New Garden Construction is Underway

Construction has started on three new gardens! For three months Senegal placed a ban on interregional travel to curb the spread of coronavirus. As of the end of June this ban was lifted, which means our team can restart garden construction that was halted in the spring.

Delivery of construction material at the Mbaylar garden.

The new gardens are being installed in Mbaylar and Batara Wolof (both about six miles from our hub in Keur Soce); and Mboyo Walo (in the northern region of Podor). Combined they will serve over 300 families and their larger communities will also benefit from access to fresh, local produce.

Masons pour the foundation of one of the watering basins. There are a total of five in each garden.

Bricks are formed on location. These bricks will form the walls of the pump house building.

Communities with gardens have been much more resilient during the coronavirus due to a steady supply of fruits and vegetables.  We are excited to partner with these communities to help strengthen them for the future. 

Excavating and framing the solar pump house. This structure will hold the solar panels and above ground water reservoir.

MORE PICTURES COMING SOON!

Microloans, Horses, and Goats

Some of the farmers that received microloans at this year’s distribution in June.

Over 100 local farmers received microloans to expand their crops which will increase their financial security.

Modou showing us his field where he used the purchase of a horse to increase his crop yield.

We touched base with one of last year’s recipients, Modou Sakho. He used his loan to buy a horse which increased his crop yield. The additional crops bolstered his family food rations and he sold the extra. With the additional funds he bought goats which he will be able to breed for meat as well as to generate income.

““Que Andando amoul morom. (Andando has no equal.)“

”

— Modou Sakho, Microloan Recipient

Farmers and their family members working the fields.

Microloans have been a boost to the economy of rural Senegal. Without access to credit, it is very difficult to make investments for the future. Over the last 12+ years over 1,200 loans have been distributed with a payback rate of over 98%!

Korité - A Celebration of the End of Ramadan

For many, today marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.  (For more on Ramadan, click here.)  Islam is the largest religion in Senegal and many of our staff and partners have been observing Ramadan for the past 30 days.

Mandaw (Andando Lead Garden Technician) with the other members of his household. In Senegal it is common for multiple generations to live together.

Eid al-Fitr (or Korité in Senegal) is the celebration of the end of Ramadan - an important holiday – it  can last for several days!  Families normally travel back to their villages to spend this holiday with their extended family, or at the very least visit with their neighbors and exchange greetings and small gifts.

As with any celebration in Senegal there will be new vibrant clothing and delicious food, what is unusual about this year is that revelers will be practicing social distancing. (More on Eid al-Fitr during the time of coronavirus here.)

Bread is a common staple for breaking the fast and bakeries in the capital city of Dakar have been offering free delivery to help stop of the spread of coronavirus.

Travel restrictions are still in effect in Senegal. This includes its borders as well as inter-regional travel. And while we are cautiously optimistic that these measures are helping curb the spread of coronavirus it is also making it difficult for rural families to access staples such as rice and soap.

Participants in the garden collectives have been working hard to maximize their production which are now the sole source of produce for many communities. Village chiefs, mayors, and residents have expressed their gratitude for the gardens.

Sorting the emergency supplies to distribute to hundreds of families in rural communities.

Thanks to your support, an emergency distribution of these hard to get supplies such as rice, soap, and face masks were delivered to hundreds of families. (Click here to see more on the distribution.)

“If it were not due to the Andando provision we would have nothing to cook.”

— Member of Ouro Madiw Village

Thank you for making this time a little brighter for the families we serve. To all our friends in Senegal, “Korité Mubarack” - Wishing you a blessed Korité!

Emergency Supplies Distributed

Supplies have reached the villages! Thanks to your support and the hard work of our team in Senegal, all the supplies have been distributed to families in need.

Representatives from the villages collecting the supplies to take back to their communities.

We knew the need was great, but once the deliveries were made, we were overwhelmed by the response. The gratitude expressed by people such as Awa Ndiaye are testament to the profound assistance that you helped provide during this difficult time.

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart. This is not the first time you have come to help us during a period of crisis.”

— Awa Ndiaye

Awa Ndiaye picking up supplies for her community. She is a member of the Garden Ngor Marone

Access to motorized transportation is limited so donkey and horse carts were used to transport the supplies to the villages.

A recent poll showed seven out of every eight Senegalese have seen a reduction in income during this time, and over a third of people in rural areas have been forced to reduce meal sizes or eliminate meals altogether.

Because of you, hundreds of families like Awa’s received emergency distributions of food and sanitation supplies. Thank you!

