Update: Coronavirus and its impact in Senegal

Dear Andando Family,

With so much changing around the world on a daily basis, it is refreshing to see how people and communities are coming together to support one another. Keeping our staff and the participants in our programs safe is the highest priority for Andando.

In an effort to minimize the spread of coronavirus, Senegal has closed schools, banned religious and social gatherings, issued curfews, and limited transportation both at the border and in-country.

Diya (pictured left in green Andando shirt) is a health worker in the village of Ngor and is instrumental in teaching proper hand washing techniques to the community.

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In response, our staff collaborated with local health workers to provide hand washing stations in all gardens. They are also closely monitoring the recommendations from the government and making sure those in rural communities have access to the information and resources needed to stay safe and healthy

Village chiefs and mayors have expressed their gratitude for the Andando gardens, which are now the sole source of produce for many communities.

Customers come directly to the gardens from local villages to purchase their produce.

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We will continue to keep you updated both on the situation as it unfolds in Senegal, and with bright and inspiring stories of families and children who you have touched with your support!

Follow us on Facebook @TheAndandoFoundation

Senegal Celebrates 60 Years of Independence

Happy Independence Day!

Sixty years ago Senegal peacefully gained its independence from France. We asked our staff to share what a typical Independence Day celebration looks like:

“Unlike the USA, the Senegalese do not organize barbecues. Normally, students will have vacation from March 21 to April 06, it’s youth week!”

— Boubou, Andando Country Director

“We celebrate this holiday in all fourteen regions of the country which has a population of 16 million inhabitants. It is a festival which is traditionally celebrated with a parade including groups such as the military and veterans, civil organizations, working class, crafts, students, and groups doing choreography such as majorettes and martial arts. ”

— Camara, Andando Keur Soce Region Program Manager

Andando staff with members of the women’s garden collective preparing for the region parade. The sign reads “The women of the commune of Keur Soce thank Andando .”

Last year the whole Andando team participated in the parade in Keur Soce along with our partners in the community gardens.

This year, all gatherings and events have been cancelled in response to coronavirus. Families instead will still be celebrating in their homes, with loved ones. (Read more about Senegal’s Independence here.)

To our friends in Senegal, we are celebrating along with you. Happy Independence Day!

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Update: COVID-19 and how it is impacting our Senegal team

Dear Andando Family,

With so much changing around the world on a daily basis, it is refreshing to see how people and communities are coming together to support one another. Keeping our staff and the participants in our programs safe is the highest priority for Andando.

Senegal has closed schools and banned all large gatherings, and our team is responding accordingly.

Local nurses and midwives educate their communities in health and sanitation.

We are adjusting our activities and following the advice of the authorities, while still trying to support the families and children of rural Senegal. We are taking some additional steps such as setting up more hand-washing stations at each of our gardens. We have moved as much work remote as we can, and are limiting travel whenever possible.

Your words of support and all the efforts you all are doing during this time are appreciated as well. We will continue to share news and information on our social media channels and share the bright and inspiring stories of families and children who you have touched with your support!

Be blessed and stay safe.
-From all of us at Andando

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Earlier this week we shared on Facebook how researchers from Senegal and the UK have partnered to develop a handheld rapid test kit. The kits will be made in Senegal and distributed directly to other African nations. Senegal is also leading the way by sharing mobile and suitcase labs with 35 other African nations. If you missed it, you can view the short video below.

Meet Andando’s Country Director, Boubou!

We are very fortunate to have a dedicated and passionate team on the ground in Senegal, working every day to build resilient, thriving communities. We think this team is pretty amazing and are sure you will agree. This is the first in a series introducing the people that make it all possible. (Click here to see others in the series.)

It’s fitting to start with our very first staff member, Boubou Sy (pronounced Boo-boo See), who has a long history with Andando (even before we were officially formed)!

Boubou has been working with Andando in some capacity for over 15 years.

Born and raised in Senegal’s capital city of Dakar, Boubou was a bright young boy who excelled in school and continued on to university to become a teacher.

Andando’s founders, Kevin and Fiona Kiker, first met Boubou while he was a university student volunteering at a center for refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia. That was 20 years ago! Boubou’s passion for helping others made them fast friends. They stayed in touch over the years, and the Kikers made a point to visit Boubou each time they returned to Senegal.

