The Tandana Foundation Blog

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.

Doing what I’ve always wanted to do working for Tandana

I have lived in Otavalo all my life, thinking about the best job for me, not like the traditional one of sitting in an office and having the same routine every day. I have always wanted a job where I can meet many people, learn about many cultures, people, create a special bond and put a little piece of my knowledge in their hearts.

A beautiful tango: What can flow when we sit at the table with strangers from the other side of the world

We inhabit a curious world. A world that beckons us to understand it, asking only that we appreciate how it tells us its stories, on its terms. Asking that we have the courage to open its various doors, to seek them out, and to sit with whomever we find on the other side. Trips with Tandana serve as a wonderful vehicle to do just that.

Tandana Foundation seeks to help more women rise through celebratory event in Cincinnati this October

Providing girls access to higher education in Ecuador and empowering women to read, recognize numbers, establish businesses, and be leaders in Mali are the goals of just a few women’s programs organized by The Tandana Foundation with its partner communities.

Positive marks: Tandana’s displaced student’s program finishes its first school year

In its pilot year, The Tandana Foundation’s program to help students’ whose families have fled to Bandiagara from ongoing insecurity in other parts of Mali continue their education was largely successful. The majority of the 75 students passed to the next grade year and every participating family was grateful for the support they received through the new program.

Q&A: Checking in with Tandana’s Community Health and Well-being Program Coordinator

Even after the mobile health clinics offered by The Tandana Foundation in rural Ecuador with help from foreign volunteers ended in 2020 due to the pandemic, health care support to the organization’s many partner communities never stopped. One of the main reasons why is Virginia Sánchez, coordinator of Tandana’s Community Health and Well-being Program, who has continued to deliver needed medical, dental, and vision care to the members of the remote communities.

Tandana helps schools in Otavalo upgrade their computer technology

In June, The Tandana Foundation donated a large amount of IT equipment, including many computer accessories, to three schools in rural Otavalo Canton, Ecuador. Tandana’s IT intern, Andrés Gonzáles, played an important role in setting up the new equipment in the schools.

Teaching English at Tandana’s Summer School in Ecuador

Embarking on a journey to teach English at the Summer School organized by The Tandana Foundation in Quinchinche was a life-changing experience for me. From the moment I arrived, I knew this adventure would be full of new challenges and rewarding moments.

Impressed by Tandana’s unique approach, he’s now taken on a long-term role in Mali

In July 2023, Aly Ombotimbé joined The Tandana Foundation’s team as a security guard and facilities assistant in Mali. In this role, Ombotimbé provides security for the organization’s Bandiagara office, welcomes visitors, organizes meals and supplies, sends and receives mail, and assists the team with other tasks as needed.

Lakeside students engage in community service and culture in Ecuador

Twelve students and three accompanying adults from Lakeside School in Seattle, Washington recently wrapped up an exciting and productive four-week volunteer trip organized by The Tandana Foundation in Cambugan, Ecuador. During their trip, the Lakeside students were immersed in the Kichwa Otavalo indigenous community, staying with local host families and participating in cultural events and many fun regional activities.

Meet Tandana’s scholarship coordinator who herself experienced the challenges of pursuing education in Mali

Staying in school and obtaining a professional career is not easy in Mali, and it’s even harder for girls. A combination of the country’s financial, political, and food instability as well as gender inequalities have caused enrollment and literacy rates to be among the lowest in the world.

Profound changes through women’s literacy and leadership programs

Participants of the women’s literacy, leadership, and enterprise programs – organized by The Tandana Foundation in the Tommoguiné region of Mali – recently shared the benefits they have experienced and witnessed through these programs. Thousands of women are gaining power in their lives, in the market, and in their communities.

Why I donated toward Tandana’s water projects in Ecuador and Mali

Full disclosure: I began thinking about what I would write to raise awareness of “exciting matching opportunities” that are available for The Tandana Foundation’s fundraisers to support the completion of community water projects in Mali and Ecuador.

The significance behind the Gualsaquí Eco-trail’s inauguration ceremony

To increase the safety of students’ walk to school, reduce travel time, and facilitate access to a sports field, The Tandana Foundation recently supported the Alejandro Chavez School in Gualsaquí , Ecuador in building an ecological trail. Along with those benefits, the eco-trail has already proven to teach the students valuable lessons about their natural environment and the need to protect and restore native species.

Celebrating 15 Years of Intercultural Friendship: The Value of Stories

In recognition of The Tandana Foundation’s 15th anniversary, we are creating 15 videos featuring cherished members of the organization’s global family. Published in a series of 15 posts on this blog, these videos will highlight key aspects of Tandana’s philosophy, community partnerships, and impactful work that has been done, along with projects still in progress. The videos will serve as a meaningful way to reflect back on what has been accomplished in 15 years as well as provide insight into the Tandana’s future in the next 15 years.

Check out what participants have said about their volunteer trips with Tandana this year

In 2023, The Tandana Foundation is expecting to host a dozen volunteer groups – from schools, universities, and organizations around the world – in the rural highlands of Ecuador. Each one of these trips immerses volunteers in the Kichwa Otavalo culture and community, providing them with the opportunity to contribute to various projects and make new friends.

Important lessons learned through building the Gualsaquí Eco-trail

The idea for an ecological trail stemmed from an urgent need identified by the Alejandro Chavez School in Gualsaquí.

Women gaining power in their lives, in the market, and in their communities

There is a newfound confidence among many women across the Tommoguiné region of Mali. They are calling out cheaters in the markets, joining together to form income-generating associations, and not only attending township hall meetings, but becoming leaders in their villages.

These abilities are thanks to their own determination and ambition, bolstered by their participation in the women’s literacy, leadership, and enterprise programs organized by The Tandana Foundation in the region. Below, five women participants share the benefits they have experienced and witnessed through these programs.

Experiencing the local food, culture, and history on my volunteer trip to Ecuador

I am Lizzy Tessier, one of the students from Saline High School that had the privilege of working with The Tandana Foundation this March. Getting to travel to Ecuador and encounter the beautiful culture of the local indigenous community in Otavalo was an experience I will never forget.

Tandana scholarship students in Ecuador and Mali sow seeds of intercultural friendship

They may live in vastly different countries, oceans apart, but the post-secondary students soon found out they had much in common, including motivation, perseverance, and ambitious goals for what they wanted to achieve in life.

Never too young for intercultural friendships

“This dance is called the Sandyeli. It is used to show joy. We’re dancing to show that we’re so glad to meet you!”

For a better future

For Cindy Belén Perugachi Sinchico, the story of her education begins years before she was even born. Cindy’s parents, Rodrigo and Olga, married when they were 15. Immediately, they had to work to support themselves.

All about Saline High School’s intercultural volunteer trip to Ecuador

Saline High School (SHS) senior Michael Moore stood by and smiled as a group of enthusiastic kindergarten students painted golden sand dunes on a beach. The children were energetic helpers and worked quickly to depict a young Ecuadorian boy walking by the sea at sunset as a crab, whale, and fisherman look on.

Healthier together: The Quichinche Health Center’s Seniors’ Club

Before the meeting began, none of the gathered assembly were inclined to talk. They formed a circle in front of the Quichinche Health Center and looked down at their feet. A few of the women who had arrived together talked quietly. María Flores, one of the women in attendance informed me that the group was not yet accustomed to this unfamiliar setting. “This is an important meeting for us, but it’s a new program. I’ve only been here twice; the other members, maybe three times.”