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Tandana reunions and new beginnings

Twenty years have passed since I first climbed up the bumpy roads into the colinas surrounding Otavalo with my Traveling School classmates and teachers, including Anna Taft, in whom ideas of what would become Tandana were beginning. Though it was many years past now, I still remember the community spirit of the minga in which we participated to improve the water purification system and the hospitality of Don Vicente in welcoming us to the community of Panecillo. I am certain that in those moments I had no thought that in 20 years, I would be in the same community with my husband and two children.

From expectations to goodbyes, all about Purcell Marian’s volunteer trip to Ecuador

When our small group of Purcell Marian high school students stepped off the plane at Quito Airport, none of us knew what to expect. We were all a little bit nervous – many of us had never left the US before – and everyone was worried about making a good impression. How would we communicate with our host families? Would we be what they were expecting? However, these small worries were overshadowed by the pure excitement we all had over meeting the community members.

An unforgettable experience at The Tandana Foundation

Dear members of The Tandana foundation, I wrote the following blog to share my experience as an IT intern at the foundation. In this sense, this message is very special to me. It has been a long time since I arrived at the foundation, and I want to share everything I learned and exchanged with others during my stay.

Kind people, meaningful work, my unforgettable trip to Ecuador

Our experience in the region in and around Otavalo, Ecuador with The Tandana Foundation was nothing short of incredible. From the first moment that we touched down in Quito, Kuri and Omar, Tandana staff and our guides for the trip, were there to welcome us to Ecuador and accompany us on our bus ride to Otavalo. Their knowledge and experience throughout the entire trip were indispensable and highlighted the value of every moment and activity that our group experienced. From start to finish, Omar and Kuri, along with the other Tandana leader that we worked with, Gaetan, were extremely well organized, personable, and helpful.

Tandana’s Mali team shares an important source of inspiration for their work

Members of The Tandana Foundation’s team recently shared messages of thanks to the organization’s Board of Trustees for their support of the team’s work and professional development.

A song for the organization helping make his dreams come true

After receiving a scholarship from The Tandana Foundation and seeing the impact of the organization’s work in the Wadouba Township of Mali, Ambaobou Dougnon was inspired to write a song about Tandana to tell others about Tandana and his experience with them.

I now have a third family in Tandana to work for

Dear Tandana Foundation,

I am an agronomic engineering student at the Technical University of Cotopaxi. I come from the Padre Chupa community. My full name is Fredy Xavier Panamá Fuerez, and I am 20 years old. At a young age, I had to witness the separation of my parents, after which a family took me in since we did not have sufficient financial resources.

Words of gratitude for the displaced students program in Mali

Last year, the Tandana Foundation launched a program to support students and their families who have been displaced to the city Bandiagara due to ongoing insecurity in other parts of Mali. The program helps students and their parents with food, school supplies, and social integration into their new environment.

Community Health Advocacy: Empowering Indigenous Healthcare with The Tandana Foundation

My name is Emma Howes, and I am fortunate enough to have collaborated with The Tandana Foundation over the last year and a half in the process of completing the research component of my doctoral program. I am a student completing a Ph.D. in International Psychology, a subfield of psychology that highlights culture as the primary factor that shapes and influences our thoughts and behaviors. I credit The Tandana Foundation with the professional and academic milestones I have reached over the last 11 years, so I find myself extremely honored and humbled that my final academic endeavor be completed in service to their mission and this community.

The indomitable spirit of determination, hope, and humor among displaced families

Hamidou, Coordinator of Tandana’s Displaced Students’ Program, and I walked up a dusty road to the corner where he had arranged to meet Ambajugo Kassogué, grandfather of one of the students in the program. We had invited two adult family members of students in this program to travel to Bamako so that I could meet them and learn more about their experiences. Because of the insecurity that has forced them to leave their homes, it is unsafe for me as a foreigner to travel to the area where Tandana’s programs operate, so every year we organize a meeting in Mali’s capital. I relish this opportunity to spend time face to face with our team members and some of our partners.

Q&A: Recognizing Women’s History Month at Tandana

In the United States, March is designated as Women’s History Month to celebrate the accomplishments of women in history and today. While women continue to break glass barriers, leading countries and businesses, and bettering their lives and the lives of their families, gender inequalities still persist around the world.

Part 2: Lessons learned while discovering new things and making new friends

This is the second of two blogs I wrote to share the lessons I learned while on the Ohio Master Gardener Volunteers’ trip to Ecuador with The Tandana Foundation.

Part 1: Lessons learned while discovering new things and making new friends

On Day 1 of the Ohio Master Gardener Volunteer’s trip to Ecuador with The Tandana Foundation, I had one big question: “What’s a chocho?” Learning the answer to that question ended up as the first of several important lessons I took away from the recent trip. This is the first of two blogs I wrote to share these lessons.

The power of human connection and the unstoppable force of a minga

Nine near strangers transcended upon the quaint town of Otavalo, Ecuador with a common goal. Each of us carrying a heart to serve and willingness to connect. We were so warmly greeted on day one by our fierce and loyal guides Omar and Kuri with the support of Gaetan, Margarita, and Anna the leader and founder of The Tandana Foundation.

‘This trip blew me away’: My second Tandana volunteer experience

I am just back from my second trip to Ecuador with a group of fellow Ohio State University Master Gardener Volunteers which was hosted by the Ohio-based Tandana Foundation. The foundation, whose mission is to support the achievement of community goals and address global inequalities through caring intercultural relationships that embody mutual respect and responsibility, offers volunteer programs in Mali and Ecuador. I felt like I knew exactly what I was in for after having a really great experience four years ago, but I was wrong. This trip blew me away.

Learning through interculturality

Interculturality gives us the opportunity to know other people better.

