Providing Alternatives through Dance and Theater

Though Sadio suffered a mild stroke in July, she's back on her feet, fully operational once more, and sends her thanks to all of you who sent her their speedy recovery wishes.

During the summer, Sadio extended Ussoforal's reach to Takoma Park, Maryland where she taught African Dance at the Head Start program for elementary school children. She also organized a children's benefit workshop in Boston.

Throughout the summer, friends and workshop participants generously contributed clothing and school supplies for the Ussoforal children in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. 22 duffle bags of contributions have been shipped to Dakar, Senegal, and Sadio is currently in Tanzania on her way to Dakar where she will distribute the donations among to children in Dakar, Ziguinchor and Bissau. The University of Dayton, where Sadio's daughter Marie starred on the women's basketball team, also contributed 42 basketballs for the kids!

In addition, Sadio received direct sponsorship donations to cover the school fees for 20 Ussoforal children. Just $50 to $100 allows a child to attend school for an entire year, but even this small sum puts school out of reach for many children. So your sponsorship donations are all greatly appreciated.

Ussoforal in Bissau continues to conduct 3 adult literacy classes with 20 participants per class, the large majority of whom are women from the Plack 2 neighborhood. 6 volunteer teachers provide the instruction, 1 of whom participated in a Training of Trainers course offered by the Portuguese Cultural Center as a gesture of support to Ussoforal. 3 drumming and dance instructors also volunteer their support to Ussoforal in Bissau, one of whom has traveled from Senegal to strengthen the cultural exchange between the 2 countries.

Adult literacy classes continue to be conducted in borrowed classrooms, and the drumming and dancing classes still take place in the courtyard of Sadio's house. So the construction of the Ussoforal Social Center still remains a top priority for the group's further development. Any help that you can provide will be greatly appreciated, as would any contributions to cover transport costs and additional didactic materials for the volunteer instructors. Every little bit helps a lot.

And if you are looking for a meaningful and highly satisfying African experience, Sadio would be thrilled if you could come and join her in her work with the children, for howver long your schedule would allow!

Sadio is soon to begin preparations for Ussoforal's 10th annivesary on March 30. Many local performers have already pledged their participation to support the group and to help make the children's dreams come true. You'll be hearing more about this in the next project update.

Thank you all so much for your continued support!