Help for the people in Mali
Wonderful meetings in a colourful country
6 women of the Swiss Clubs Bad Ragaz and Chur could take the possibility to accompany Roswitha Ott, SI / E Project Manager Africa, on her journey to Mali. Once not only listen to Roswitha’s report on the projects in progress and on the new plans for the future, but visit an African country ourselves and see, what problems people, and especially women and children, daily has to face, was a deeply touching experience.
At November the 5 we arrived in Bamako, the capital city of Mali, and were warmly welcomed by the sisters of the two clubs in the city; Club Bamako Lumière and Club Bamako Espoir.
In the following three days we visited the villages of Diffémou, Sanankorobougou, Soukoulabougou, Bla and Tallo and saw impressive achieved work.
In Diffémou and Sanankorobougou we saw the new built wells. They go down to 23 meters, are functioning with India-pumps and work very well. Tablets on the wall of the wells tell the names of the financing Clubs and single persons.
In the small village of Diffémou we also visited the school with its 3 classrooms. Unfortunately the school is not in a good shape. Only two years ago the building was repaired as best as possible, but the rooms are already visibly dilapidated and the school is too small for the growing group of about 300 children. Happily the new school-toilets function very well and they are clean.
On Saturday, we had the honour to inaugurate the new wonderful well in Soukoulabougou. This new well in this small village, about 2 hours to drive from Bamako, will become a model for other wells in the region. It is also around 23 meters deep, well protected, with two water places for animals and in the Soroptimist colours. To build the well cost about 5’000 Euro and was financed by a couple in the area of the Club Bad Ragaz.
The sisters of the Club Bamako Espoir, which their work on the scene, were helping enormous that this well has been built so well.
In all visited villages we were very impressed, how good the wells are maintained and how estimate the people that help. A well in their area makes live much easier and the clean water supports health. Every visit was accompanied by dancing and music, by gifts and speeches from different persons. What colourful, friendly meetings!
Back in Bamako we visited the project of the school of the nuns of Marie Immaculée, where 22 girls with difficult backgrounds can get basic school instructions and an apprenticeship as tailors in a three year program. The school few is payed by Swiss godmothers. Roswitha Ott is looking year for year that it is possible for the young girls to continue their studies. After a sight in to the lessons, Roswitha Ott had the pleasure to announce the opening of next step of the project, a tailor studio named “Salon de l’ Espoir Brigitte”.
The first two girls who finished the three year program will have an income from their work in the salon.
Another highlight of our journey was the afternoon in the school of Talo. As we arrived, the whole area was gathered under the trees in front of the school. Again there were thanks on both sides, music and dance and at the end our Club-President, Martha-Maria, had to kick off the traditional football-match between the eldest students and the teachers.
Later on our journey, on the way to the sisters of the Club Alliance in Timbuktu, we visited several villages of different ethnic groups. It was always very impressive to see the people on her daily activities, to see all the children and take a short look into a different world. A world that often seems cheerful and happy but in which the poverty and the lack of perspectives are nearly always present. Above all, the children, standing around, having no possibility to go to school, begging, being without any elder person who visibly care about them, filled our hearts and brought several questions and discussions.
After nearly 1000 kilometers from Bamako to Timbuktu; through fields of millet, zones with Baobab-trees, deep-green rice plants and bright-yellow steppe and endless open countryside we were again very well welcomed by the sisters in Timbuktu. There, we visited first a school for children from poor families and could see how motivated the students are.
Later we walked through the legendary town of Timbuktu while Roswitha Ott saw other realised projects and studied new ones.
The Club of Alliance (Timbuktu/Mali) was chartered in 2006 and since then the Club has initiated a lot of projects and hast become a strong and active group.
We met the women of the Club for a very special dinner at the roof of Madame Aissa Baba Touré’s house. There was a lot of chattering and laughing between the women and some new bonds between Mali and Switzerland have started, this evening.
A big “Thank you” to Roswitha Ott who gave us the opportunity to join her and to see some of her work and also a big, colourful “Thank you” to all the women who accompany us during our journey!
6. Dec. 2009 / Barbara Gmünder
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