Distribution in Action:

Andando staff Mandaw (in green) and Camara (in blue tunic) pictured with the Mayor of Keur Soce.

Our team worked hard with local leadership to get supplies into our region amid strict travel restrictions. We are fortunate to enjoy reciprocal, strong, trusting relationships with the village chiefs and region mayor. This proved helpful in organizing the logistics of moving large quantities of supplies into these rural communities.

A truck full of supplies for distribution in the rural villages.

Once the supplies arrived in region, our staff sorted them into piles, each assigned to a different community. These are the supplies for Keur Soce region.

Our team in the Podor region staging supplies to distribute to communities we serve in the northern part of Senegal.

We also worked with local tailors to produce reusable fabric masks. 2,000 masks were distributed to the communities along with the supplies of rice, oil, and soap. By using local businesses we also helped support the local economy.

Even before we started working on getting food supplies into the area, we worked with local medical staff to design and distribute hand washing stations for each of the gardens.

Diya (pictured left in green Andando shirt) is a health worker in the village of Ngor. She is instrumental in teaching proper hand washing techniques to the community.

Between the two regions of Podor and Keur Soce, we serve over 40,000 people spread across 36 villages. You can provide ongoing support during these uncertain times. Click here to learn more.

Coronavirus Response Update

Many of the families we serve rely upon their market sales to sustain themselves. Due to government safety measures, many markets are closed, depriving many of the income and resources needed to protect and sustain their families.

Thank you to everyone who has already responded to provide emergency supplies for families in rural Senegal. Because of you, we distributed supplies of rice, soap, and face masks to hundreds of families.

“If it were not due to the Andando provision we would have nothing to cook.”

— Member of Ouro Madiw Village

However the need is still great, many of those we serve rely upon their market sales to sustain their families. With transportation severely limited, many markets are closed and communities are cut off from the food and supplies they need to stay safe and fed.

Will you join us by providing face masks, soap, rice, and other emergency supplies to families?

• $25 can supply one family with enough rice for a month

• $45 can provide reusable face masks for all of the women in one community garden

• $100 can provide soap, cleaning supplies, and education for 50 families

Our current programs are helping over 40,000 people in Senegal. We need your help to provide additional support during these uncertain times. Click here to learn more.

If you prefer to write a check, please make payable to:
Andando, PO Box 542, Jefferson, OR 97352

Help Rural Families Respond to Coronavirus

We are inspired by the resilience of those we serve. Every day, women return to the gardens to keep their families and communities fed. Every day, they have been working hard to overcome poverty and provide financial security for their families. But now the progress they have made is being threatened by conornavirus.

Food security is always an issue in Senegal, but it’s made even worse in these uncertain times. While the gardens continue to produce fruits and vegetables, other items such as rice, cooking oil, and soap are more difficult to get in rural communities.

Hand washing stations in each garden help protect hundreds of families.

In an effort to minimize the spread of coronavirus Senegal has closed schools and markets, banned gatherings, issued curfews, and limited transportation between regions in-country. This not only makes it difficult to earn an income but also makes access to basic items limited, thus driving the prices up for communities that are already vulnerable.

We are committed to ensuring that families have access to food and sanitation supplies and we need your help to do it. Will you join us by providing face masks, soap, rice, and other emergency supplies to families?

• $25 can supply one family with enough rice for a month

• $45 can provide reusable face masks for all of the women in one community garden

• $100 can provide soap, cleaning supplies, and education for 50 families

Our current programs are helping over 40,000 people in Senegal. We need your help to provide additional support during these uncertain times.

If you prefer to write a check, please make payable to:
Andando, PO Box 542, Jefferson, OR 97352

From the Director- April 2020

In the face of a worldwide issue, it is still inspiring to see how our global community is coming together to support each other. The health and safety of our staff and program participants is foremost, but beyond that, it is encouraging to see the ways people have responded to the situation and have risen up to meet needs. Even with schools closed in Senegal and most activities shut down, people still must go about their daily lives and feed their families.

On a visit to Andando partner schools (before the coronavirus closures) students wrote “thank you” on their chalkboards and paper as a way to express their deep gratitude.

One phenomenal example of this is in our gardens, where work continues to take place while implementing government guidelines to keep people safe.

Food security is always an issue in Senegal, but it’s made even worse in these uncertain times. The women are responding and recently had their largest harvest on record – over 40,000 pounds of produce in just one month!!

