Hi!! Welcome to my blog for my experiences in the Peace Corps in Mali, West Africa!
So, preparing for Mali is a full time job. The more I learn about Mali, its people and its culture, the more I am falling in love with what is described as "THE best place to visit in West Africa," according to Lonely Planet. That's kind of a big deal.
But, first, what IS the Peace Corps?
The Peace Corps is a service agency of the United States federal government in which volunteers are sent to developing countries to promote peace and friendship. It's a 27 month commitment to serve your country and serve the people in the country you're sent. In the Peace Corps, you live at the level of the people you serve, to promote peace and understanding among all of us.
What will I be doing there?
Something I've learned about the Peace Corps is actually a lesson that was drilled into my head at the 10-day Vipassana meditation I completed: Everything is impermanent and it will change. I've learned to roll with the changes and be patient with the Peace Corps. With that said, it's possible that my program could drastically change. But for now, my program is SED = Small Enterprise Development. (I guess we're called "SEDdies")
So, I get to work with Malian entrepreneurs to help them be sustainable in their businesses. We'll be working with either NGOs, municipalities or artisians and help in operations and start-up of their business. I might be working on accounting, marketing, banking, feasibility studies, presentations, proposal writing, budgeting, hiring, recruiting and/or organizational structure, etc, just to name a few.
A special focus
The volunteer handbook (again, this could change), said a focus of SED would be on women and young entrepreneurs (A lot of Peace Corps programs focus especially on women.) If you know me, you probs know that working with women in this context is a dream come true, as working toward equal, human and women's rights is my greatest passion in life. But, with that said, I'm in their country working within Malian culture, not to come and change things around. I'm there to understand Malian culture and work within that context, as a friend.
From what I've learned so far, Malian women work pretty strictly inside the home - but they do everything - all the child-raising, cooking, cleaning, home maintenance and some/all farming. Women don't really work outside the home in Mali. So, if I get to work with women entrepreneurs, that's a big deal. We'll see what happens, though.
OK..about Mali...(US State Dept Website, plus my comments in parenthesis)
First - Where the heck is Mali?
To give it a little more perspective...on a global scale...Mali is...
Mali, the landlocked country, borders seven countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal
Geography
Area: 474,764 sq. mi; about the size of Texas and California combined. (Mali is the 24th largest country in the world, sorted by land area.)
Cities:Capital--Bamako (pop. 1,728,444). (Bamako is apparently West Africa's music capital and Mali's largest city.)
Climate: Semitropical in the south; arid in the north. (North is desert, desert, desert.)
People
Population (2008 est.): 12.7 million. (It's the 71st largest country in the world, out of 195 countries in the world, sorted by population. The fertility rate in Mali is one of the highest in Africa: About 7.3 children per woman are born).
Ethnic groups: Manding (Bambara or Bamana, Malinke) 52%, Fulani 11%, Saracolé 7%, Mianka 4%, Songhai 7%, Tuareg and Maur 5%, other 14%.
Religions: Islam 90%, indigenous 6%, Christian 4%.
Languages: French (official) and Bambara (spoken by about 80% of the population). (Je parle un peu francais mais je vais parler francais bien "after training and living with a host family for a while :)
Education: Attendance--64.3% (primary). Literacy--31%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--121/1,000. Life expectancy--54 yrs.
Economy
GDP (2008 est.): $8.8 billion. Agriculture, livestock, and fishery (32.9% of GDP).
Work force (4 million): (out of 12 million people...the average age in Mali is young, with just 3% of the population being 65 or older, and women don't really work outside the home.)
Agriculture--70%; services--15%; industry and commerce--15%.
Annual skilled worker's salary: $1,560. (Wow, right? Mali is one of the top 10 poorest countries in the world. More than 70% of its population lives off of just one dollar per day.)
Per capita income (2006 est.): $470.
Natural resources: Gold, phosphate, kaolin, salt, and limestone currently mined; deposits of oil, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, lithium, and uranium are known or suspected.
