2008.11.20: November 20, 2008: Headlines: COS - Senegal: TheDay: “Here I am known to friends and family as Kine Diaw,” says Kate Ballantine, now a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Senegal

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Senegal: Peace Corps Senegal : Peace Corps Senegal: Newest Stories: 2008.11.20: November 20, 2008: Headlines: COS - Senegal: TheDay: “Here I am known to friends and family as Kine Diaw,” says Kate Ballantine, now a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Senegal

By Admin1 (admin) (151.196.12.195) on Saturday, December 13, 2008 - 10:36 am: Edit Post

“Here I am known to friends and family as Kine Diaw,” says Kate Ballantine, now a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Senegal

“Here I am known to friends and family as Kine Diaw,” says Kate Ballantine, now a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Senegal

Ballentine started up a section of the non-governmental organization 10,000 Girls in her local village. Although it’s hard work in a male-dominated society, the group focuses on securing education and entrepreneurism for girls. The group started small, selling soap and lotion to earn money for school supplies. From there, Ballentine met with the president of the Rural Community and Rural Council, who promised the girls 10 hectares of land. “Everyone said it couldn’t be done and it certainly wasn’t easy, but I eventually got the ownership papers for the girls,” she recalled. The girls planted 1,500 cashew trees and three hectares of hibiscus with the goal of selling raw materials to be transformed into exportable products. “They have already begun selling hibiscus tea in California,” Ballentine noted. “I am so proud of them,” she continued. “In a society where women are second class, especially young unmarried women, the changes my girls have made as well as the community’s perceptions of them is almost unreal.” As for Ballentine, she’s found her place, and won’t be leaving anytime soon. “I became known as one of those volunteers who never leave,” she said. “I love my site. In addition to growing tremendously as a person, I really feel like I’m doing something sustainable that will make a difference for people of all ages.

“Here I am known to friends and family as Kine Diaw,” says Kate Ballantine, now a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Senegal

A Madison Force in a Far-Off Land

Posted by Shore Publishing on Nov 20 2008, 12:05 PM

Filed under: Madison, peace corps, west africa, Kate Ballantine

By Jen Matteis, Source Community Desk Chief:

Madison residents might remember this 2003 graduate of Daniel Hand High School as Kate Ballantine, but she goes by a different name now.

“Here I am known to friends and family as Kine Diaw,” said Ballantine, now a volunteer for the Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa.

Ballantine’s mission: to bring sustainable agriculture to the native Wolof people. During the rainy season (June through October), she provides the local farmers with samples of improved varieties of seeds, advises them on agricultural techniques, and helps plan against pests.

“They grow experimental plots and hopefully choose to adopt the government-developed seed in the future,” explained Ballentine, who lives in the village of Kaymor, located more than 12 miles from a paved road.

The program has engendered successful crops and great feedback from the farmers.

“It’s been nearly 100 percent positive,” Ballentine said. “People are huge fans of the new varieties and want more seed next year.”

Along with extending the community’s crops of rice, beans, corn, and millet, Ballentine started up a section of the non-governmental organization 10,000 Girls in her local village. Although it’s hard work in a male-dominated society, the group focuses on securing education and entrepreneurism for girls.

The group started small, selling soap and lotion to earn money for school supplies. From there, Ballentine met with the president of the Rural Community and Rural Council, who promised the girls 10 hectares of land.

“Everyone said it couldn’t be done and it certainly wasn’t easy, but I eventually got the ownership papers for the girls,” she recalled.

The girls planted 1,500 cashew trees and three hectares of hibiscus with the goal of selling raw materials to be transformed into exportable products.

“They have already begun selling hibiscus tea in California,” Ballentine noted.

“I am so proud of them,” she continued. “In a society where women are second class, especially young unmarried women, the changes my girls have made as well as the community’s perceptions of them is almost unreal.”

As for Ballentine, she’s found her place, and won’t be leaving anytime soon.

“I became known as one of those volunteers who never leave,” she said. “I love my site. In addition to growing tremendously as a person, I really feel like I’m doing something sustainable that will make a difference for people of all ages.

“My girls have the confidence to stand up and speak at a meeting in front of the most important men of the village,” she continued. “My farmers see they can use their land more efficiently and want to try new techniques. The smiles I get from my host brothers when I walk in the compound door—that’s what Peace Corps is all about.”

Want to help out 10,000 Girls? The group’s president, Viola Vaughn, is one of the top ten finalists of CNN’s Hero of the Year.

For a glimpse of Kate’s village, don’t miss CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute. The program airs on CNN on Thanksgiving night at 9 p.m.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2008; Peace Corps Senegal; Directory of Senegal RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Senegal RPCVs





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Story Source: TheDay

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Senegal

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