Weighing the harvest at Dioundou Garden in Podor. Collectively the gardens recently had their largest harvest on record - over 40,000 pounds of produce in just one month!!

This shows not only what they are capable of when given the right tools to thrive, but also is a testament to their resiliency and determination to keep going. When life does finally get back to normal, we know that these communities will continue to be transformed. We thank you for being a part of it.

“Jéréjëf!” – Thank You!
Lewis Kiker, Executive Director

Update: Coronavirus and its impact in Senegal

Dear Andando Family,

With so much changing around the world on a daily basis, it is refreshing to see how people and communities are coming together to support one another. Keeping our staff and the participants in our programs safe is the highest priority for Andando.

In an effort to minimize the spread of coronavirus, Senegal has closed schools, banned religious and social gatherings, issued curfews, and limited transportation both at the border and in-country.

Diya (pictured left in green Andando shirt) is a health worker in the village of Ngor and is instrumental in teaching proper hand washing techniques to the community.

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In response, our staff collaborated with local health workers to provide hand washing stations in all gardens. They are also closely monitoring the recommendations from the government and making sure those in rural communities have access to the information and resources needed to stay safe and healthy

Village chiefs and mayors have expressed their gratitude for the Andando gardens, which are now the sole source of produce for many communities.

Customers come directly to the gardens from local villages to purchase their produce.

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We will continue to keep you updated both on the situation as it unfolds in Senegal, and with bright and inspiring stories of families and children who you have touched with your support!

Follow us on Facebook @TheAndandoFoundation

Senegal Celebrates 60 Years of Independence

Happy Independence Day!

Sixty years ago Senegal peacefully gained its independence from France. We asked our staff to share what a typical Independence Day celebration looks like:

“Unlike the USA, the Senegalese do not organize barbecues. Normally, students will have vacation from March 21 to April 06, it’s youth week!”

— Boubou, Andando Country Director

“We celebrate this holiday in all fourteen regions of the country which has a population of 16 million inhabitants. It is a festival which is traditionally celebrated with a parade including groups such as the military and veterans, civil organizations, working class, crafts, students, and groups doing choreography such as majorettes and martial arts. ”

— Camara, Andando Keur Soce Region Program Manager

Andando staff with members of the women’s garden collective preparing for the region parade. The sign reads “The women of the commune of Keur Soce thank Andando .”

Last year the whole Andando team participated in the parade in Keur Soce along with our partners in the community gardens.

This year, all gatherings and events have been cancelled in response to coronavirus. Families instead will still be celebrating in their homes, with loved ones. (Read more about Senegal’s Independence here.)

To our friends in Senegal, we are celebrating along with you. Happy Independence Day!

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Update: COVID-19 and how it is impacting our Senegal team

Dear Andando Family,

With so much changing around the world on a daily basis, it is refreshing to see how people and communities are coming together to support one another. Keeping our staff and the participants in our programs safe is the highest priority for Andando.

Senegal has closed schools and banned all large gatherings, and our team is responding accordingly.

Local nurses and midwives educate their communities in health and sanitation.

We are adjusting our activities and following the advice of the authorities, while still trying to support the families and children of rural Senegal. We are taking some additional steps such as setting up more hand-washing stations at each of our gardens. We have moved as much work remote as we can, and are limiting travel whenever possible.

Your words of support and all the efforts you all are doing during this time are appreciated as well. We will continue to share news and information on our social media channels and share the bright and inspiring stories of families and children who you have touched with your support!

Be blessed and stay safe.
-From all of us at Andando

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Earlier this week we shared on Facebook how researchers from Senegal and the UK have partnered to develop a handheld rapid test kit. The kits will be made in Senegal and distributed directly to other African nations. Senegal is also leading the way by sharing mobile and suitcase labs with 35 other African nations. If you missed it, you can view the short video below.

Meet Andando’s Country Director, Boubou!

We are very fortunate to have a dedicated and passionate team on the ground in Senegal, working every day to build resilient, thriving communities. We think this team is pretty amazing and are sure you will agree. This is the first in a series introducing the people that make it all possible. (Click here to see others in the series.)

It’s fitting to start with our very first staff member, Boubou Sy (pronounced Boo-boo See), who has a long history with Andando (even before we were officially formed)!

Boubou has been working with Andando in some capacity for over 15 years.

Born and raised in Senegal’s capital city of Dakar, Boubou was a bright young boy who excelled in school and continued on to university to become a teacher.

