Running Across Borders Team Girls
Running Across Borders Team Girls
After meeting the Running Across Borders athletes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, GGRF supporter Bonnie MacAllister was more inspired than ever to continue working on the Women's Caucus for Art Philadelphia Chapter exhibition "Girls Gotta Run: Bodies in Motion."
As one of fourteen participants in a Fulbright-Hays award for American school teachers to write the national curriculum on Ethiopia, she traveled to Addis Ababa and its environs this past summer to study Amharic language, history, culture, and migrations. The group studied at the Forum for Social Studies under historian Shimelis Bonsa (University of Addis Ababa, UCLA) and his colleagues. The other participants also were excited to meet the GGRF sponsored RAB girls and their Running Across Borders male housemates, so the group was able to adjust their rigorous agenda late in the trip for a house and school visit at their camp compound. The students were in English class when the Fulbright group arrived. Since the compound was located in Ayat Square, eight to ten kilometers from the Ring Road, they had a little difficulty finding it when they neared, but one of the Running Across Borders students ran several blocks to board the bus and show them how to reach the camp.
Fulbright Group
The Fulbright scholars tasted sweet and salty tea, explained their purpose in Ethiopia, and happily saw the students' excitement reflected in their eyes. They mirrored each other in an Ethiopia shoulder shaking dance and even told jokes that managed to translate from Amharic to English. The scholars learned that the younger students had begun learning completely in English after 8th grade, so while the language barrier was slightly challenging for some, there were many students, as well as the English teacher, who were eager to be translators. The Fulbright-Hays group donated athletic shirts, a Flyers bag, and several school supplies to the runners. Bonnie spoke about the GGRF exhibition, telling the girls about her pleasure to be affiliated with the organization that helps pay the expenses of the female athletes training there. The young women were very thankful and hugged Bonnie and her colleagues repeatedly. MacAllister said, "They smiled with their entire bodies as they embraced me, and I could feel the power in their feet and their minds that drives them to be so successful."
In October, the Women's Caucus for Art Philadelphia Chapter hosts the exhibition "Bodies in Motion." The exhibition will include work from members Alison Altergott, Deborah McCarthy, Diana Riukas, Ellen Bonett, Ellie Brown, Gina D'Emilio, Jacquie Jrolf, Joan Arbeiter, Joanna Fulginiti, Bonnie MacAllister, Marcelle Pachnowski, Michelle Wilson, Maria Caruso, Rachel Udell, and Timothea Canny. In addition to the original artwork sales which will be donated to Girls Gotta Run Foundation, the WCA will conduct a raffle fundraiser.
To help the Girls Gotta Run Foundation support this and other teams, you can make a donation via Paypal from the GGRF Donations page. You can also use www.goodsearch.com as your search and shopping engine, specifying Girls Gotta Run as the charity you support.
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