School is starting...

Thursday the 29th was the preschool children and my very own first day of school. I don’t know why the younger children start so late because the 1st to 5th graders have been in school for two months now, but anyways they were very surprised to see me. I'll begin with the school, it is one long big room with no closed doors or windows, but a roof there is. It’s been in this condition for two years. You can imagine how difficult it can get, especially when all the older children from the other schools who have never seen a white girl can distract the classroom. They pop their heads, laugh, cross the classroom, and get in and out of it. A little frustrating, because of the disrespect and distraction it can cause, but I can understand their interest. Not necessarily because of my color but for the reason why I am here.

Anyways to continue with the preschool classroom, it doesn’t have much other than a small round table, mini desks and chairs (adorable by the way), a small chalkboard and a mat for the children for circle time. The assistants made wonderful decorations, which brings life to the dark cold room. There are two assistants, and no permanent teacher for about 30 children. The teacher who hasn’t arrived yet, stays for a short period of time until the next rotation. I was told that since the school is about only two years, the educational board waits until the third year before they send a full time teacher. They want to make sure that there is a solid demand in the village; Not very assuring if you ask me. I forgot to mention the restroom situation which in my society would be considered shocking, but to for them, it works. The children must do their business outside in the bushes. As for the boys, lucky them, they have a concrete structure on the floor with a hole to go number #1. Hey, at least they learn quickly how to aim a target. It isn’t as bad as it seems and yes they wash their hands. My lovely students, have big eyes for me. Let’s just say they listen during singing, dancing and snack time. Other than that you can imagine what 30 children can be like. First day though!

For being someone who doesn’t like attention, I came to the wrong place. Whenever I step outside the house, it takes only 1 child to attract an other and by the time you know it, I have 20 children behind me following every step I make.

-- CASSANDRE

Yacoli...here we are!

Last Tuesday, we traveled to Yacoli the village that inspired and gave the organization its name. We are spending a week here. I will be teaching and Yolande will be organizing budgeting seminars, computer workshops, talking to villagers, and working hard to develop and help improve the villager’s life style. Coming here was a bumpy adventure. The village is 4hours away from Abidjan. We travailed by car with a driver, a bodyguard actually a soldier accompanied by his Ak 47. He made our travels faster and avoided us to get pulled over each time we went above the speeding limit. The ride was as I said bumpy because of the big potholes in the middle of the narrow road. I was amazed to see how fast we were going on these small roads with both sides of traffic, little rain here and there and people riding their bikes or walking on each side of the road. We made it and I didn’t fall asleep, which is surprising because car rides and watching movies on the couch are sleepy times for me. The scenery was so beautiful. Ugh! We were in the middle of a tropical forest everything is green, spacious so many things caught my eyes. Especially, the small towns and their houses, the markets, the villagers, clothing and all the colors of those combined. I love to see the woman carrying food, laundry or wood on their heads with the baby wrapped behind them and their little heads-popping out. Before leaving, I promised myself that I am going to learn how to wrap the baby behind me.

The best part of the day was the traditional welcome we got by the chief and important people of the village. They welcomed us by singing and dancing and yes guess who had to dance! Yep, I had to celebrate too and they brought me to the circle. Apparently, they’re going to know me as the white girl who can dance like an African woman and the girl who wants to steel their baby’s hahah! (They don’t know that yet though) Anyways they were impressed by my moves and Yolande’s going to You Tube it to share with you all. What a marvelous day!

-- CASSANDRE

First Days in Cote d'Ivoire

After 26 hours of traveling; Los Angeles - Dubai, Dubai - Abidjan we finally arrived to our anticipated designation, ton- ton- ton ABIDJAN. Today October 24th, second day of our adventure, I am very pleased to be here even in the humidity and heat that is my enemy for having the skin of snow white. My heart has mixed messages of the city. The City itself is yes, unfortunately in need of reconstruction, financing, cleaning and poverty which being its main aggressor, but hidden in the City are a group of educated fighters (and I don’t mean that violently) who fight with love and compassion for the development of their city and country. These men and woman that I had the chance to see express there realistic engagement at a conference called “African forum economic” discussing as the title in tales, the economy of Africa and what must be done to improve it. Even though the topics and discussions were a little too hard for me to understand because of the economic language they sang to me. The quality of their French was so distinguished and refined, it sounded like a lullaby. The reason for my sensibility of the city is the large gap between what you see and what you don’t see between the poverty and groups of inspirational leaders who are working so hard to get them out of this negative perception. Yes, they still have a long way to go but people should celebrate and reinforce their actions.

In two days I have made a wonderful friend, Yanise of age one, have blushed too many times from many smiles of an adorable boy Librone missing a front tooth, have fallen in love with a home made chocolate cake, have eaten and is living like a queen, is humored by a man that carries three cell phones and a phonebook that shall not be named, is in need of a Boubou and last but not least, has had a slap in the face more than a reality check on how uncultivated I am about the world and will start interesting myself by finally reading the paper. Abidjan I like you!

-- CASSANDRE

New web address: WWW.YACOLI.ORG

As you know, we are changing our name from Yakoly.org to Yacoli.Org in order to accurately reflect the name of the village that inspired us! Our web address is now www.yacoli.org!

New Online Store!!

We just announced our first online store where the proceeds of all items will be for the benefit of the villages! You can go on http://www.cafepress.com/yacoli to browse and purchase some of the products. Here is the new logo we decided to use:



In effort to bring more native or local arts from the Ivory Coast to the forefront, we will seek unusual articles to add to the store. Of course all benefits will go toward the development programs.

Yacoli Pre School

I was cleaning my computer files and found an old video of us and Santa in the village of Yacolidabouo during the 2007 Christmas holiday! I know this video is on our youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/YakolyOrg

But here is a quick look at what we have: