Despite having to face death every time they deliver a chile, to walk miles to fetch water, to watch helplessly as diseases ravage their children's tiny bodies, the Ouelessebougou women exude dignity, joy, serenity and love.
Cooperation and sisterhood replace competition. They look after each other'schildren with the same care they would show their own. In some families, the women exchange their infant sones or daughters for life to avoid possessiveness. With their children working by their sides and depending on them, the women feelan essential part of their village's growth and health.The African women ask their Utah friends for basic tools to make their lives less painful. But it is clear they do no covet the Western culture.
While they have limited resources, they do not feel they are poor. They contribute to the alliance between the American and African cultures with pride, believing they have much to share.
A combination of the best from the Western and African worlds "will be good for both people," they say.