Trade (2004):
Products--millet, sorghum, corn, rice, livestock, sugar, cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), and tobacco. (DON'T SEND PEANUTS OR PEANUT BUTTER IN A CARE PACKAGE!! I hear you can get them very easily in Mali...of which I will be updating this blog on what is and isn't available in Mali, so you know :)
COOL FACT:
Pays Dogon, Mali was named the number three BEST trek in the WORLD by Lonely Planet:
"‘The land of the Dogon people’ is one of Africa’s most breathtaking regions. A trek here can last anywhere between two and 10 days, and takes in the soaring cliffs of the Bandiagara escarpment inlaid with old abandoned cliff dwellings. Dogon villages dot the cliffs and are an extraordinary highlight of the journey. The Dogon are known for their masked stilt dancers, intricately carved doors and pueblo-like dwellings built into the side of the escarpment."
--
Bare with me, as I, too, learn about Mali and do my best to represent the country and its people. I have so much to learn and as I learn of the culture and people, I will update the blog when I have electricity. If anyone has a 20 volt solar charger that charges lap tops, let me know! :)
I'm going to do another blog post before I leave, talking about training, staging in DC, packing and preparing to leave.
NOTE: Mail takes about 2-4 weeks to arrive in Mali, and its reliability is comme ci, comme ca (="so so" en francais). My temporary address, while in the 9-week intense cultural, techinical and language training is:
PLEASE feel free to write me letters and send me stuff! Your support is going to be really crucial, especially through the first few months. This is the most challenging thing I've ever done in MY LIFE, and hearing from friends and family is going to mean the world to me.
If you're bored, lonely or just want a pen pal in Africa, I'm here for you!! I would also love to be pen pals with kids or anyone who just wants to learn what life is like as a Peace Corps volunteer, in Africa or in Mali.
As the days are nearing for when I will experience some major culture shock and realize this country I keep learning about and the kind people I keep hearing about will be real...it all feels like a dream. In just a week...I will WAKE UP IN MALI!!!!
Thank you for your support and leave comments too!!! Au revoir!!
:)
So, preparing for Mali is a full time job. The more I learn about Mali, its people and its culture, the more I am falling in love with what is described as "THE best place to visit in West Africa," according to Lonely Planet. That's kind of a big deal.
But, first, what IS the Peace Corps?
The Peace Corps is a service agency of the United States federal government in which volunteers are sent to developing countries to promote peace and friendship. It's a 27 month commitment to serve your country and serve the people in the country you're sent. In the Peace Corps, you live at the level of the people you serve, to promote peace and understanding among all of us.
What will I be doing there?
Something I've learned about the Peace Corps is actually a lesson that was drilled into my head at the 10-day Vipassana meditation I completed: Everything is impermanent and it will change. I've learned to roll with the changes and be patient with the Peace Corps. With that said, it's possible that my program could drastically change. But for now, my program is SED = Small Enterprise Development. (I guess we're called "SEDdies")
So, I get to work with Malian entrepreneurs to help them be sustainable in their businesses. We'll be working with either NGOs, municipalities or artisians and help in operations and start-up of their business. I might be working on accounting, marketing, banking, feasibility studies, presentations, proposal writing, budgeting, hiring, recruiting and/or organizational structure, etc, just to name a few.
A special focus
The volunteer handbook (again, this could change), said a focus of SED would be on women and young entrepreneurs (A lot of Peace Corps programs focus especially on women.) If you know me, you probs know that working with women in this context is a dream come true, as working toward equal, human and women's rights is my greatest passion in life. But, with that said, I'm in their country working within Malian culture, not to come and change things around. I'm there to understand Malian culture and work within that context, as a friend.
From what I've learned so far, Malian women work pretty strictly inside the home - but they do everything - all the child-raising, cooking, cleaning, home maintenance and some/all farming. Women don't really work outside the home in Mali. So, if I get to work with women entrepreneurs, that's a big deal. We'll see what happens, though.
OK..about Mali...(US State Dept Website, plus my comments in parenthesis)
First - Where the heck is Mali?
 |
| Mali is the "jewel" of West Africa's crown :) |
Ok...some basics about the country where I will be spending the next two years and three months of ma vie!
Mali, the landlocked country, borders seven countries: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal
 |
| The seven countries bordering Mali. |
Area: 474,764 sq. mi; about the size of Texas and California combined. (Mali is the 24th largest country in the world, sorted by land area.)
Cities:Capital--Bamako (pop. 1,728,444). (Bamako is apparently West Africa's music capital and Mali's largest city.)
