Mali Day 2: Claquement de mains...

Clapping For Fanta
On day two in Bamako, Mali we joined an orientation session for new Right To Play coaches in the "Live Safe Play Safe" (LSPS) category.  Every one of them  are already active P.E teachers or sport coaches in their communities.

One of Right To Plays many Champion coaches

We were asked to introduced ourselves and our sports, the room became abuzz once I explained who I was and what I do. Turned out many of the coaches recognized me and said they had watched me race countless times. After my intro they were saying: "Claquement de mains pour le champion du monde!": Clap your hands for The World Champion! I was all smiles!

Plaintains for lunch!

We broke for lunch after our thorough session. I sat with one of my new besties, Kadiatou Dissa. Kadiatou gave me my new Malian name: "Fanta". Don't you Love it?!

Kadiatou will be a distance coach next week too!

Girl Lady Power

In the afternoon we went to Banconi Community centre. They work with the most vulnerable children in their area. The centre is completely  run by female volunteers. The centres space is small and there are always many children present, yet the ladies never turn a child away.

With the leaders of the "Listening" Centre, their mission is to listen to all children

Playing at the Listening Centre with many spectators on each end of the field

But they also don't play any "games" when it comes to discipline. One look sent an unruly child right back into order. It reminded me of my own St. Lucian household. It was the warning look before the wooden spoon or useless (until then) table top artifact met your tailbone.

This is the look here in full effect. Don't you test her!

Laughing At Fanta

I ventured outside the walls while my travel mates were still inside the centre. On the street I befriended a group of young girls grinding seeds on the street. I talked to them and they kept laughing at me the entire time. I think my French was that terrible, maybe. lol

I asked them if I could take a turn with their chore and they obliged. They giggled as I took the pounding stick and jack hammered it into the pot filled with seed. Clearly I was a mess! After 15 minutes of me hanging around them I think they got used to me and when I had to leave they all gave me high fives.

Be Blessed tout les mondes! ~Fanta