My Girls

Another update for November! The month of the blog monster! Or something clever which doesn't immediately come to mind!

I had to write about my last weekend, because I got to help put on one of the coolest things I've done in Georgia thus far.

Traveling to another volunteer's site in Kakheti, five of us lady Education volunteers put on a 2-day mini-camp for girls called SELF, which stands for Self Esteem and Leadership through Fitness. The idea is to give girls a space to learn and participate in a variety of sports from which they are generally excluded, for several reasons.

As I've probably mentioned before, women and girls in Georgia are seen as "lesser" than men in most aspects, something that both men AND women here confirm in statements that often cause me to want to throw something, or many things. You don't have to be a bra-burning feminist to agree that "all men are smarter than women" and "men should never have to cook or clean for themselves" are statements that seem SLIGHTLY outdated in the 21st century.

Anyway, as a result of this idea, it goes without saying that while boys might be encouraged to play outside with their friends and participate in the very physical world of organized sports, most young girls' outside activities include things like tag, until they reach the age where "appropriate" activities range from studying quietly to cleaning up the house and helping mom make and serve the food.

Luckily, some nosy American women came along and decided that maybe we should shake things up a bit. So, beyond all expectations, we had 45 girls between the ages of 12 and 14 show up to the sports grounds behind the school to learn the basics of basketball, volleyball, soccer, and American football. Much to the boys' dismay and the girls' delight, the boys were not allowed on the courts as we had "booked" them specifically for the use of our camp. I think for the first time in their lives, the boys learned what it's like to be forced to sit on the sidelines while the girls are the ones having all the fun. I'm not saying I'm against boys having fun, obviously...but I also think it's good to learn to share, specifically when the facilities/space are limited.

Not only did the girls have a great time, but sidenote: I got to coach, which I absolutely loved. When I get back stateside, I'm definitely going to see if I can volunteer to coach volleyball or basketball, because it's so much fun.

Given that it was such a big hit with the girls, we hope that we'll be able to put on several more SELF camps across the country in the near future.

This experience totally made me realize how lucky female athletes are in the States. I know how controversial Title 9 is, and I'm not going there...but I can say that in my childhood and my developing years, I was fortunate enough to have my own (female) gyms, locker rooms, equipment, coaches and teams. And that certainly shaped me as an athlete and as a person. Through sports I learned teamwork, hard work and dedication, grace under pressure, and good sportsmanship. I know that if I were relegated to playing with Barbie and my Mini Bake Oven until it was time for me to BE Barbie cooking with my real oven, that I would have missed out on one of the most positive defining aspects of my life. I just want other girls who really enjoy playing sports to have the same opportunities and possibilities.

So I will end it here for now. I hope everyone is gearing up for a great Thanksgiving holiday back home. I'm not sure what I will be doing on this special day in terms of awesome food, but I will be giving thanks for all the good things life has to offer.

Good night from Georgia!

Lauren