Other cities--Segou (200,000), Sikasso (192,000), Mopti (river port by the Niger River) (103,428), Gao (65,000), Kayes (65,000), Timbuktu (38,000). (YES, that is the Timbuktu, former site of Islamic learning)
Terrain: Savannah and desert. (Apparently during "very hot" season (not to be confused with "hot season"), the temperature average is 110 degrees F... the weather in Mali is said to resemble Arizona.)
Terrain: Savannah and desert. (Apparently during "very hot" season (not to be confused with "hot season"), the temperature average is 110 degrees F... the weather in Mali is said to resemble Arizona.)
Climate: Semitropical in the south; arid in the north. (North is desert, desert, desert.)
 |
| (Flickr.com photo) Here's a pic of Dogon region in Mali. |
Population (2008 est.): 12.7 million. (It's the 71st largest country in the world, out of 195 countries in the world, sorted by population. The fertility rate in Mali is one of the highest in Africa: About 7.3 children per woman are born).
Ethnic groups: Manding (Bambara or Bamana, Malinke) 52%, Fulani 11%, Saracolé 7%, Mianka 4%, Songhai 7%, Tuareg and Maur 5%, other 14%.
Religions: Islam 90%, indigenous 6%, Christian 4%.
Languages: French (official) and Bambara (spoken by about 80% of the population). (Je parle un peu francais mais je vais parler francais bien "after training and living with a host family for a while :)
Education: Attendance--64.3% (primary). Literacy--31%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--121/1,000. Life expectancy--54 yrs.
Economy
GDP (2008 est.): $8.8 billion. Agriculture, livestock, and fishery (32.9% of GDP).
Work force (4 million): (out of 12 million people...the average age in Mali is young, with just 3% of the population being 65 or older, and women don't really work outside the home.)
Agriculture--70%; services--15%; industry and commerce--15%.
Annual skilled worker's salary: $1,560. (Wow, right? Mali is one of the top 10 poorest countries in the world. More than 70% of its population lives off of just one dollar per day.)
Per capita income (2006 est.): $470.
Natural resources: Gold, phosphate, kaolin, salt, and limestone currently mined; deposits of oil, bauxite, iron ore, manganese, lithium, and uranium are known or suspected.
Trade (2004):
Imports--$1.084 billion: food, machinery and spare parts, vehicles, petroleum products, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, textiles.
Exports--$1.078 billion: cotton and cotton products, animals, fish, tannery products, groundnuts, diamonds, and gold.
Major suppliers--France, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, China, U.S. ($43 million), Germany, and Japan.
Government
Type: Republic.
Mali's constitution provides for a multiparty democracy, with the only restriction being a prohibition against parties based on ethnic, religious, regional, or gender lines. In addition to those political parties represented in the National Assembly, others are active in municipal councils.
Independence: September 22, 1960.
Constitution: Approved by referendum January 12, 1992.
Branches:
Executive--president (chief of state and commander in chief of the armed forces) (*Mali's president was just named the 8th best head of state in Africa by an east african magazine), prime minister (head of government).
Legislative--National Assembly is the sole legislative arm of the government; currently consisting of 147 members.
Little bit more about Mali (Lonely Planet):
But all of Mali is alive with a fascinating cultural mix of peoples, from the nomadic Tuareg people of the Sahara to the Niger fishing societies of the Bozo. As a result, everywhere you go there are fascinating ceremonies, world-famous musical traditions with strong roots in the local soil, and traditional cultures as accessible to travellers as any you’ll find in Africa.
Exports--$1.078 billion: cotton and cotton products, animals, fish, tannery products, groundnuts, diamonds, and gold.
Major suppliers--France, Cote d'Ivoire, Senegal, China, U.S. ($43 million), Germany, and Japan.
Government
Type: Republic.
Mali's constitution provides for a multiparty democracy, with the only restriction being a prohibition against parties based on ethnic, religious, regional, or gender lines. In addition to those political parties represented in the National Assembly, others are active in municipal councils.
Independence: September 22, 1960.
Constitution: Approved by referendum January 12, 1992.
Branches:
Executive--president (chief of state and commander in chief of the armed forces) (*Mali's president was just named the 8th best head of state in Africa by an east african magazine), prime minister (head of government).
Legislative--National Assembly is the sole legislative arm of the government; currently consisting of 147 members.
Judicial--Supreme Court with both judicial and administrative powers. Suffrage: Universal at 18. (But voter participation is very low. But you can bet I'll be voting in the 2012 election from Africa! Also, apparently there is a lot of "Obama-gear" in Mali - t-shirts, bags, jerseys, etc...pretty sweet, huh?)