Boubou in his first classroom at the school in Keur Soce. He is now a teacher at the Ousmane Sembene High School in Dakar.

After graduating Boubou found a position in Keur Soce (some 130 miles away from Dakar). When he wasn’t busy teaching or grading papers, Boubou would spend time with local business owners and leaders. These relationships provided the initial foundation on which Andando was formed. Boubou volunteered part-time with Andando by coordinating our first microloan program. He was a one-man-show: interviewing potential recipients, vetting their business plan, distributing funds, making routine checkups, and collecting the loan payments for redistribution.

Boubou with Scott Kelley marking the location for water pipes to be installed in Keur Soce, 2008.

Slowly these projects grew. As more donations came in, water pipes were laid, wells were dug, and over time Boubou, and Andando, became known and trusted in the community. In 2007, Boubou was hired as Andando’s Country Director.

Boubou understands the importance of building strong relationships with members of the community. He takes time to meet with local officials to build and maintain trust and collaboration with Andando. Here he is pictured with the Deputy Governor and community leaders, along with Andando Program Director, Camara; and Executive Director, Lewis Kiker.

While in Keur Soce Boubou met his future wife, Amy Marone, and when his teaching term concluded they moved back to Dakar and started a family.

Boubou and Amy at their wedding in 2009, (Pictured left to right: Fiona Kiker, Crystal Kelley, Amy Marone, Boubou Sy, Scott Kelley, and Carrie Hazelton.)

Boubou and Amy have four children (names and pictures below), who are fortunate to have both parents as teachers: Boubou high school, and Amy junior high.

Boubou and Amy with their four children: their son, Ibrahima, and daughters Youmaissy, and twins Hawa Élisabeth Steady, and Aissatou Fiona Kiker.

Your support enables our staff to help their fellow citizens. We are excited and honored to introduce you to more of our team and share their hope for the future with you. Thank you for your support!

Click here to meet other staff.

Kaolack International Fair

In February, our staff and a couple of the garden collective presidents represented Andando with an informational booth at the Kaolack International Fika (Fair).

The fika is organized by the Chamber of Commerce of the region of Kaolack, of which Keur Soce and surrounding villages are inside of. It is a fair which receives all the countries of the sub-region (Mali, Ivory Coast, Benin, Guinea Conakry, Gambia, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, etc.).

Andando exhibit at the Kaolack International Fika (Fair). Pictured left to right: a potential buyer from a local food market; Camara, Andando Program Manager; Aissatou, a garden collective representative'; and Mandaw, Andando Garden Manager.

For five years Andando has taken part in this fair to exhibit and give more visibility of our community garden program and (more importantly) forged new connections between potential produce buyers and the women who manage the gardens.

The Mayor of Keur Soce, Malick Ndiegane, and his delegates took time to visit the Andando table at the Kaolack International Fair.

“It is always with pride that we share the moments with Andanda, a strategic, dynamic, useful partner, made up of very committed, respectful people who know the meaning of responsibility. Thank you!”

— Malick Ndiegane, Mayor of Keur Soce

The garden presidents were a great asset as they spoke directly to the benefit of Andando gardens in their community and also the food outputs of their respective gardens. Several orders of produce were made, and our staff facilitated the transport of the vegetables from the remote villages to the fair in Kaolack (15+ miles away, or approximately 3 hours by donkey cart).

Andando staff and interns at our table at the Kaolack International Fair.

“This is a great opportunity for Andando because we have made a lot of customers for our gardens thanks to the fair.”

— Camara, Andando Program Manager

Empowerment Through Preventative Care

Nurses and midwives at the Keur Niene Serere health post provide medical care for the immediate and satellite communities.

Imagine having to travel long distances, by foot or donkey cart, to seek medical care. For many in rural Senegal this is a reality, because access to facilities with trained medical staff is extremely limited. This is why for years we have been partnering with local leadership to build health posts in rural Senegalese communities.

Health posts become a beacon in the community; not only do the local midwives and nurses provide much needed medical care for the immediate and satellite communities, but the physical building itself meets the unique needs of each community.

The courtyard of the Keur Niene Serere health post where trees have recently been planted.

