people that need only to hear the story to donate and volunteer. I’m trying to abandon the mindset that I need to see it to believe it.
Believe the stories and take action.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:04 pm
My dear Carol,
I feel your anger and my heart breaks. I’ve read your blog, I’ve listened to your stories over the years, I’ve been excited and challenged, I’ve given but I know it can never be enough, I’ve passed along your thoughts, your stories, your name, and perhaps there are a few more who now know and who also are helping – I will never know.
What I do know is that you and Kaaba are extraordinary women who do extraordinary things every day. Yes, you have every reason to be angry and disappointed, impatient and frustrated, saddened and upset. Yet, even with the disappointments, you must remember that there continue to be more positive outcomes than negative. We will continue to learn from you and Kaaba, and to give more for these young women who need the chance to make a difference.
More than that, dear friend, we will get you OFF that roof and on your way back to Mali. What you and Kaaba do for these girls is too important for you to stay on the roof – I’ll do my part to get you OFF and I challenge everyone who reads this, who knows you, who believes in what you and Kaaba are doing to give a bit more, to give again.
We love you.
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Carol,
Yes, I can see your fist in the air and I can feel your anger – all the way across country here in New York. I will do what I can to share your stories and your work with everyone I know. Continue to shake your fists on behalf of women everywhere – but please don’t give up! You and your work are desperately needed! Thank you for all that you do!
Lisa Herb
Executive Director
Alliance for International Women’s Rights
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 am
My heart aches.
Heather in Michigan
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Ms. Carol,
I’m very proud of what you are doing. Only a true leader would be able to do what you are doing. I’ve been studying about leaders and the qualities of leadership in my Teen Leadership class at Emerald Cove Middle School. This week we were talking about leaders that stand alone and leaders that lead a group. I brought your website address to my teacher to show the class an example of a leader that brings good influence.
I really didn’t know how bad life was for girls my age in Africa. Now I really want to help too. I hope that lots of people donate money so you can come down soon. Good luck!
Love,
Miranda
September 4th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Good Morning Carol,
I wish I had the right words to comfort you. Your anger I understand. These young women have become one with your spirit – your children. It is always painful to see your children make mistakes, especially those that will affect them the rest of their lives. I am thinking of you every day -what you are doing is making a difference.
September 4th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Yes Carol! I see your fist! I feel your pain and daggoneit I am angry too! Will this ever change? We’ve been hearing about the horrors those women and women in Third World countries especially must endure. I repeat WILL THIS EVER CHANGE?? I come to you through your Lavendar Sister. You are both lucky to have each other. I lost my sister years ago when AIDS first began taking our loved ones. Oh how I wish she were still here…taking her medication but still ALIVE. In her name I will donate…Evette Quiros. I luv ya sista! Carol – I luv ya sista! God bless….stay strong and keep spreading the word!
September 4th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Carol,
I am so sorry for the pain the news from Héré jé brought you.
I hope you will let me remind you, every so gently, of words you told me Kaaba said in similar circumstances: it’s just not their time. It’s just not their time.
I am sure that, on some level, the lessons of Héré jé will remain with Fatoumata and Mamou throughout their lives. I am sure that Héré jé changed them, gave them a glimpse of possibilities in themselves they would not otherwise have known existed. Who knows where the results of their experience will appear? Perhaps it will be in the strength and courage it takes to look into their children’s eyes and teach them how to dream, how to choose. And, maybe, by hard work and some miracles, they will break the seemingly insurmountable obstacle of poverty in their time.
I know, there is so much to do. On this day, in Edmonds and in Bamako, it must suffice to know that you’re continuing to do as much as you can to provide an experience of respect, hope and the power to change. There are so many successes to celebrate. Hope lives in all Héré jé apprentices, past and present, especially in the moment of discovery of their own potential. Nothing can beat those smiles!
September 25th, 2010 at 7:39 am
Hi there. I precisely did some world wide web surfing and located this webpage internet site. I proceeded to go as a result of this net website release and it’s seriously incredible.I really actually have the benefit of your site.Completely, the piece of writing is in assurance the quite greatest on this undoubtedly worth although subject. I added it and i?m hunting forward for your approaching web site posts or website posts. I also observed that your web website has some extremely great linking completed to it. I will correct apart take hold with the rss feed to remain knowledgeable of any changes. Remarkable records you obtained suitable right here.Make sure you protect up-date in your excellent present.Thanks a ton.