When a married father in Senegal dies, each of his sons inherits
a full share of his estate. Each daughter gets half a share. Each wife? An eighth
of a share.
About 20% of Senegalese women have paid employment, and they’re
taxed at a higher rate than men. Child allowances go only to men, because
they’re considered the head of the household.
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| At the Women's Skills Program |
Fewer than half of the women in Senegal are literate. Husbands,
fathers, brothers, even uncles have rights over women and what those women earn
or produce.
And yet, in much of Senegal, increasing numbers of women are
supporting themselves and their children. They’re running farms and shops and
scrounging for jobs because the men they’d be depending on have left for Europe
in a desperate effort to find work.
So Senegalese women need skills. And jobs. Education. And a
voice.
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| Catherine and David |
That’s what brought me to Senegal. A chance to support women in
developing that voice along with the personal presence to be heard and counted.
The young women and girls in EMUS’s Women’s Skills Program are
preparing for jobs at hotels, restaurants, and dress shops. Some plan to start
their own couture businesses. They’re well on their way to the cooking and
sewing skills that will get them there.
But here’s the rub. Most of them are so timid they can barely
introduce themselves to a stranger. How will they talk to customers? Or to
prospective employers? How do they position themselves as the best for the job?
How can they possibly persuade someone to pay them what their
work is worth in a culture where bargaining is the norm...when they have no
idea how to articulate their value?
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| Role play |
Those are some of the questions we tackled together. Shyly, even
fearfully at first. But with increasing confidence as we worked. Even the
youngest and most timid learned to introduce herself and offer the reasons
she’d be the best choice for a position.
Young women who will graduate soon showed off their new ability
in some role plays, discovering how challenging it can be to connect with a
customer and, with some help, finding ways to be more persuasive.
Rama teaches them sewing—and they do beautiful work. Now she’ll
also continue to coach them in the communication skills we’ve begun so that by
graduation they’ll be ready for job interviews and connecting with clients.
I’ve been lucky enough to do some work with the United Methodist
Women here too—they are a delightful group. Some have jobs, some have small
enterprises of their own, some have husbands who support them. Most have
children. And all of them are looking for a way to make an impact at church.
We unleashed some powerful voices in our afternoons together.
These women learned to take a stand...literally. To be grounded,
with their posture open and expansive. To use Power Poses to develop
confidence. To look someone in the eye and say what they mean. To amplify each
other’s voices so that all of them get more respect and have more influence in
church affairs.
They spoke with passion and power about their goals for their
church. And about their personal goals for playing a more substantive role in
the church.
I’ve done similar training with countless groups of professional
women. I’ve never encountered participants more grateful for every bit of
learning.
It would be shocking if executives in a corporate workshop were
to stand up and thank God for bringing me to them. That was my experience at
Eglise Methodiste Unie au Senegal.
However blessed the United Methodist Women felt, I was doubly
blessed. I’m grateful for every bit of this experience.
After 40 minutes on dirt roads and paths, we arrived at a very isolated village. The children were demonstrating the pounding of millet so it can be added to the traditional meal. The church serves 33 children including several special needs children who did not appear to have family caring for them.
One little boy in particular appears to be two years old. He does not speak or walk, but seemed to interact with the pastor and us. Though he was not keen on looking at strangers, he did finally turn to the camera. Sadly, this little boy is actually four years old. Without the love and food provided by this small rural church family, it is doubtful this beautiful child would even be alive. 
I’ve been lucky enough to do some work with the United Methodist
Women here too—they are a delightful group. Some have jobs, some have small
enterprises of their own, some have husbands who support them. Most have
children. And all of them are looking for a way to make an impact at church.
These women learned to take a stand...literally. To be grounded,
with their posture open and expansive. To use Power Poses to develop
confidence. To look someone in the eye and say what they mean. To amplify each
other’s voices so that all of them get more respect and have more influence in
church affairs.
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