Fruit-bearing trees are planted in the courtyard, providing precious shade and nutritious food. This shade creates a comfortable location for community education programs, such as workshops on health and sanitation, empowering local families to take control of their own health.

Further, health posts enable urban medical staff to serve remote communities that would otherwise not have access to vaccines and other preventative healthcare.

Mothers and babies patiently wait their turn to receive vaccinations.

Vaccinations are transported in ice chests. Once they reach the health post they must be administered immediately.

Many rural communities have limited or no access to electricity.  The heath posts utilize solar technology to provide lighting, but higher-draw appliances such as refrigerators require too much electricity for these solar units. 

Nearly all vaccines must be refrigerated, which means they cannot be stored at the health post but rather must be brought from larger cities for immediate administration. Their arrival is much anticipated, and in the course of a single afternoon hundreds of children can receive these necessary vaccinations.

Urban medical staff use rural health posts to provide vaccines and other preventative care for communities that would otherwise not have access.

Community leaders are continually asking us to build health posts in their towns. The need is great. Last year we visited Paymar village and toured their existing health building. The structure and equipment are old and outdated, and the community has exceeded the capacity of the existing facility.

The desk for checking in patients at the current Paymar health facility. A new building is under construction and will be completed soon.

For several years, members of Hub City Church (Albany, Oregon) have donated to build health posts in rural Senegal. To date they have funded eight buildings (!!) and just added another one this year.

Enjoying a post-vaccination lolly pop.

Because of their commitment, the community of Paymar will have a new health post; construction is underway and will be completed very soon.

Health posts empower local families to take control of their own health.

We are excited to be part of a global village that values access to healthcare for all and are looking forward to seeing the health of this village and the surrounding community benefit because of it.

Would you like to make a difference? All gifts, big and small, make a lasting impact. Please consider making (or increasing) a monthly donation. You would be surprised what just $5 a month can accomplish! Click here to make a gift or set up a monthly donation. If you would like to make changes to your existing donation contact Crystal, our Development Director at (541) 224-7990 or crystal@andando.org

You can also help by sharing this opportunity with your service club, church, friends, and family. To schedule a speaking engagement, contact Crystal at crystal@andando.org or (541) 224-7990.

A huge THANK YOU to all our partners who helped make this a reality!

Thank you from the Director - January 2020

2019 was an amazing year for Andando and our partners, and you have made all the difference. Through your generosity, communities have been transformed in rural Senegal. We are now reaching more people than ever, and we have even bigger things planned for 2020.

Meeting with the midwife (center) in Paymar village. Boubou, Andando Senegal Country Director, is pictured right.

This year we expanded our garden program into four new communities, which brings the total to 23 gardens that serve thousands of people boosting nutrition and income. We built classrooms in four villages that are already packed with eager students supported by parents with a renewed vision for their future. Two more rural health posts were completed that meet the healthcare needs of people where they need it most, right at home in their neighborhoods. We were even able to increase our microloan program this year to assist more farmers and small business owners get a step ahead.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of your investment. We hope to do even more in 2020, and we still need your help! Please consider making a donation to Andando today and have the effects felt halfway across the glove. Click here to make a special or recurring gift.

Your contribution makes these programs possible, and the Senegalese send along a BIG “Jerejef!” – Thank You!

Lewis Kiker, Executive Director

Give the Gift of Opportunity this Holiday Season!

Khoyan lives with her husband and their school-aged children in Keur Pathe Malick, a small village of about 2,000.

Together in 2019, we have accomplished so much for the people of Senegal. In rural areas, where a majority of people live in poverty, we have been able to develop programs reaching tens of thousands of people. With your help, we hope to do even more in 2020.

I would like to introduce you to Khoyan. Khoyan lives with her husband and their school-aged children in Keur Pathe Malick, a small village of about 2,000. Here, they farm millet and peanuts during the short three-month rainy season. This food must last them throughout the rest of the year. When stocks run out, the family goes hungry.

Three years ago, the village of Keur Pathe Malick approved the installation of an Andando garden. With your help, a solar well was constructed and now water is available year-round for growing fresh, life-giving food!

Khoyan in her kitchen preparing meals for her family using produce from the garden.

