One of the most important reasons for gathering all our trainees together is for them to form friendships and share their experiences. It is a wonderful way to learn and was gratifying to see the old friendships renewed and new ones forming. 
Mariama and Azarra are both Wodaabe women who live very far apart. They have been with us since the very first training with Dr. Bob Skankey in 2012 and have formed a fast friendship. They are both among our best matrones and are also community leaders. Mariama was elected her district representative to the national government and Azarra’s husband holds that office in her region.
Mariama and Azarra often choose to do re-enactments together and relish over dramatizing.
After some lobbying on their part and recognizing the need for more capable trainers, we agreed to train a team of Mariama, Azzara and Abarta (who ran our malaria prevention program for the Wodaabe in Tagoudoumt in 2020) to take over some training responsibilities for the Wodaabe as Fatima has for the Tuareg. Just one more step toward expansion and turning it over.
Thanks to Laerdal and a grant from the Rotary Club of Ojai, our trainers Rabi and Assalama are better equipped to continue without us with MamaBirthie pelvic mannequins and media players which we left with them.
And at night the party begins…
In the evenings, if we haven’t dropped in exhaustion we have a guitar concert from Alhassane.
Everyone dances, including our military guards and of course the matrones.
The matrones are all dynamic women from their communities and several of them are good singers. They pull out a plastic jerrycan for a drum and entertain us with their songs. They are telling stories about what is going on–I just wish I could understand their words.
Becky and Pat felt we needed to contribute to the entertainment so they got into the drumming circle.
For years I have been accumulating local clothing in a large chest that was moved to Tamesna after the sale of my house in Agadez. I decided the matrones could make better use of it than I so we set the clothes out in stacks and had a lottery.
Foulaye, Dinadu and Danda checking out their new clothes.
Leslie, Allow and Amena
Jen, Pat, Raicha,(who I nicknamed Sparkles because she often wore something glittery and also had a sparking personality), Dr. Becky and me.
So when our days together were done we had learned, laughed, danced, sang, worked hard, cemented old friendships and made new ones.
Lovely informative article. You are doing amazing works and for years and years…! In my lifetime my memories there were the most amazing! I just lost my husband 11/7 and he was so encouraging for me to take these adventures. Wishing you all the very best and hope the world sees you!
Louise
So lovely to hear from you Louise. I just lost my sister. I send my sympathies and hope you continue to have adventures.