Andando’s founders, Kevin and Fiona Kiker, first met Boubou while he was a university student volunteering at a center for refugees from Sierra Leone and Liberia. That was 20 years ago! Boubou’s passion for helping others made them fast friends. They stayed in touch over the years, and the Kikers made a point to visit Boubou each time they returned to Senegal.

Boubou in his first classroom at the school in Keur Soce. He is now a teacher at the Ousmane Sembene High School in Dakar.

After graduating Boubou found a position in Keur Soce (some 130 miles away from Dakar). When he wasn’t busy teaching or grading papers, Boubou would spend time with local business owners and leaders. These relationships provided the initial foundation on which Andando was formed. Boubou volunteered part-time with Andando by coordinating our first microloan program. He was a one-man-show: interviewing potential recipients, vetting their business plan, distributing funds, making routine checkups, and collecting the loan payments for redistribution.

Boubou with Scott Kelley marking the location for water pipes to be installed in Keur Soce, 2008.

Slowly these projects grew. As more donations came in, water pipes were laid, wells were dug, and over time Boubou, and Andando, became known and trusted in the community. In 2007, Boubou was hired as Andando’s Country Director.

Boubou understands the importance of building strong relationships with members of the community. He takes time to meet with local officials to build and maintain trust and collaboration with Andando. Here he is pictured with the Deputy Governor and community leaders, along with Andando Program Director, Camara; and Executive Director, Lewis Kiker.

While in Keur Soce Boubou met his future wife, Amy Marone, and when his teaching term concluded they moved back to Dakar and started a family.

Boubou and Amy at their wedding in 2009, (Pictured left to right: Fiona Kiker, Crystal Kelley, Amy Marone, Boubou Sy, Scott Kelley, and Carrie Hazelton.)

Boubou and Amy have four children (names and pictures below), who are fortunate to have both parents as teachers: Boubou high school, and Amy junior high.

Boubou and Amy with their four children: their son, Ibrahima, and daughters Youmaissy, and twins Hawa Élisabeth Steady, and Aissatou Fiona Kiker.

Your support enables our staff to help their fellow citizens. We are excited and honored to introduce you to more of our team and share their hope for the future with you. Thank you for your support!

Click here to meet other staff.

Kaolack International Fair

In February, our staff and a couple of the garden collective presidents represented Andando with an informational booth at the Kaolack International Fika (Fair).

The fika is organized by the Chamber of Commerce of the region of Kaolack, of which Keur Soce and surrounding villages are inside of. It is a fair which receives all the countries of the sub-region (Mali, Ivory Coast, Benin, Guinea Conakry, Gambia, Niger, Nigeria, Morocco, etc.).

Andando exhibit at the Kaolack International Fika (Fair). Pictured left to right: a potential buyer from a local food market; Camara, Andando Program Manager; Aissatou, a garden collective representative'; and Mandaw, Andando Garden Manager.

For five years Andando has taken part in this fair to exhibit and give more visibility of our community garden program and (more importantly) forged new connections between potential produce buyers and the women who manage the gardens.

The Mayor of Keur Soce, Malick Ndiegane, and his delegates took time to visit the Andando table at the Kaolack International Fair.

“It is always with pride that we share the moments with Andanda, a strategic, dynamic, useful partner, made up of very committed, respectful people who know the meaning of responsibility. Thank you!”

— Malick Ndiegane, Mayor of Keur Soce

The garden presidents were a great asset as they spoke directly to the benefit of Andando gardens in their community and also the food outputs of their respective gardens. Several orders of produce were made, and our staff facilitated the transport of the vegetables from the remote villages to the fair in Kaolack (15+ miles away, or approximately 3 hours by donkey cart).

Andando staff and interns at our table at the Kaolack International Fair.

“This is a great opportunity for Andando because we have made a lot of customers for our gardens thanks to the fair.”

— Camara, Andando Program Manager

Empowerment Through Preventative Care

Nurses and midwives at the Keur Niene Serere health post provide medical care for the immediate and satellite communities.

Imagine having to travel long distances, by foot or donkey cart, to seek medical care. For many in rural Senegal this is a reality, because access to facilities with trained medical staff is extremely limited. This is why for years we have been partnering with local leadership to build health posts in rural Senegalese communities.

Health posts become a beacon in the community; not only do the local midwives and nurses provide much needed medical care for the immediate and satellite communities, but the physical building itself meets the unique needs of each community.

The courtyard of the Keur Niene Serere health post where trees have recently been planted.

Fruit-bearing trees are planted in the courtyard, providing precious shade and nutritious food. This shade creates a comfortable location for community education programs, such as workshops on health and sanitation, empowering local families to take control of their own health.

