One of the great things about the trip to the cartoon exhibition in Algiers was having the Cultural Affairs office at the US Embassy set up opportunities for us to visit an orphanage, a troubled child center, and a women's shelter.
My day of food poisoning left me out of the visit to the child center, but I did have a great trip to the orphanage and women's shelter. I don't have pics of the orphanage yet, but it was called SOS-KINDERDORF INTERNATIONAL. They have orphanages in 46 countries and a really great model... the orphanage permanently adopts the kids so that they are not in limbo. They live in sweet little houses, about 8 kids and their "mom", in a green walled compound with a school. They can live there until age 27 and will forever consider their "mom" and the other staffers and kids as their family.
Allan Cavanagh, a caricaturist from Ireland, visited SOS KINDERDORF with me and we drew with the kids. When we drew scenes that called for houses, they drew tents, a common abode in rural Algeria.
Next, I visited an amazing women's shelter, called SOS FEMMES EN DESTRESSE. They offer shelter, psychological help, and training to women in dire straits... from battered women to poor women to women who have made their way as refugees from Sudan and Somalia. These women may end up as prostitutes, so SOS seeks to intervene.
To make their services known they use posters. Recently, they met a young woman trying to escape a forced marriage. She also happened to be a budding cartoonist. They used her to create a poster that informs both men and women of the newly updated Family Laws, designed to offer more protection for women.
I really enjoyed meeting the staff of this great organization. Thanks to Wassila (center) from the US Embassy for arranging it.
Below, the staff of SOS Femme en Detresse who made time in their day to see me. From left to right:
Ms. Benyala Meriem, President of the Association; Ms. Wared Sabrina, Secretary General; Wassila Silarbi from the American Consulate; Moi; Ms. Oudil Rabaiaa, Director.
For some women, computer training is available. As both Algeria and Morocco have low literacy rates, they also offer traditional handcraft training (weaving, basketry) for women as well.
Their computer instructor... Farid Belkedid —
All my best wishes to the many great organizations devoted to improving the lives of women and children everywhere.
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