A Day in the Life of a Senegalese Women's Prisoner
Narrow foam mattresses line the walls of the two rooms that fifty incarcerated women share. A few have managed to hang up individual mosquito nets. Most go without and face the consequences of exposure to "the deadliest creature in Africa."
The morning's activities could include showers (fifty women share two showers, so you can imagine the lines!), doing laundry (for which each woman has to provide her own soap), and sweeping and mopping the common areas.
Breakfast, which consists of a piece of baguette with coffee or milk, is taken at around 10 or 11 AM. Each prisoner is responsible for her own morning meal, so whoever doesn't have the means to buy her bread has to wait till 2 PM for lunch.
Cooking duties for the midday meal, the biggest meal of the day, are shared among the women. The prison authorities provide the rice, fish, and oil, and the cook assigned that day must furnish the spices, vegetables and garnishes that make it a meal.
The only thing that distinguishes one day from the other is the charitable organization's workers who come to visit that afternoon. Studies and classes by Catholics, Muslims, Evangelicals, and a secular organization offer a break from the mind-numbing monotony of life. Holidays offer another escape, as the inmates get decked out in their most beautiful outfits and the usual fish is replaced with sheep, goat, or beef, and rice makes way for vermicelli or couscous.
The evening meal is late and light, at 8 or 9 PM, and often consists of either porridge or potatoes or pasta with an onion sauce. The one room that has a small television sees women gathering around for some evening entertainment, while others take turns showering.
As for our role, our Tuesday afternoon bible studies began almost two years ago, with a Christmas party that ended with a gospel presentation and an invitation to receive Christ. Six Catholic and one Muslim woman responded, and a small bible study began with two faithful sisters taking turns teaching via translator. Then, the opportunity presented itself to broadcast chonological bible storying lessons in Wolof, and both the team and the prison authorities gave the ok. Soon thereafter, our attendance doubled, with the new women consisting of Muslims. What a thrill it was to me to see these ladies who have so little exposure to the gospel taking their place on mats and stools around our little MP3 player as we listened to stories from the Word of God together. Afterwards, we have a time of question and answer, followed by prayer and song. These visits are one of the highlights of my week. If you think of it, please pray for these dear women who so desperately need the Lord.
The morning's activities could include showers (fifty women share two showers, so you can imagine the lines!), doing laundry (for which each woman has to provide her own soap), and sweeping and mopping the common areas.
Breakfast, which consists of a piece of baguette with coffee or milk, is taken at around 10 or 11 AM. Each prisoner is responsible for her own morning meal, so whoever doesn't have the means to buy her bread has to wait till 2 PM for lunch.
Cooking duties for the midday meal, the biggest meal of the day, are shared among the women. The prison authorities provide the rice, fish, and oil, and the cook assigned that day must furnish the spices, vegetables and garnishes that make it a meal.
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| International Women's Day 2012 Party Two white girls with no rhythm forced to dance before a crowd of 200 people. Our friend in black (one of the women in our study) came to our rescue! |
The evening meal is late and light, at 8 or 9 PM, and often consists of either porridge or potatoes or pasta with an onion sauce. The one room that has a small television sees women gathering around for some evening entertainment, while others take turns showering.
As for our role, our Tuesday afternoon bible studies began almost two years ago, with a Christmas party that ended with a gospel presentation and an invitation to receive Christ. Six Catholic and one Muslim woman responded, and a small bible study began with two faithful sisters taking turns teaching via translator. Then, the opportunity presented itself to broadcast chonological bible storying lessons in Wolof, and both the team and the prison authorities gave the ok. Soon thereafter, our attendance doubled, with the new women consisting of Muslims. What a thrill it was to me to see these ladies who have so little exposure to the gospel taking their place on mats and stools around our little MP3 player as we listened to stories from the Word of God together. Afterwards, we have a time of question and answer, followed by prayer and song. These visits are one of the highlights of my week. If you think of it, please pray for these dear women who so desperately need the Lord.
Angie- I am curious as to why these women are incarcerated in the first place. We always hear of what we consider minor offenses being extravagantly over-punished in so many countries. Also is there any such program offered to non-incarcerated women's groups?
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