Further, health posts enable urban medical staff to serve remote communities that would otherwise not have access to vaccines and other preventative healthcare.

Mothers and babies patiently wait their turn to receive vaccinations.

Vaccinations are transported in ice chests. Once they reach the health post they must be administered immediately.

Many rural communities have limited or no access to electricity.  The heath posts utilize solar technology to provide lighting, but higher-draw appliances such as refrigerators require too much electricity for these solar units. 

Nearly all vaccines must be refrigerated, which means they cannot be stored at the health post but rather must be brought from larger cities for immediate administration. Their arrival is much anticipated, and in the course of a single afternoon hundreds of children can receive these necessary vaccinations.

Urban medical staff use rural health posts to provide vaccines and other preventative care for communities that would otherwise not have access.

Community leaders are continually asking us to build health posts in their towns. The need is great. Last year we visited Paymar village and toured their existing health building. The structure and equipment are old and outdated, and the community has exceeded the capacity of the existing facility.

The desk for checking in patients at the current Paymar health facility. A new building is under construction and will be completed soon.

For several years, members of Hub City Church (Albany, Oregon) have donated to build health posts in rural Senegal. To date they have funded eight buildings (!!) and just added another one this year.

Enjoying a post-vaccination lolly pop.

Because of their commitment, the community of Paymar will have a new health post; construction is underway and will be completed very soon.

Health posts empower local families to take control of their own health.

We are excited to be part of a global village that values access to healthcare for all and are looking forward to seeing the health of this village and the surrounding community benefit because of it.

Would you like to make a difference? All gifts, big and small, make a lasting impact. Please consider making (or increasing) a monthly donation. You would be surprised what just $5 a month can accomplish! Click here to make a gift or set up a monthly donation. If you would like to make changes to your existing donation contact Crystal, our Development Director at (541) 224-7990 or crystal@andando.org

You can also help by sharing this opportunity with your service club, church, friends, and family. To schedule a speaking engagement, contact Crystal at crystal@andando.org or (541) 224-7990.

A huge THANK YOU to all our partners who helped make this a reality!

Thank you from the Director - January 2020

2019 was an amazing year for Andando and our partners, and you have made all the difference. Through your generosity, communities have been transformed in rural Senegal. We are now reaching more people than ever, and we have even bigger things planned for 2020.

Meeting with the midwife (center) in Paymar village. Boubou, Andando Senegal Country Director, is pictured right.

This year we expanded our garden program into four new communities, which brings the total to 23 gardens that serve thousands of people boosting nutrition and income. We built classrooms in four villages that are already packed with eager students supported by parents with a renewed vision for their future. Two more rural health posts were completed that meet the healthcare needs of people where they need it most, right at home in their neighborhoods. We were even able to increase our microloan program this year to assist more farmers and small business owners get a step ahead.

None of this would be possible without the generosity of your investment. We hope to do even more in 2020, and we still need your help! Please consider making a donation to Andando today and have the effects felt halfway across the glove. Click here to make a special or recurring gift.

Your contribution makes these programs possible, and the Senegalese send along a BIG “Jerejef!” – Thank You!

Lewis Kiker, Executive Director

Give the Gift of Opportunity this Holiday Season!

Khoyan lives with her husband and their school-aged children in Keur Pathe Malick, a small village of about 2,000.

Together in 2019, we have accomplished so much for the people of Senegal. In rural areas, where a majority of people live in poverty, we have been able to develop programs reaching tens of thousands of people. With your help, we hope to do even more in 2020.

I would like to introduce you to Khoyan. Khoyan lives with her husband and their school-aged children in Keur Pathe Malick, a small village of about 2,000. Here, they farm millet and peanuts during the short three-month rainy season. This food must last them throughout the rest of the year. When stocks run out, the family goes hungry.

Three years ago, the village of Keur Pathe Malick approved the installation of an Andando garden. With your help, a solar well was constructed and now water is available year-round for growing fresh, life-giving food!

Khoyan in her kitchen preparing meals for her family using produce from the garden.

“This garden allows me to support my family, to work to get out of poverty. What you did for my village has never been done before - thank you! ”

— Khoyan

Because of their initiative, drive, and hard work shown in the garden, we were able to develop a deeper partnership with this community by also building a school and completing a health post that will serve thousands of people for years to come.

There are many more families like Khoyan’s; families that can thrive if just given access to water, education, and healthcare.

