Join The Tandana Foundation for a Volunteer Vacation in Mali, West Africa
January 17-February 1, 2009
Click here to register online!
• help a village work towards food security
• visit the ancient Islamic city of Tombouctou (Timbuktu)
• travel by pinasse on the Niger River
• hike Dogon Country, a UN World Heritage site
• camel trek with the nomadic Tuareg people into the Sahara and sleep under the stars
• tour the mosque at Djenne, the world’s largest mud-brick structure
• learn about and experience local arts such as mudcloths (bogolans) and dance
The Tandana Foundation is looking for a small group of dedicated and open-minded people to join this excursion to Mali, where we will spend time working on the construction of a grain bank for the village of Kansongho. The grain bank, which the village association and local NGO Dje-Yamen have initiated, will allow the village to work towards achieving food security, purchasing grain just after the harvest and selling it at a constant price so that families can afford it when they run out of their own supplies. We are looking for volunteers willing to come get dirty with us, live in local villages, and be amazed at the generosity and hospitality of new friends. Before and after our work, we will be rewarded with a tour of Mali's spectacular and diverse countryside, meeting all kinds of people along the way, from fishermen to nomads, wood carvers to textile producers. This trip is an excellent opportunity to visit a remote, magnificent region, rich in history, and simultaneously to give back in ways that really can make a difference.
Itinerary
Day 1: arrive in Bamako
Day 2: orientation, visit the National Museum, relax
Day 3: drive to Djenne
Day 4: see Djenne's famous mosque and other fascinating sights
Day 5: travel on the Niger River by pinasse to Mopti
Day 6: drive to the Bandiagara Escarpment, visit the villages of Tereli, where Tandana has funded a school garden, and Ennde, famous for mudcloths, indigo cloths, woodcarvings and other Dogon crafts
Day 7: travel to the village of Kansongho, meet our hosts, and begin work on the project
Days 8-10: in Kansongho, work on the grain bank construction and anti-erosion dikes in the fields. After work, relax with villagers, drink Malian tea, and learn about local culture
Day 11: bid farewell to friends in Kansongho, drive to Sevare, and celebrate with a nice dinner
Day 12: drive to Tombouctou (Timbuktu)
Day 13: ride camels into the Sahara desert and sleep under the stars
Day 14: return from the desert, and visit historic Timbuktu
Day 15: fly to Bamako and home
Day 16: arrive home
Cost: $2500, does not include airfare to Bamako, Mali but includes all in-country transportation, food, lodging, and activities.
See the project location on a map and more photos
For more information, email tandanafoundation@gmail.com or shanongaro@hotmail.com
