Drill 2 wells for 186 women farmers in Mali

Dear friends, 

Hello and Happy Memorial weekend! 

Sometimes, it's better to hear it from a different point of view. Please see this testimonial from the ground in Mali.

I am sharing with you a letter from my friend and partner to another friend.

"Hi Meg and Jess.

My name is Hank DeBey and a friend of yours, Fatou Doumbia, is a dear friend of mine. Fatou is with me here in Bamako. She was the first person to tell me about Mali and four years ago, shortly after speaking with Fatou, I moved to Bamako.

Fatou also introduced me to Posner a few months ago. Since then, we have been discussing the Posner mission and how a similar mission in Mali is vital to the needs of Malians and the development people who work in Mali.

Some background: I was born and raised in the triangle bordered by Loveland, Greeley and Ft. Collins. Not quite a Denver kid but close. I earned my engineering degree at San Jose State University and soon after graduating, I took a job in Africa and have spent 29 years working outside of the States with ten of those years in Africa. I have founded and managed technology companies in seven countries, learning valuable lessons about working across cultural divides.

I mention my technical bent because I believe technology is an essential component for African progress. Not technology that is imported from outside the continent but technology that is given birth and matured in Africa.

I live and work with young Malians and their passion to build a new Africa is palpable but their passion needs to be supported with education and resources.

As just one example, returning members of the Malian diaspora frequently express to me their frustration from having experienced a life out of Mali while also having a burning desire to accelerate Mali’s entry into the twenty-first century. They have seen good schools, healthy kids, sufficient food and decent infrastructure. They know that with hard work, these things will be possible in Mali and the goals of these Malians can be achieved more quickly with participation from the international development community.

Here are some statistics about Mali.
1. Mali usually ranks in the lowest 5 of the poorest nations on earth.
2. Bamako, the capital city of 2 million, is the fastest growing city in Africa.
3. Over half of Mali's 18 million people are under the age of 16.
4. Per capita, a Malian consumes 30% less food per day than a person in the USA.
5. Mali is fractured by hostilities in the North.
6. The United Nations mission, MINUSMA, is the most dangerous UN mission in the world.

Number 6 might be a justification for some NGOs to stay out of Mali but many NGOs realize that this is a time in Mali's development when outside help is needed the most.

New NGOs are setting up in Mali and the ones that are here, are expanding. A collaboration center with space to rent like what Posner offers in Denver would be very welcome.

 People like Fatou who came for two weeks to strengthen her organization would be able to arrive and get to work immediately instead of spending their precious time seeking out simple things like Internet connectivity, office space, and meeting rooms. Hopefully, I facilitated Fatou's visit but there are many more Fatous who don't have similar contacts in Bamako.

I’ll keep this short for now but let Fatou and me know if you would like to hear more about our plans.

Best regards,

Hank"

 Please see our collaboration video. An updated new video is on its way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3dB_Nhcgio&list=UU-OCXqx1J2vQkk0h-hdUr_Q

Official AGILE farm property coordinates collected using byHank’s drone in Mali

 Northwest 12.37543, -7.93101

Northeast 12.37565, -7.92814

Southeast 12.37475, -7.92788

Southwest 12.37444, -7.93095

Please stay tuned for more update on my trip to Africa and in the USA here.

Thank you for sending this project and program on its way to success!

My warmest and sincere regards,

Fatou