SHWIA MICA (less/little plastic)
Gee, it actually came together! There was a total of 44 females and 12 males attending. Chris spoke in the Berber language, and the other men in Moroccan Arabic. Then Sana (the woman who I am training to run the boutique) and I did a role play in which she owned the store and I was a customer who had my own cloth bag as well as clear plastic sacks in which to put the produce. It was a diverse offering of the same simple message, (use fewer plastic bags) and I think it went over very well. The main concern was not so much about the manufacture of bags, but the use/disposal of them. Used bags are everywhere...very ugly, of course, as well as
harmful to the environment. Tea and cake completed the session!
The girls and women who attended can come back in two weeks and will be provided with material and thread to make one cloth bag for their family. Two volunteers from "down south" who having sewing talents will come and help me out with that project. A great event!

I got good news yesterday when I learned that a package I sent about six weeks ago containing hand-made goods from women here finally arrived at the Global Village store in Billings. This afternoon I was treated to beans and bread lunch followed by a chocolate ice cream bar from my volunteer friend who lives in my post office town; got birthday greetings and letter in the mail, and am going to live it up tonight with buttered popcorn, diet coke and a movie! It is so good to have days like this!