Village Ventures Africa

We took donations out to some of the Bedioun Shepherds and their families.this photo is taken in the Hymer where all life begins…and ends.

We have the privilege of having links with the Fulani people and I have watched this young woman grow up and marry. She now has a young son, we continue to try and help in various ways.Every one in the family received some small gift from UK this yeqr in the form of toiletries

I already posted this photo once its of the childrens food cans they use for begging food every day on the crossroads.

The same young woman and her mother came to visit us to thank us for the donations you kindly gave us.

This is the way our people write.. and do their accounts..in the sand..simple and inexpensive.

Here the bedioun is studying the toiletry gifts before handing them over to his wife..

We all were involved in preparing these locally made paintings on woven cotton, and using traditional methods of painting using only clay and leaves for colouring.Again simple but beautiful.you too can learn if you choose to volunteer.

We have been working very hard and this is a new foundation awaiting the mason to build on it..It will become a hut with a small shower area attached…now instead of the clay which we used for many years we are having to use cement bricks, its due to the heavy rains we get during June to October every season..whenits finished we will post more photos.

Our Fulani mother and daughter are looking at an photo I took many years ago of them.They are fascinated by it..

This photos is of 2 very young girls..its so sad..they have to be dressed in black for some time..this is the dress for circumcision..The girls were both circumcised the day before I took the photo.I intend to work along side UNICEF to try and change these traditions.I have a meeting next week in Nouakchott and will discuss it then.

One day a year is Diemas fishing day..and everyone is up by 6.30am to be at the small pond we have at the edge of the town…everyone wants to eat fresh fish, so as you can see many people come with their nets and buckets in the hope they will get a free fresh fish to eat.Sadly the fish stock seemed to be quite depleted, many just came away covered in dirt and clay..Theres one photo that tells that story…

although its cold in europe right now for some of the poeple hear in Mali its also very cold, some of the children are snuggling around the fire, hoping to keep warm.

Not a good photo but this is life inside our Fulani Families home..more photos to follow on the family..in the next blog.We gave lots of donations to this family as they are our point of contact for others in the area.

This is the Chief of Gidgumaboughou..my first village..I tried to support this village in many ways over the many years I have worked here.It is tradition that when you bring a donation you give it to the chief who lays out the donations in front of everyone, This way there is no secrecy and therefore no jealousness between families.If you look closely at the photos you will see one young child with a large tummy..malnutrition..these people live the simplest of lives, with grain called millet for most meals.. When I was asked did we know it in UK I said yes.. and we feed it to our parrots and other birds..We dont understand the food value of such a simple food I said. but to live on it every day..is so hard to watch..

Life out in the Sahel is difficult and the people very poor, we took some donations to some of those families as you can see..along with some briefs donated by smalls for all.an organisation based in UK.

More brief donations for Gidgumaboughou.

Fishing day bought laughter and food for some.Hear is Salihou with his empty fishing net..but was happy trying.

See more donations given to a large family who live in a small village close to Mambrooke some 30 kms from Diema’s main town.

As we travel in the Sahel and bush of Mali we often come across different tribes, and this man is from Niger. these people travel by foot for many weeks to reach the town of Diema so sell their herbs to the locals or trade them for goods they need. We were happy to give him a small donation to take back to his family.

This is a photo of Pam she is now 2 years old and was given my name.. now thats scary….

Our Fulani mother and Son

One lady carrying her bowl on top of her head with her teeth cleaning stick in her mouth.. We were able to give some small things to them also.. and its thanks to all you who support our programmes..

A photo of the twins in the village of Gidgumaboughou.