Projects in Guinea

[dleufer]

Hi guys,
I'm thinking about going back to Guinea next winter but this time I'd also like to do some sort of project while I'm there. I'm avoiding using the word charity because I don't like it for some reason. I'd just like to help out some of the people whose music I'm obsessed with!

At the moment I have no clear idea about what it could be so I'm here to ask for suggestions and help. I reckon it will have to be something on a very small, grassroots scale. It could be as simple as building a well in a village or establishing a youth centre, buying instruments for a village which doesn't have any. Does anybody here have any experience doing stuff like this in Guinea? I'm very impressed by Helen Bond's Benkadi Project which she is involved with with Nansady Keita and Famoudou Konate. They've done some great stuff in Sangbralla like building a school, 4 wells and a youth centre. I'm sure there are a lot of villages in Hamana (and elsewhere of course) which could really benefit from something simple like a water pump.

If anyone has any tips, recommendations, links, contacts, warnings or anything I would greatly appreciate it.

[Michel]

Hi D,

I am just back from Mali, and have exactly the same feeling about doing more than just make music, but also do something for people over there. For me charity is also not the word, helping to develop is more my cup of tea. When you walk around countries like these with your toubab eyes and mind you get probably a lot of ideas, at least I do. I have the possibility to return every year, and am even considering of moving over there for a year or two. But then to Senegal, where I have lots of friends and where the living is just a little bit more easy for a white guy like me.
I have been thinking a lot about this, what to do. Solar panels can do a lot, with some light kids can also study in their books after dark, people still can work and so on. For the moment I am looking at
http://www.newlite.com/catpage/el7.html This simple cheap light in every cabin would be great. But just giving might not be the greatest idea. I am researching how to create business with those kind of things through micro-financing projects. Maybe some villager can start a small business for him/herself (most of the time women are more reliable.....) by renting/selling lights to fellow-villagers? Something like that. When you like the idea of micro-financing you can start already through www.kiva.org when you lend you'll even get your money beck, is my experience a lot of times already.

Last visit to Mali was the next thing got clear to me, and I think in the region you are talking about it must be the same: They throw away an awful lot of mangoes. Look at the amount of mango-trees, ask people over there what they do with them and the answer is that in the mango season they eat them, bring it to the market (like everybody in the region...) give them to the animals... But there must be tons of mangoes rotting there in march. And when you buy a liter of mangojuice (for 1500 cfa) it's produced in Spain with (probably) African mangoes. So I am inspired to do some research on this one. How to make juice? that's not difficult (Just wash your feet and squash them in a big tub...Fun!) but how to conserve and pack, that's the question. Well, a long answer for your question, but I am serious about this and looking forward to other ideas.

Keep me informed what you think.

Michel

[freefeet]

Mango wine industry?

[Michel]

great idea. but in a muslim country......

[EvanP]

Mango chutney? Mango preserves?

I like your thoughts. I'm intrigued by the idea of micro-loans--funding local entrepreneurs on ventures. After reading "White Man's Burden" by William Easterly, which talks about how developed nations can spend so much money with such little impact by not understanding cultural complexities and the basics of moral hazard (loosely translated to "skin in the game") a few years ago, and hearing success stories about small stipends/loans having huge impacts, I'm looking for an opportunity to try it out. I don't know enough about the situation in Guinea, et al. but I'd like to hear others' opinions on the concept.

[Michel]

The opportunity to try it out I mentioned above: www.kiva.org. You can start with $25,- if you like. You get it back for sure.

[EvanP]

Michel,
This is perfect! Sorry I missed your original link. I am now part funder of the Champion Group grocery store in Sikasso, Mali (no loan projects in Guinea).

Thanks!
Evan

[Michel]

I think we are both! Great! Spread the word!

[Paul]

Hi guys,

Great ideas, I like Kiva it sounds great..

avoiding using the word charity because I don't like it for some reason.

Rightly so it gives a wrong idea of the reality of the situation..

I'm very impressed by Helen Bond's Benkadi Project which she is involved with with Nansady Keita and Famoudou Konate

I would go and check out someone else's project, there are lots of ones running that need funding to keep going.. You could do a fundraising gig or workshop which would be cool if your drumming gave something to africa.. Besides I have heard stories of people rocking up with money and great intentions and the money getting wasted by going to the wrong builder, or even causing major resentment against you because you gave the contract to one person and not another. I would say also maybe later on you might decide on one village in Guinea where you might keep coming back to and then you could really get something done and you would be there to see it happen..

I have a friend in Bobo in Burkina who has been going for 12 years, there is a school and health centre for street kids, anti-child trafficing people and a centre for polio victims who have made an amazing music group. But it has been a lot of work.. its called the roue tourne you can find on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Roue-T ... 0861054446

Got to run, will come back to this..