Little bit more about Mali (Lonely Planet):
Mali is the jewel in West Africa’s crown, a destination that has all the right ingredients. The country occupies the heart of a territory that once supported Africa’s greatest empires and is rich with historical resonance. This history bequeathed to Mali some of its most dramatic attractions – the legendary city of Timbuktu (Tombouctou), whose name has never lost its allure for travellers, the gloriously improbable mosque at Djenné and the bustling river port of Mopti are simply three among many.
Mali’s history has always been a story of its deserts and rivers. The lucrative trade routes of the Sahara once made the region among the world’s richest, and the Niger, one of the grand old rivers of Africa, is still the lifeblood of the country; to journey along the Niger River route (preferably on a slow boat to Timbuktu) is one of the continent’s great adventures. Not far from the riverbank, the extraordinary Falaise de Bandiagara rises up from the plains, and shelters one of West Africa’s most intriguing peoples – the Dogon, whose villages and complex cultural rituals still cling to the edge of rocky cliffs. If you can visit one place in Mali, go to the Dogon Country: it’s utterly unforgettable.
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| This is the Djenne (Zjenn-ay) mosque - the largest mud-brick building in the world. In front is the bustling agricultural marketplace. A tourist attraction across the world. |
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| A pirogue (river boat) on the Niger River in Mali |
COOL FACT:
Pays Dogon, Mali was named the number three BEST trek in the WORLD by Lonely Planet:
"‘The land of the Dogon people’ is one of Africa’s most breathtaking regions. A trek here can last anywhere between two and 10 days, and takes in the soaring cliffs of the Bandiagara escarpment inlaid with old abandoned cliff dwellings. Dogon villages dot the cliffs and are an extraordinary highlight of the journey. The Dogon are known for their masked stilt dancers, intricately carved doors and pueblo-like dwellings built into the side of the escarpment."
 |
| Photo: diomedia.com: The masked stilt dancers in Dogon. |
Bare with me, as I, too, learn about Mali and do my best to represent the country and its people. I have so much to learn and as I learn of the culture and people, I will update the blog when I have electricity. If anyone has a 20 volt solar charger that charges lap tops, let me know! :)
I'm going to do another blog post before I leave, talking about training, staging in DC, packing and preparing to leave.
NOTE: Mail takes about 2-4 weeks to arrive in Mali, and its reliability is comme ci, comme ca (="so so" en francais). My temporary address, while in the 9-week intense cultural, techinical and language training is:
Laura Vest, PCT
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 85
Bamako, Mali West Africa
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 85
Bamako, Mali West Africa
If you're bored, lonely or just want a pen pal in Africa, I'm here for you!! I would also love to be pen pals with kids or anyone who just wants to learn what life is like as a Peace Corps volunteer, in Africa or in Mali.
As the days are nearing for when I will experience some major culture shock and realize this country I keep learning about and the kind people I keep hearing about will be real...it all feels like a dream. In just a week...I will WAKE UP IN MALI!!!!
Thank you for your support and leave comments too!!! Au revoir!!
:)
Wow, I am so impressed with your blog!!! I am so proud of you!!! :-)! I am so happy that both of us are experiencing this great journey together! You are going to be an amazing volunteer!!! I love you and I miss you!!! -- Al
ReplyDeleteVery cool blog! I will definitely keep up! Fun to read about another Americans experience abroad! Mine is centraleuropeantuime.blogspot.com!
ReplyDeleteYou are off to a good start! Can't wait to see the updates!!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait to hear about your experiences in Mali. I'm so excited for you!
ReplyDeleteYEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing! This is going to be a fun blog to read!!! So excited for your adventure. I hate that it's going to be so very long before I see you again, so you can expect lots of letters from me! xoxo - Danielle Rittenhouse
ReplyDeleteLaura I read this and ccommented on it when it first came up. This is the second one that didn't go through. So here I go again.
ReplyDeleteGreat information and keeping us all informed. It looks so cool there. It must feel surreal to you. Your blog is just getting better. I hope you know how many people miss you and are proud of what you're doing. Can't wait to read the next one.It is 1 degrees outside with 4 foot snow drifts. It's been snowing continual all day and night. Won't warm up til Saturday, if we're lucky. It's nice where you are, at least right now. Love you-Mom.