The following is the story of Tandana’s Savings For Change (SFC) trainer Moussa Tembiné. The SFC program is a savings and credit program for women that the Tandana Foundation has helped establish in many communities in Mali. Through this program, women are able to pool their savings and take out loans to assist them in starting or expanding micro-businesses.
Continue reading “Meet Tandana’s Savings for Change Trainer”
The following is a story by Galo José Perugachi Suarez about his life and work at a weather station in Ecuador. The Tandana Foundation has collaborated with Galo on the creation of a self-guided eco-trail and on planting trees and flowers at the weather station. In turn, Galo often educates the foundation’s volunteers about his observations at the station and the work that he does.
Continue reading “Working at the weather station”
For many years, the Tandana Foundation has partnered with the members of the community of Padre Chupa to carry out community projects, such as the roof repair that Segundo writes about.
In a very remote area, approximately 25 kilometers from the city of Otavalo, a small community called Padre Chupa is located, which is home to more than 40 families.
Continue reading “Fixing the roof of Padre Chupa’s community school”
The following is a letter written by Kessia Kouriba, a teacher in the women’s literacy program sponsored by the Tandana Foundation with support from Dining for Women in partnership with the Alpha Formation Traduction et Conception Documentaire au Pays Dogon (AFTCD/PD), a technical linguistic service in Bandiagara, Mali. Kessia highlights the importance of women taking leadership roles and overcoming traditional gender barriers, just as she has done.
Hello members and supporters of the Tandana Foundation, Continue reading “A woman leading by example to inspire others”
You won’t find Motilón Chupa on Google Maps. This indigenous Kichwa community high in the Andes in the far reaches of Imbabura Province of Ecuador is literally and figuratively at the end of the road. The community is a tight-knit group of people, living in isolated small houses on steep hillsides with no public buildings other than the elementary school. Continue reading “Planting seeds, growing friendships”
Dear godparents and Tandana Foundation members,
My name is David Cachimuel and I was a Tandana scholarship student. This scholarship has supported me since I started at the university, and now thanks to the support, I’ve finished my university studies. I’m the youngest child of a family with five siblings, and the first one to obtain a university degree, which represents a lot of pride for my family because finally someone in the family has a university degree.
Continue reading “Many thanks from a University graduate”
Elé is from the village of Dianweli, about 7 km from Yarou-Plateau. He attended secondary school in Bourgouma, 3 km from his village. He is certified with a technician’s diploma (BT) from the professional school of Kayes in western Mali.
Elé composed the following passage about his experience as a subidized teacher and how the Tandana Foundation teamed with the local residents to ensure he was able to receive payment for his work and stay teaching in rural Yarou-Plateau. Continue reading “Joining together to keep a special teacher in rural Mali”
I quickly grew attached to my host family while living in Ecuador as a volunteer for the Tandana Foundation. My host sister, who is eight years old, was a very easy first connection to make. She loves to play games and is extremely bright, and within a few hours of my arrival we were already “muy amigas.” Continue reading “Becoming family in Ecuador”
Being able to read words and understand numbers help women in Mali shop at the market independently and succeed in their work. The Tandana Foundation has partnered with members of 30 villages to establish literacy and numeracy classes – thanks to support from Dining for Women – that teach women to read, recognize numbers and count, improving their abilities to support their families. Below are comments from two women whose lives have changed through their participation in these classes. Continue reading “Teaching literacy to empower women in Mali”
In the remote areas of Ecuador, approximately 35 kilometers from the center of San Jose Parish in Quichinche, a small community called Muenala is located. There are more than 30 families living here and we also have a community council. My name is Martha Lanchimba and I am the president of the community. Continue reading “Paving a safer pathway outside Muenala’s community center”
To address the challenges of deforestation and desertification, 15 villages in the Wadouba Township of Mali have come together to discuss and make decisions about protecting the environment. The Tandana Foundation supports the locally-run Olouguelemo environmental protection association. The following are thoughts from two association members on how their work has benefited the community.
Continue reading “Inside successful community environmental protection in Wadouba, Mali”
Saminay is a high school that is located approximately 15 miles from Otavalo, in the community of Inguincho. The surrounding mountains allow a beautiful and unique view, which provides the surrounding area with peace and tranquility in the midst of nature. Continue reading “Supporting innovative education at Saminay school”
Hama Guindo, ancien secrétaire général de la jeunesse de Ologuiné: aujourd’hui, si vous me demandez de parler mon impression de ce puits, je ne vais pas finir maintenant. Avant la population d’Ologuiné vivais d’eau de rivières ou dans les marres qui se trouvent dans le jardin de maraichage, les animaux du village de Ologuiné, Orsongho, Kani Gogouna et Gagnaga tous venaient boire dans ses rivières et aussi c’est un lieu où les femmes font leur lessive. Continue reading “Villagers praise new well in Ologuiné, Mali”