“This garden allows me to support my family, to work to get out of poverty. What you did for my village has never been done before - thank you! ”

— Khoyan

Because of their initiative, drive, and hard work shown in the garden, we were able to develop a deeper partnership with this community by also building a school and completing a health post that will serve thousands of people for years to come.

There are many more families like Khoyan’s; families that can thrive if just given access to water, education, and healthcare.

Khoyan watering her garden plot.

Today, I ask for your support so that we can continue bringing
these life-changing programs to the people of Senegal.

Some of the women of the Keur Pathe Malick Garden Collective.

• $100 feeds ten students nutritious meals at school for a year, helping them learn and grow.

• $250 provides microloans for three small business owners, helping them break the cycle of poverty.

• $500 stocks three rural health posts with medical supplies for a year, keeping people healthy and thriving.

• $1,000 rehabilitates a well, supplying fresh, clean
  water for a village for years to come.

Join us to walk alongside these families to build a brighter future together.
Our programs are built and maintained by you and we Thank You!

With gratitude,

Lewis Kiker
Executive Director

Tree Nursery Construction Update

See the amazing progress our team has made on the Tree Nursery! With thousands of seedlings already propagated we have launched into the second phase of our project - constructing a nursery to protect the seedlings while they grow into trees!

Read more about this project by clicking here.

Bottle Drop: Cans for Change

We have BottleDrop bags, do you have yours? Every bag makes a difference for families in rural Senegal. You can drop your bags at ANY BottleDrop location.

What is BottleDrop?
BottleDrop is a clean convenient way to return your bottles and cans and claim the deposit. There are two ways you can help Andando through BottleDrop:

1. Fill blue fundraising bags with cans and bottles. Drop off at your local BottleDrop location. Andando will receive the funds from your bags.

2. Already have a BottleDrop account? You can transfer funds directly from your account to Andando online.

Need bags? Send us a message and we’ll put some in the mail for you: crystal@andando.org or 541.224.7990

Back to School!

Senegalese students will be returning to their classes soon; for those in Daga Sambu and Fas Toucouleur, this will mean new classrooms and latrines! Over the summer a block of three new classrooms were constructed in Fas Toucouleur, doubling the current capacity of the school.

Excited students outside the nearly completed classrooms in Fas Toucouleur.

Last year 125 students at this school were meeting in temporary classrooms constructed of thatch and millet reeds. This year they will be able to attend class indoors.

Volunteers use cook stoves like these to prepare breakfast for students each day.

Outside of the classrooms, two new latrines were constructed, which will improve sanitation conditions and decrease absences due to illness. School administrators tell us that they anticipate an increase in enrollment, attendance, and test scores because of these upgrades.

Two new cook stoves have been installed for the nutritional programs at other Andando partner schools. With the promise of a full belly, young learners are encouraged to attend school and can focus on their studies.

Community volunteers building walls for teacher housing adjacent to the school.

We are excited to see community involvement increase. On a recent visit to the school in Fas Toucouleur, we met with several volunteers, teachers, parents, and administrators. They are collaborating to make their own improvements by constructing teacher housing adjacent to the school yard. They told us of their increased pride in the school and their hope for a stronger future.

This summer, students visited the National Assembly as well as several other culturally significant sites.

Thank you for empowering individuals and communities to make sustainable, long-term investments in future generations. Your continued contributions make this possible!

Of course, we are not done yet. We continually receive requests from community leaders and school officials to partner with them. Each community is filled with gifted, young students who are eager to contribute to a brighter future for their families and neighbors.

We need your help to make this a reality. Will you join us by becoming a monthly donor? A donation of $5 can provide one student with all the school supplies they need for the upcoming year. There are over 3,000 students in our current partner schools and we hope to add 500 or more in the coming year.

Join our circle of Monthly Donors. Click here for more information. 

From the Director - October 2019

Meeting with members of the Paymar Community Garden - a potential site for 2020 development.

I am writing this from Senegal, where I am fortunate enough to spend a few weeks working with our partners, visiting projects, speaking with participants, and developing new programs. These activities take a good deal of time, but they are all a huge part of our success.

We at Andando value taking the time to listen to community members to identify the real needs before developing sustainable programs that operate within existing structures. Rather than going in and reinventing the wheel, we equip and encourage people to better utilize their existing strengths and potential.

