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Gabrielle Miller
Celebrating an emotional visit to Africa, 'Corner Gas' star Gabrielle Miller shares her Diary exclusively with 'Hello!' Canada. 'I now understand why this continent seeps into people's souls'
Photos: Philip Maher
Describing it as "one of the most amazing and humbling experiences of my life," actress Gabrielle Miller- who stars on CTV's hit show Corner Gas- spent much of her holiday season on a mission to Africa with World Vision, a nonprofit organization that provides relief programs to the world's poorest families. Gabrielle supports many charitable causes and couldn't wait to meet her sponsored child, Sanye, in Mali. Here, she shares a diary of her trip, written exclusively for Hello! Canada.
A Warm Welcome in Mali
I arrive in Niamana village in central Mali to children chanting, "Vive Canada! Vive solidarity!" Hundreds of children come out to meet me and shake my hand. They don't know me, but I represent the Canadians who have done so much for this village and they all want to show their gratitude. The community dances for hours. Music from traditional instruments; amplified by ear-splitting speakers and powered by a car battery, makes the entire village sway from side to side. I can't resist the invitation to dance with the warmest, friendliest people I have ever met. After only a few hours, I now understand why this continent seeps into peoples's souls.
My Meeting with Sanye
It's hard to imagine how my African experience could become even more amazing, but it does. I meet my World Vision sponsored child, Sanye and her mother at Sanye's school and walk home with them. She's a shy little girl, a hard worker with a gorgeous smile. When we go to school in Canada, It's a simple decision always supported by parents and the community. But here, parents want children, especially girls, to stay home and do chores. Sanye lives with her grandparents since her mom and dad live a few kilometers out of town where there is no school for her. So their commitment to her education is very solid. What a delight to meet this charming little girl and know that I was helping her in a tiny way. When I leave, we give each other a big hug and I tell her I'll write her.
Education for All
"Education for all" is a simple name for World Vision's education project, but it's no easy task in a place like this. The first mission is not building schools; it's convincing parents that all children need to go to school. Boys tend to go to primary school more than girls, but even boys are needed to work in the fields and tend to the goats. So schooling is not always made a priority. But this program is changing things. Talking to elders and helping communities understand that both girls and boys need to study, is beginning to take effect. Schools are built only after families see the importance of education. This school was built three years ago. This year alone, they have built more than 80 classrooms. Given the preference often given to boys, it was profoundly moving to see that 60 per cent of the teens in this school are girls.
'Tis Better To Give...
OK, how strange is this? Me, a vegetarian, giving away pigs and goats! But these are more than gifts. They are ways of extending life for families here. With goats and pigs, families can breed the animals and sell them. Families are overjoyed to get the animals and they talk about how this will help them pay for school fees and other critically needed items. I'm humbled to be working with such hard-working people, and I'm constantly amazed at how simple things can do so much here. I visit a nursery where moringa trees are grown and given out to families. The tree leaves are exceptionally high in vitamins and minerals. I help a girl, Aminata, and her mom plant a tree we gave them. We water it and put up a barrier to keep the goats from eating the leaves.
The Elixir of Life
"Water is life!" declares Samuel Diarra when we meet him at a well drilling site. Samuel is head of Wold Vision's drilling in Mali and this is the 221st borehole he has drilled. For the last few years, he has averaged one well a week. His passion and enthusiasm are infectious as he tells me how a borehole helps villagers live longer, healthier lives. As we talk, a huge spout of water suddenly shoots 50 feet in the air, and hundreds of people rush out from the village and begin to celebrate. We all join in. What a wonderful way to end my trip to this wonderful place. These villagers' lives are changed forever- and so is mine.