Burkina, Gambia, or Lesotho?


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Africa » Mali » District of Bamako » Bamako
February 23rd 2007
Published: February 23rd 2007
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So after waiting a painfully long time, I am very happy to have three transfer options! They are teaching positions in Burkina the Gambia in West Africa and in Lesotho in South Africa. I have very little time to make a decision and not much specific information about the assignments. So I did my best to research each place and to talk to people who had served there. Here are some of the details on each. (Info courtesy of the BBC, UNAIDS, fgmnetwork.org, my friends, and my friends’ friends.)

Burkina Faso:

Full name: Burkina Faso
Population: 12.8 million (via UN, 2006)
Capital: Ouagadougou
Area: 274,200 sq km (105,870 sq miles)
Language: French (official), 50 Sudanic languages (90%!)(MISSING)
Religion: animist 40%!,(MISSING) Sunni Muslim 50%!,(MISSING) Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%! (MISSING)
Life expectancy: 47 years (men), 48 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
Main exports: Cotton, animal products, gold
GNI per capita: US $400 (World Bank, 2006)
Adult HIV prevalence: 2%! (MISSING)
Prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM): 76.6%! (MISSING)
Climate: Hot year round. Humidity is greatest from May to October. November to March is dry and dusty.
Landscape: Generally flat and dry. Greener in the south near Ghana, drier and sandier to the north.
Overview: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1032616.stm
What I’ve heard about it from other PCVs: Traditional religions are still widely practiced. Lots of dancing, drumming, masks, black magic. More rigid social structure than Guinea (hierarchy of who is more important than who, need to dress nicer and make sure not to do things with the left hand). People speak French well compared to Guinea.
My assignment: Teaching secondary math, chemistry, and/or physics in French for classes of 50-100 students. Begin immediately, finish this school year, teach all of next year, finish my service in June 2008.



The Gambia:

Full name: Republic of The Gambia
Population: 1.5 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Banjul
Area: 11,295 sq km (4,361 sq miles)
Language: English (official), Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, other indigenous dialects
Religion: Muslim 85%!,(MISSING) with animist and Christian minorities
Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 dalasi = 100 butut
Main exports: Peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
GNI per capita: US $290 (World Bank, 2006)
Adult HIV prevalence: 2%! (MISSING)
Prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM): 60-90%!((MISSING)varies by ethnic group)
Climate: Hot, humid year round. Rainy season from May to October. Similar to Conakry, Guinea.
Landscape: A strip of land on the banks of the Gambia River, it is humid, flat, and green.

Overview: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1032156.stm
What I’ve heard about it from other PCVs: Lots of volunteers in a small country, you have PCV neighbors close by. English is the national language but is not necessarily spoken well. PC administrative staff not as good as in Guinea.
My assignment: Teaching secondary math in English for classes of 50-100 students. Begin immediately, finish this school year, teach all of next year, finish my service in June 2008.



Lesotho:

Full name: The Kingdom of Lesotho
Population: 1.8 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Maseru
Area: 30,355 sq km (11,720 sq miles)
Major languages: Sesotho, English
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 35 years (men), 38 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 loti (L) = 100 lisente
Main exports: Clothing, wool, mohair, food, livestock
GNI per capita: US $960 (World Bank, 2006)
Adult HIV prevalence: 25-30%! (MISSING)
Prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM): not practiced
Climate: Mild most of the year, snow is frequent in the winter.
Landscape: Very mountainous. The only country that lies entirely above 1,000 m above sea level. Most of the country is above 1,800 m/6,000 ft and includes the highest land in southern Africa, which rises to 3,300 m/11,000 ft.
Overview: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1063291.stm
What I’ve heard about it from other PCVs: Beautiful scenery. Many small villages only accessible on foot or on horseback. High AIDS rate means that you will get to know people who will die during your service, but also that HIV/AIDS education work is very important and rewarding. Easy access to developed areas of South Africa, good transportation there makes traveling around the region easy. Much to see, lots of tourism. Small country and lots of volunteers means close PCV neighbors. English is the national language but is not necessarily spoken well. Some rumors of harrassment of female PCVs, but not sure if it’s any worse than around here. Desperate for math teachers.
My assignment: Teaching secondary math in English in a rural or semi-urban area.


Guinea:

Full name: The Republic of Guinea
Population: 8.8 million (UN, 2005)
Capital: Conakry
Area: 245,857 sq km (94,926 sq miles)
Language: French (official), Susu, Pular (Fulfude), Malinke, and other African languages
Religion: Muslim 85%!,(MISSING) Christian 6%!,(MISSING) animist
Life expectancy: 53 years (men), 54 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Guinean franc = 100 centimes
Main exports: Bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products
GNI per capita: US $370 (World Bank, 2006) Adult HIV prevalence: 3%! (MISSING)
Prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM): 98.6%! (MISSING)
Climate: Hot and humid near the coast, slightly cooler in the middle of the country, hot and dry in the east. Rainy season from May to October.
Landscape: Green near the coast and in the highlands in the middle of the country, dry and flat in the east, tropical forest in the southermost area.



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13th February 2008

years
of educatoin

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