“Andando is our best partner in these areas. Sometimes, other NGOs don’t respect the wishes or methods of the community, and the lagging results show it. But with Andando, we are 100% satisfied.”

— Deputy Governor, Keur Soce Region

With our community gardens, for example, the women already have some of the knowledge, land to grow on, and a cooperative structure – they just need increased access to water to irrigate their crops. Once we work with them to provide this, they thrive.

Deputy Governor of the Keur Soce region touring Andando gardens and health posts.

I recently met with the Deputy Governor of the Keur Soce region, who told me, “Andando is our best partner in these areas. Sometimes, other NGOs don’t respect the wishes or methods of the community, and the lagging results show it. But with Andando, we are 100% satisfied.”

Through the use of this asset-based model of community development, those in our programs are active participants instead of just recipients of outside aid. Promoting the agency of those we work with results in much more self-sustaining programs which we believe will maintain these communities on the path to a better future.

“Jéréjëf!” – Thank You!
Lewis Kiker, Executive Director

Forests for a Future

At a workshop led by Trees for the Future, our Lead Garden Technician, Mandaw, shares a sample garden plan incorporating trees. Trees serve as both a live fencing as well as produce food.

We have begun an ambitious and vital new Forest Garden project! Our initial goal is to reforest 50 acres in the Keur Soce region, with more in years to come. Trees not only provide a sustainable food source but also help with deforestation and soil erosion.

Last August, in a partnership with Trees for the Future, several of our Garden Technicians attended a tree planting and forest garden planning workshop. Our lead technicians expanded their knowledge and participated in practical, hands-on training to learn how to incorporate forest gardens into our existing vegetable gardens.

Recently we met with the local Department of Water & Forests and toured their tree nursery facility, gaining valuable insight into the specific needs in the region we work in most. By collaborating we gain buy-in from local leadership as well as the ability to pool our resources to maximize our impact.

This summer we constructed a tree nursery at our training facility in Keur Soce that will serve as the home base for the tree planting project. Our staff of Garden Technicians and Interns will propagate 50,000 seedlings that will be cared for at this nursery until they are strong enough to be replanted in community gardens, schools, and health posts.

Garden members learning how to transplant and care for young trees.

In the meantime, members of Andando’s garden cooperatives are participating in workshops where they are learning how to properly transplant and care for the seedlings once they are ready to be moved to their new homes. These women will serve as leaders and educators in their communities by demonstrating the benefits of Forest Gardens and their successful implementation.

This new project requires the addition of a Tree Technician to our staff in Senegal, who will serve as an invaluable resource for the individuals working with us and the communities benefiting from the Forest Gardens.

From the Director - June 2019

We have experienced much growth over the last several years, which is a reflection of your continued support. This has meant an increase in our programs, our participants, and most importantly, our impact. We are now reaching far more people than we ever have. One thing that makes all of this possible is the excellent staff that we have on the ground in Senegal running these programs on a daily basis.

Some of our excellent staff that we have on the ground in Senegal.

From building schools and health posts, to running the 19 community gardens, there is plenty of fieldwork to manage each of these programs and make them successful. In order to do this, we turn to those who are best able to help themselves – the Senegalese. We now have 18 full-time staff, along with dozens of contractors and interns, who diligently put in the work – day in and day out – to build a better future for themselves and their country. We are very proud of our staff and the commitment they have shown to strengthen our past successes, as well as sustainably build new ones. Click here to read a little more about one of these dedicated staff members, our Podor Area Project Manager Bocar Diack.

Andando Staff Lewis Kiker and Crystal Kelley (center) with spouses at Celebrate Corvallis

Later this month, Andando’s Development Director – Crystal Kelley – is traveling to Senegal to spend time with our staff in training and development. While there, she will take time with each one of them to get to know their stories, which we will bring you over the next several months. We hope you enjoy reading and getting to know them as much as we have over the past few years.

“Jéréjëf!” – Thank You!

