Always a mix of work and fun in Mali

Hot season is back again and in full swing. When in village, I have been spending much of my time lounging in the gardens by the stream with friends. There isn't much work to be done at this seasonal point, so we mostly sit around, make tea, eat mangos until we drop, and, eventually fall asleep from heat exhaustion in the middle of the day. It's not a bad life.


My most recent work development has been a collaboration between the local mens' and womens' associations in village. We received a large quantity of mosquito nets to help prevent malarial mosquitos from biting people during the wet season (coming within in the next few months so get ready!) and sold them at a reduced rate. In Douentza, a mosquito net sells for 1,500 CFA (about $3.00). After receiving the nets, the associations sold them at the reduced rate of 500CFA (About $1.00). This was beneficial for multiple reasons. First, the associations receive capital that they can apply to future projects; It gets them on their feet. Second, it discourages the act of gift giving from NGOs, toubabs, etc. The villagers are benefiting because they are actively choosing to spend a small amount of their hard earned money on an extremely useful product (at a reduced price). It is essential to sleep under a mosquito net, and now the people have much easier access to them. It is important to discourage the practice of gift giving because people tend to disrespect and underappreciate gifts. If a product (like a net) is given away free of charge, it is generally not well taken care of. But, if someone chooses to spend his money on that net, he will tie it carefully, patch holes, and use it for its intended purpose. Everyone wins.

You may be thinking, did people just buy a large quantity and sell them in market for product? The answer is no. We made sure each household received no more than they needed. Last week we collected demands for more nets and were able to purchase more for round two of the sales. The village of Dimbatoro is extremely grateful for the access to nets and thanks my mom's coworkers for their extreme generosity.

What is even more important is that I worked with the associations to hold an informational session on how to properly use a mosquito net and to teach the benefits of using one. This ensured that the mosquito nets will be used effectively to prevent malaria in the upcoming rainy season (July – September 2009) and beyond. I had each participating member help tie the net and even had some guys demonstrate how to and how not to lie under the net. As it was an easy concept, it was fun to get across and we laughed at the simplicity of the nets. After the session, members of the mens' association went out to all the houses in village, taught the households how to use a mosquito net, and then sold each one. They were cleaned out within a day. We did give 5 mosquito nets away to the older and more prominent community members such as the local religious leader, the chief, my host family elder and the two oldest community members.

Tah Ongoiba, apparently 120 years old (I would say about 80), with his mosquito net.

Thanks from Manpaiga, the mens' association!

Tijani and Ousman telling the village chief about the benefits of using a mosquito net when sleeping.

Checking out the new nets.

Learning how a mosquito net is tied correctly

Ousman and I teaching the oldest woman in village about her new net

Djougal demonstrating how to lay in a fully tucked and tied mosquito net with the men

Unrelated to the nets, here is Demba crushing rocks to pave the road leading to his house

Demba and Yaya working on the road

Ishiaka's awesome Bob Marley dogon shirt

This last week was spent at our COS (Close of Service) Conference in Bamako. It was held to inform PCVs on the procedures for leaving, what benefits we're entitled to and to prepare us for life after Peace Corps. I found out that I will be finished up with Peace Corps on Sept. 4, 2009 and then it's home free (until the next big adventure, of course). I will be making a brief trip to Washington, DC from July 4 - 15 for the Foreign Service Oral Assessment (interview). I bought my ticket today and I can't wait to get there. I have been speaking with embassy officials in Bamako over the last week in order to prep for the interview and receive advice from seasoned pros. I will be having an informational lunch with the DCM and a a few FSOs on Monday and hope to learn quite a bit about the interview and embassy life from them. I feel very confident now that I am getting everything lined up and can't wait for the next step.

On that note, here is the remaining group of Mopti volunteers I came with. We're down to only 8 from the original 16. But, we're just that much more awesome now that we've made it two years.