Dear All
I am used to write factual reports of my visits to other countries. With Mali it is a bit different. It is a country so full of hospitality and friendliness. So please apologize when my emotions shine through from time to time. For the first time I was travelling with six members of my own Club Bad Ragaz who have helped me a lot during my nine years as Mama Africa. I wanted to show them the results of their work. For me and for them it was a very good experience. It was impressive to see the reactions of the six ladies to the work done in Mali by the Clubs of Mali and by SI/E and by the Club Bad Ragaz itself.
5 November 2009
Arrival in Bamako late at night. We were welcomed by many Soroptimists of the two Clubs Lumière and Espoir and the travelling office Amadou Traore.
6 November 2009
Diffémou
As always in Mali, the first trip goes to the long-term project Diffémou. The children welcomed us with enthusiasm and showed us the school and the new toilets. The very old building was repaired best we could two years ago: a new roof, new benches, new paint on the walls. But it is obvious that Diffémou needs a new schoolhouse with six rooms. Today 300 children go to school in three rooms in two groups, one in the morning, the other one in the afternoon.
The new well and the toilets function very well and are clean. But we were a bit disappointed that the medical centre was not open and the midwife not present.
School of the nuns of Marie Immaculée
Since 2005 many Swiss godmothers finance the 22 girls in the Centre of Marie Immaculée. This project has developed very well. The girls have learnt to read and write and after three years of basic instruction they can start an apprenticeship as tailors. Two of them have finished already and present their diplomas. The next step in this project is the opening of tailor studio called “Salon de l’Espoir Brigitte” where the girls who have finished their training can work as tailors and earn a living. Asked amount for room rent for the first year, 10 machines, tables and the material EUR 3’500.
7 November 2009
A water day in the area of Kati with Club Bamako Espoir
Water projects in Sanankorobougou
The population of Sanankorobougou welcomes us with music and dance. Everybody seams to be happy and so are we. This village has now two new wells financed by members of Club Bad Ragaz and my former students. It is good to see the very stable buildings. The wells are furnished with India-pumps, go down to 23 meters and work well.
Inauguration of the well of Soukoulabougou
What expected us in Soukoulabougou was overwhelming. The local authorities were there, the whole population and of course Mali TV. The well was just wonderful, a new model, in Soroptimist colours! 23 meters deep, well protected and with two water places for the animals. Everybody admired it. It was financed by a couple in my area in the name of their parents who had passed away one year ago. As everybody knew this, the festivity was very solemn and when cutting the ribbon, we begged for the blessing of the dead parents for the village and the water. The contact to the spirit of the ancestors impressed the listening population. For them the ancestors are important because they protect the living.
I left the place with two more projects in the same area, one in Kouloulabougou and a second one in Mountougoulabougou. And of course, it has to be the same model with two water places for the animals and in blue and yellow.
I would like to stop for a moment in my report and thank the Club Bamako Espoir and Aminata Traore for the big development work done during the past two years and the constant contact with me. Without this good communication the three wells would not spend the badly needed water to a population.
8 November 2009
Bla
Welcome by the women of Bla, where Club Liestal has helped after the devastating floods in 2008 with new donkeys, carts and tools by selling tulips from Amsterdam! The four wells in the vegetable garden and the fences were rebuilt by Club Kalmar in Sweden.
Village of Tallo
On the way to Tombouctou, Tallo is an inevitable stop. So many Clubs have worked for the development of Tallo under the guidance of Coumba Dembele Traore, a cityzen of Tallo who has dedicated her life to develop of her hometown. Coumba could not be with us because her husband had passed away. As his widow she has to stay in her house mourning for four month and ten days.
Tallo is a good model of development. It has a primary and a secondary school now, a medical centre, vegetable gardens two wells, a grain silo and a football team. I am convinced that also a football team can be a sign of development.
9-12 November 2009
San, Djenn, Bandiagara, Songo and Mopti
On all my trips in Africa I have not seen so much of the tourist sites of the countries. I usually run from one project to the other. With my six Sorores as company, this was now possible. Mali is a wonderful country with a great history and culture.
13-14 November 2009
On the way to Tombouctou and in Tombouctou
Seven hours drive on a sandy track, arrival on the river Niger and waiting for the ferry in a very poor nomad camp of Bozo fishermen. We finally arrived in Tombouctou at 16.00, where members of the Club Alliance expected us.
For my six accompanying sister the next day was dedicated to see the legendary town of Tombouctou. I myself visited our realized projects and studied new ones.
Club Alliance of Tombouctou was chartered in 2006. In the past three years the Club has become a well known and strong group, working to develop the town and the area.
Aissa Baba Kalil Touré, the founding President, is an important motor. The flier of the Club gives evidence of the manifold projects: a mill for the widows of Tombouctou, 27 girls of poor families put to school, building of a well in the poor nomad camp of Koriomé, a scholarship for Dr. Kadida Bocar to improve her knowledge as a medical doctor, medical equipment for the hospital, operation of ten women suffering from ostetric fistula, distribution of mattresses and mosquito nets to the poor population, and so on.
Of course all this was only possible with the help of SI/E and European Clubs. But the result is impressive.
Two new projects are presented to me: Toilets for Koriomé and water for Toya.
The women of Koriomé welcome me and show me with pride their new well financed by the SI/E Action Fund. Cholera and many other diseases have gone back with the clean water. What is missing in the big camp, are the toilets. Everybody uses the river Niger as toilet and further down people drink the same water. I take the new toilet project with me. Is now in the PEP, and I hope it finds sponsors (EUR 10’000).
Toya is too far away and also too dangerous for me to go there after the kidnapping of the two Swiss people. The Mayor of Toya, Mr. Jehia Konta, comes to see me in Tombouctou and presents a water project for 16’000 people in the area of Toya. It is a project with three partners, the ONG AMADE (Association du Mali pour le développement), Soroptimist International and the village Toya.
After a thorough discussion with my own Club Bad Ragaz, the members decide to finance this project (EUR 10’000). Club Alliance,Timbouctou is responsible for the realisation.
I thank all the Clubs of Mali for their warm hospitality, before all I want to thank the Presidents and Past-Presidents and Adama Sidibé and Aminata Traoré. It was a very fruitful trip, not only for, me but also for all the six Soroptmists accompanying me.
Maienfeld 26.11.09 Roswitha Ott, SI/E Project Manager Africa
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