Lewis Kiker, Executive Director

Construction Update: Fas Toucouleur Primary School

Several months in and the construction at Fas Toucouleur Primary School is nearing completion! Because of your support (and a matching grant from One Days Wages) three new classrooms are being built. This will double the capacity of the school. Students will no longer be studying in temporary thatch buildings. Latrines are also under construction, which will improve sanitation conditions and decrease absences due to illness.

We are excited to share with you the progress of the construction so far. Click here to see previous posts about this project.

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Pre-Construction - Students inside one of the existing classrooms (left). Exterior of one of the existing classrooms with the temporary thatch classroom attached (right).

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February 2019

We met with the community leaders and school administrators to finalize the terms of who was responsible for which aspects of the project and established a timeline for the work.

We then surveyed the ground to determine the best location for the rooms, keeping in mind elements such as wind, hot afternoon sun, as well as proximity to water and latrines.

Once the location for the classrooms was established, excavation and construction could begin. In the photo above, the green lines indicate where the new block of classrooms will be constructed. You can see an abandoned hut in the middle of the proposed site. This will be removed.

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The abandoned hut, which will be removed to make way for new classrooms (left).

Materials were delivered on-site in mid-February. Local contractors along with residents set to making the bricks needed for construction.

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March 2019 - The footing and walls start to take shape and the roof to the hut has been removed.

May 2019 - Workers seal the concrete walls.

The new block of classrooms (left) and new latrine (right) will be ready for classes this fall.

Amath Diop School Director

The community has continually emphasized what this project will mean for them.

"It will boost enrollment, increase attendance, bolster test scores, and set this community on the path towards a brighter future."

As the classrooms are nearing completion, they will be ready to be filled with eager students when classes resume this fall. Thank you for making this possible

Guest Post: Oasis in the Desert

Our partner, Vibrant Village Foundation (VVF), recently published an article about our work in Podor, the northern region of Senegal. We want to share it with you. The following is republished with permission.

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Oasis in the Desert: A Conversation with Andando Foundation's Bocar Diack

Andando Foundation has been a VVF partner since 2014, working in rural Senegal to alleviate poverty by taking a multi-sectoral approach and “focusing on the growth of the whole village.” And though most of Andando’s programming is in Keur Soce in southwest Senegal, in 2017 VVF’s support enabled them to embark on a new project in the Northern Region.

The needs are high in the north—it’s one of the poorest areas in Senegal, few NGOs work there, and it’s extremely dry and affected by climate change. Though Andando has done some sporadic work there for several years (their Country Director has family ties in the north and they’ve given microloans and dug wells over the years), our funding has enabled them to launch a new, holistic program.

In November 2017, Marieme Daff, our Senior Program Officer who’s from Senegal herself, traveled to Senegal to conduct an initial assessment of the program area, alongside Andando. She participated in interviews to select a candidate for the Podor Program Manager position and met Bocar Diack, who was eventually hired by Andando.

What stood out to Marieme about Bocar, she says while smiling, were “things that normally [she] might not consider strengths. He’s young and doesn’t have tons of experience. But he’s so excited, committed, and wants to make a change in that region. He’s a hard worker and has a good vision.”

 Bocar is from the Podor region and had been eager to move back to his home. Marieme describes “it was like a start-up. Andando basically sent him there with a cellphone, motorbike, and laptop.” Bocar’s first months were spent canvassing villages by motorbike to understand the needs and select communities, and as of late 2018, Andando’s programs started to be implemented. Andando’s Executive Director, Lewis Kiker, says Bocar has “done very well in covering a great deal of ground quickly to get this program up and running.”

 Lewis and Marieme visited Podor in early March of 2019, and both were excited by what they saw. Lewis wrote a short story on Andando’s website sharing his takeaways (read that here), and Marieme she was amazed at what’s been accomplished in such a short time.

 Bocar hasn’t done it all alone—Andando’s two other Podor staff members, Souleymane Sall (Garden Manager), and Hamedine Thiam (Accountant & Administrator) have been instrumental in getting programs underway. In just a few short months the team has renovated a health post, established 2 women-run community gardens, and renovated 2 schools. The gardens, which are true oases in the desert, have “really taken off,” Lewis says.

 These community gardens are solely run by women, and Marieme says she “loved meeting women participants and found their determination inspiring. For these women, their participation in the program leads to greater respect, dignity and status in their communities.”

