Meet Superwoman...I mean Tracy. She made this cape out of an umbrella she found abandoned on the side of the road. |
Tracy was the very first person I met
when I landed in Philadelphia for Peace Corps staging last June. As I
hopped on the shuttle to the hotel, I saw two women. One was clearly
a business woman and not part of our group. The other turned out to be Tracy.
We formed an instant connection not
only because we were bound for Lesotho together and part of the Greater Than Average demographic but because she has
once sailed aboard the Mary Day
as a guest when my great friend Sara was chief mate. This was clearly
a woman after adventures and ready to do whatever it takes to make
such adventures happen!
Tracy
is from the Midwest. She is a mother to three boys, all of whom are
currently serving in the US military. She is a gifted and energetic
educator, having spent most of her career as a school librarian. She
is a baker extraordinaire. It is impossible to have a Peace Corps
workshop with her without enjoying some sort of delicious treat. I
can only imagine the things she would be whipping up with more than a
two burner gas stove!
Tracy, me, and two other PCVs atop Thaba Bosiu during PST. |
Sadly,
Tracy and I live fairly far apart. She is south of the capital city,
in the district of Mafateng. Although she predominantly works with
the Healthy Boithatelo Youth Organization, she has found and created
a million connections within her district and between outside
entities and her district. She is a resource and role model for other
PCVs in this area. Whether it is getting bikes to teach women and
girls, getting books to start a small children's library out
of her house, or trying to get two inflatable kayaks donated to teach
people the joys of boating safely; she is always looking for ways to bring new
and valuable experiences to her community.
While
most of the volunteers in our group are only just beginning to work
on major projects, Tracy's project is in full swing. She is working
with the women in her organization to create a sewing business.
Ultimately, they hope to turn a building into their sewing
headquarters/children's library. They were able to get donations to
buy a handful of hand-crank sewing machines as they do not have
electricity.
With more than 16 months left of service, I can only imagine the level of sustainability this project with achieve and the additional things Tracy will accomplish!
2 comments:
Tracy is not only a fabulous PCV, she is loving and warm friend always ready to share a new adventure.
Wow! Thanks Beth. What a very nice story. I truly flattered and humble, which I often don't do well.
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