And in fact Ecuador is made up of different cultures which gives us the opportunity to enjoy a cultural diversity.

Continue reading “Learning through interculturality”

My latest trip to Ecuador with my family was another special, sweet, and safe experience

International news outlets have recently covered stories of startling developments in Ecuador. A TV station in the coastal city of Guayaquil was broken into and abruptly interrupted live on air with troubling images of men with guns and bombs. A notorious criminal/gang leader escaped from prison in that city as well.

Painting a bright future for herself and her community

First, I want to say that I am almost finished with school. I’m in the last semester, and after several introductory workshops on painting, drawing and sculpture, I finally decided to focus more on painting since I like it better.

‘I’m very, very happy thanks to my studies’

In this video, Oumou Pamateck, a beneficiary of the Dr. Ash B. Varma Scholarship Program in Mali, shares her appreciation for the opportunities the scholarship provided her.

Finding kindness and a willingness to help others in Ecuador

In El Panecillo, a Kichwa community roughly 20 minutes away from the beautiful city of Otavalo, Ecuador, we learned how important food really is to most Ecuadorian individuals. As Claudia walked us through a delightful process to make an exquisite Ecuadorian meal, every member of the group made some sort of contribution. As Ecuadorians thrive together, it is important for a household to cook with each other. The welcoming environment of an Ecuadorian household brought warmth to our group of North American students from Saline High School even though we were visitors, outsiders of such an amazing community.

From an Ohio prison to Ecuador: A win-win situation

My name is Michele and I want to share my Tandana experience.

Engineering effective solutions through strong community relationships

“Welcome, do you want to go to Ecuador with us?”

At 36, I’m finally achieving my dream of being a teacher

Dear members of The Tandana Foundation,

The purpose of this letter is to thank you for the university scholarship that I received. I felt very happy and grateful to know that I was selected as a beneficiary of the scholarship.

Tandana leaders host engaging workshop on gender dynamics in rural Mali at Whitman College

Meaningful conversation and intercultural learning underpinned the Gender and Change in Rural Mali workshop that Anna Taft, The Tandana Foundation’s Founding Director, along with members of Tandana’s Mali team – Kessia Kouriba, Hawa Yalcouyé, and Moussa Tembiné – offered students at Whitman College this fall.

Providing life-saving medical care while showing the value of Western medicine

After opening in October 2022, the Sal Health Center has been serving the approximately 9,000 residents in and around the Sal Sector of Wadouba Township in Mali with access to local basic health care services. This medical care was much needed by the residents, who previously had to travel far distances to receive this care, before The Tandana Foundation partnered with the community to build the new center.

From scholarship student in Ecuador to Fulbright teaching scholar in the U.S.

I received a university scholarship from The Tandana Foundation that included 50% of financial aid to cover the costs of academic materials, transportation, and in the last semester, with half of my rent payment. In order to receive this aid, I shared the receipts or invoices for the expenses with Tandana, and they helped me with half of them. These expenses were generally for books and a new laptop that I purchased, among others.

The productive environmental efforts of the Olouguelemo Association this rainy season

34 member villages of the Olouguelemo Association in partnership with The Tandana Foundation carried out a number of environmental protection and restoration projects throughout the rainy season (July-September) in Mali. These projects included the enlargement of stock ponds, a reforestation campaign, erosion control work, and the collection of data to track the results of its forest regeneration efforts.

Hear what students and community members are saying about the new Dani school

In partnership with The Tandana Foundation, local residents recently celebrated the opening of a much-needed elementary school in Dani, Mali. Thanks to this new school, over 300 students are able to learn in classrooms with proper desks, chairs, and other resources that facilitate an effective educational environment.

Three thoughts related to Tandana’s women’s programs in Mali

In rural Malian villages, women are thriving after participating in the literacy, numeracy, leadership and enterprise programs organized by The Tandana Foundation. Through this training, they have been able to improve their ability to support their families, take on leadership roles in their communities, and be role models for their own daughters.

A future full of possibilities

In the letter below, Alexander Tuquerres shares about his academic journey and expresses his gratitude for The Tandana Foundation scholarship, which he writes has given him the potential of a very bright future.

A night to remember with a lasting impact

An engaging program, enthusiastic attendees, and a special guest all helped make The Tandana Foundation’s annual fundraising event a memorable success this year. Thanks to proceeds raised from the event and online auction, Tandana will be able to support thousands more women in rural Mali and Ecuador as they rise and exercise leadership in their communities.

Latest updates on the Olouguelemo Association’s environmental work in Mali

The positive results of the village-run Olouguelemo Association’s efforts to protect and restore the environment against the forces of desertification and deforestation in rural Mali continue to be recorded.

Below, hear from members of the villages where Olouguelemo Association operates about the benefits they are seeing from the environmental association’s work.

My Kichwa culture through the generations

The Kichwa community of El Panecillo is located 20 minutes from the city of Otavalo and has been inhabited mainly by indigenous people. I was born here more than 30 years ago. It is my favorite place because I have many memories here from childhood.

Hear how the Dani School represents what can be achieved through successful collaboration

In May, the inauguration ceremony was held at the new school in Dani, Mali. It was a reason for celebration – as the school was much needed in the village – and also for reflection because the community of Dani and The Tandana Foundation built the school together through an effective partnership.

A few inspiring thoughts from participants of Tandana’s women’s programs in Mali

Never underestimate the impact of being able to do something you could not before.

Through literacy and numeracy classes, leadership workshops, support in registering women’s associations, and startup funding for income-generating enterprises, the programs organized by The Tandana Foundation in rural Mali are supporting women in learning to read, write, calculate, work together in associations, and generate income. These skills increase their confidence, independence, success in economic activities, and recognition as agents of local decision-making.