Awa Traore

Awa Traore is SeneGAD's Peace Corps Staff liaison. She represents SeneGAD's interests to Peace Corps, organizes SeneGAD's training of new volunteers and runs SeneGAD events throughout Senegal. Her ability to connect with Senegalese girls and their families is invaluable to SeneGAD and her events are some of the most effective gender-awareness efforts in the country.

About Awa

Born in: Kaolack

Currently lives in: Thies

Schooling:

Pimary school- Koussanar - 'I was unhappy at this time. I was overworked, underweight, and far from my family…'

5me- 1re in Kaolack Waldiodio Ndiaye - 'This was much better since I was back with some of my family. But during this time, I still struggled. My family wanted to put me in a box, to have me marry and be a good Pulaar wife. I was the only one to say, "No!" My family was frustrated with me but still loved me.'

Terminale a Thies - 'I lived with my sister here.'

L'universite Dakar - 'I got my degree in English.'

Job and Description:

In coordination with the Training Manager, Peace Corps Senior staff and other trainers, I participate in all pre-service and in-service training for Trainees and Volunteers. I am responsible for identifying acceptable and safe housing for Trainees and Volunteers Senegalese home in different training villages around the city of Thies. I Develop the integration of Gender And Development(GAD) work within all volunteers' sectoral work and with Peace Corps staff. Incorporate GAD training in PST and IST. Serve as a resource for trainees and volunteers seeking information about Senegalese gender issues Facilitate GAD events for all Peace Corps volunteers at their sites including Girls' Leadership Events, Career Days, Education Events, and addressing sensitive local GAD concerns.- Advise the SeneGAD board on how to improve their activities.

Interview:

What do you like most about your job?
Meeting and interacting with different people from different culture

How does your family feel about your job?
Some time happy because I can satisfy their needs and some time frustrated because I m not there all the time and because my husband feel that I escape from him.

What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome to get where you are today?
To convince my husband that I have to work and it's my right as a human being.

Do men in your work treat you as an equal?
Fortunately yes.

What makes you happy/ What do you do for fun?
Having my job well done and making feel people happy around me make me happy. Dancing, making jokes.

Who is your hero/ heroine and why?
My dad who help me develop my independent character.

What or who inspires you? Why?
My grand mother who were a strong women and struggled a lot to raise her kids by developing an enterprise: making and selling clothes, cultivating her farm raising cows, sheep, goats and chicken.

What would you like to say to all the people who believe girls couldn't / shouldn't accomplish what you did?
Help them achieve their dream.

What would you say to the girls who hope they can?
Empower them.

Do you feel like you've achieved your goals?
Some of them.

What do you sometimes have to remind yourself?
I m proud to be a woman SO I can achieve what ever I want.

What is the best advice you've ever received?
Believe in yourself.

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