We’ve all been inspired by Andando’s team’s work in Podor. A few weeks back, Marieme talked with Bocar about his background and inspiration for taking on his new role. Here’s what he said:

What was exciting to you about this job? Why did you want to apply?

I was excited about this job because of the location. I was born and raised in the Podor region (Ngaolé village), so I was excited to apply for a job that would allow me to go back to my native region. I was also motivated and wanted to contribute to the development of my region. I’m thrilled that I’m in a position to help my community to manage gardens and help kids to go to school.

Did you always know you wanted to do this type of work? What draws you to it?

 I studied project management in university and I’ve always been passionate about community-based development. I am the co-founder of two community groups in my native village: The Student Association of Ngaolé, which supports elementary school students with tutoring and summer classes. I was also active in our village association dedicated to the development of my village. Having a job that allows me to go back and implement what I’ve always wanted to do is a dream.

What was it like growing up in the Podor region?

 I was raised by my paternal grandmother and uncle in a poor fisherman family (my parents divorced when I was very young, and as a boy, I belonged to my father’s family). I’m grateful for my family’s support and being able to go to school. My uncle paid for school supplies and other basic needs.

Growing up, I saw the impact of poverty on people’s lives. I saw my aunt die because she couldn’t afford to get medical treatment. I will never forget that. I’ve always wanted to do something to help the people in my village.

What's been the reaction from your family, friends, and those in the community to you stepping into this role?

Everyone was so thrilled. Many people expected that I was going to do something like that someday: come back to my village and do something for the community. As I said, I was active as a young teenager and formed a youth association. I was also always first of my class in school, so people had hopes for me. Everybody prayed for me and hoped for the best. I feel very supported in my work by the community.

What's been the most rewarding part so far? The most challenging part?

 The most rewarding part of my job has been to see kids go to school and learn in decent conditions. Through our renovation work, we’ve moved kids from basic temporary classrooms (made out of branches and leaves) to proper classrooms with a roof and windows (see before and after images below).

 The challenging part is that there are so many needs and we can’t help everyone. Dealing with expectations has been difficult.

 What's your ultimate dream for this project? In 15 years what do you hope to see?

 My dream is to see the project grow and expand to other regions in the north. I’d like to see gardens, schools and health posts everywhere there is a need. I also want to see strong, dignified and independent women. I’d like us to be known regionally and nationally, why not?!

 Many thanks to Bocar and all of Andando’s staff for their ongoing dedication to this work. For more information on Andando Foundation or to donate, visit their website.

 -Dana deLaski

 Dana is the Communications Associate for Vibrant Village Foundation.

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Click here to view this article in its original format.

Thank You From a Father, Husband, and Peanut Farmer

Mamadou Ka is a 50 year old husband, father and farmer in the community of Sama Toucouleur (about 2 miles NW of Keur Soce). A recent microloan recipient, Mamadou saw a plentiful harvest which allowed him to increase his farm and repay his loan. This loan will be given to another farmer in next month’s distribution.

We sat down with Mamadou to learn how he increased his farm and how this impacted both him and his community.

How did you use your loan?

When I received the funds, I used it to buy peanut seeds and other inputs to properly prepare for the winter farming season.

How was your harvest?

I harvested 1.6 [metric] tons of peanuts (just over 3,500 pounds)!!

What is the benefit to you and your family from this harvest?

With the sale of the peanuts [$425 USD] I was able to do a lot. I built two rooms onto my house for my family. We are very comfortable now and sheltered from the heavy and disastrous rains.

How have things changed in your community?

The community is really benefiting from the help of Andando. Besides myself, several other farmers also received loans this year to increase their outputs. The women of the village work a market garden set up on the outskirts of the village. With the produce they are able to feed their families and make an income. Two years ago a health post was completed to provide health care and allow women to give birth without having to walk the 3 kilometers [2 miles] into Keur Soce.

So, yes, the Andando funding has benefited me and my community.

I thank all the team of Andando: technicians who helped here in Sama Toucouleur; Mr. [Boubou] Sy who recommended the market garden, the health post, and selected the farmers to receive microloans; AND the donors in America, thank you!

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Info on microloans: For the last 10+ years, we have been investing in the economic development of rural Senegal in the form of microloans. These small, no-interest cash loans (usually around $100 USD) are used by the recipient to start a small business or otherwise actively pursue the opportunity to turn this small amount into something larger.

These small loans can have a huge impact, and they are almost always fully repaid with a paid back rate of around 98%. To date we have administered over 1,000 microloans.

Dining for a Cause - Thank You!

Board Member Stephanie (left) with guests at Panera Bread Fundraiser Night for Andando.

An extra thank you to the staff that served up a special entrée at Calapooia Brewing to make the night exceptionally flavorful.

The team at Panera Bread Salem who made us feel welcome.

Thank you to everyone who joined us (and brought your friends) to Calapooia Brewing Co., Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Panera Bread’s fundraiser nights last month.

It was great to see friends, new and old, out showing support for sustainable change in Senegal.

An extra thank you to: the staff that served up a special entrée at Calapooia Brewing to make the night exceptionally flavorful, the team at Panera Bread that made us feel welcome, and Chipotle Mexican Grill for hosting benefits on our behalf.

We are always looking for new partners. if you have ideas, send them to crystal@andando.org.

Click here to check out other upcoming events.

Senegal Celebrates 59 Years of Independence

Boats flying the Senegal flag on Lac Rose (Pink Lake).

A young country, Senegal celebrates its 59th year of independence on April 4th.

In the 1500’s, various European nations were vying for control of the ports and trade in western Africa. In the end it was the French who would control Senegal for nearly 300 years.

During WWII, France promised its African colonies political independence in exchange for their service in the French military. In 1960, Senegal, along with 13 other colonies, gained its independence. (Click here for more on Senegal’s road to independence.)

Senegal’s first president, Leopold Senghor, with US President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Photo Credit: Abbie Rowe. White House Photographs. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston

The political structure of Senegal can be described as democratic with presidential elections held every five years. Since 1960 there have been four presidents. Senegal recently held presidential elections where sitting President Macky Sall was elected for a second term.

A Day in the Life of a Senegalese Midwife

Last October, the construction of two new health posts in Batara Wolof and Keur Ngor was completed. To manage the new health posts, local midwives are elected by the community to take charge of each facility, turning concrete walls and wooden benches into a safe and relatively comfortable clinic for her patients.

A midwife proudly standing in the waiting area of a newly opened health post.

Each midwife sorts and stores the medical supplies including donated scrubs, bandages, and antiseptic which are hard to come by in rural villages.

Medical volunteers with Andando distribute the new supplies as well as provide additional training.

Trying on new scrubs.

Midwives receiving a distribution of medical supplies.

Andando medical volunteer demonstrating uses for the supplies.

One of the many babies delivered in the new health posts.

Exterior of one of the newly constructed health posts in Batara Wolof and Keur Ngor.

Patients start arriving immediately with the midwife seeing more than a dozen cases daily, in addition to attending births. The day of a local midwife is long and exhausting. She will provide pre- and post-natal check-ups and non-emergency care such as dressing wounds or cuts.

Sometimes she is paid for her services in CFA (the local currency in Senegal). Other times she may be paid in chickens, eggs, or bags of millet. Caring for young and old alike, a local midwife is a pillar in her community.

“It is amazing how much is able to be done with so little. And how gracious, welcoming, giving, and appreciative the people of Senegal are.”

— Andando Medical Volunteer

Andando provides ongoing support to these dedicated women by helping them educate their communities in health and sanitation through volunteer-led workshops.

Women fill the courtyard near a health post, excited to learn how they can better improve the health of their families and communities.

In the courtyard near a health post (pictured above) plastic chairs and wooden benches are filled with local women, most of them mothers or expectant mothers, excited to learn how they can better improve the health of their families. The speaker is an Oregon-based midwife and Andando supporter who is well received. Not solely due to her medical training, but because she shares a common bond – she too is a mother.

“It is amazing how much is able to be done with so little. And how gracious, welcoming, giving, and appreciative the people of Senegal are.”

After an hour of engaged conversation the women leave with a better understanding of sanitation, basic anatomy, and how the very vegetables they grow can impact the health of their families in very real ways.

This ongoing involvement in the community and support for local midwives ensures the success of local health posts, providing essential healthcare for years to come.