Khoyan watering her garden plot.

Today, I ask for your support so that we can continue bringing
these life-changing programs to the people of Senegal.

Some of the women of the Keur Pathe Malick Garden Collective.

• $100 feeds ten students nutritious meals at school for a year, helping them learn and grow.

• $250 provides microloans for three small business owners, helping them break the cycle of poverty.

• $500 stocks three rural health posts with medical supplies for a year, keeping people healthy and thriving.

• $1,000 rehabilitates a well, supplying fresh, clean
  water for a village for years to come.

Join us to walk alongside these families to build a brighter future together.
Our programs are built and maintained by you and we Thank You!

With gratitude,

Lewis Kiker
Executive Director

Tree Nursery Construction Update

See the amazing progress our team has made on the Tree Nursery! With thousands of seedlings already propagated we have launched into the second phase of our project - constructing a nursery to protect the seedlings while they grow into trees!

Read more about this project by clicking here.

Bottle Drop: Cans for Change

We have BottleDrop bags, do you have yours? Every bag makes a difference for families in rural Senegal. You can drop your bags at ANY BottleDrop location.

What is BottleDrop?
BottleDrop is a clean convenient way to return your bottles and cans and claim the deposit. There are two ways you can help Andando through BottleDrop:

1. Fill blue fundraising bags with cans and bottles. Drop off at your local BottleDrop location. Andando will receive the funds from your bags.

2. Already have a BottleDrop account? You can transfer funds directly from your account to Andando online.

Need bags? Send us a message and we’ll put some in the mail for you: crystal@andando.org or 541.224.7990

Back to School!

Senegalese students will be returning to their classes soon; for those in Daga Sambu and Fas Toucouleur, this will mean new classrooms and latrines! Over the summer a block of three new classrooms were constructed in Fas Toucouleur, doubling the current capacity of the school.

Excited students outside the nearly completed classrooms in Fas Toucouleur.

Last year 125 students at this school were meeting in temporary classrooms constructed of thatch and millet reeds. This year they will be able to attend class indoors.

Volunteers use cook stoves like these to prepare breakfast for students each day.

Outside of the classrooms, two new latrines were constructed, which will improve sanitation conditions and decrease absences due to illness. School administrators tell us that they anticipate an increase in enrollment, attendance, and test scores because of these upgrades.

Two new cook stoves have been installed for the nutritional programs at other Andando partner schools. With the promise of a full belly, young learners are encouraged to attend school and can focus on their studies.

Community volunteers building walls for teacher housing adjacent to the school.

We are excited to see community involvement increase. On a recent visit to the school in Fas Toucouleur, we met with several volunteers, teachers, parents, and administrators. They are collaborating to make their own improvements by constructing teacher housing adjacent to the school yard. They told us of their increased pride in the school and their hope for a stronger future.

This summer, students visited the National Assembly as well as several other culturally significant sites.

Thank you for empowering individuals and communities to make sustainable, long-term investments in future generations. Your continued contributions make this possible!

Of course, we are not done yet. We continually receive requests from community leaders and school officials to partner with them. Each community is filled with gifted, young students who are eager to contribute to a brighter future for their families and neighbors.

We need your help to make this a reality. Will you join us by becoming a monthly donor? A donation of $5 can provide one student with all the school supplies they need for the upcoming year. There are over 3,000 students in our current partner schools and we hope to add 500 or more in the coming year.

Join our circle of Monthly Donors. Click here for more information. 

From the Director - October 2019

Meeting with members of the Paymar Community Garden - a potential site for 2020 development.

I am writing this from Senegal, where I am fortunate enough to spend a few weeks working with our partners, visiting projects, speaking with participants, and developing new programs. These activities take a good deal of time, but they are all a huge part of our success.

We at Andando value taking the time to listen to community members to identify the real needs before developing sustainable programs that operate within existing structures. Rather than going in and reinventing the wheel, we equip and encourage people to better utilize their existing strengths and potential.

“Andando is our best partner in these areas. Sometimes, other NGOs don’t respect the wishes or methods of the community, and the lagging results show it. But with Andando, we are 100% satisfied.”

— Deputy Governor, Keur Soce Region

With our community gardens, for example, the women already have some of the knowledge, land to grow on, and a cooperative structure – they just need increased access to water to irrigate their crops. Once we work with them to provide this, they thrive.

Deputy Governor of the Keur Soce region touring Andando gardens and health posts.

I recently met with the Deputy Governor of the Keur Soce region, who told me, “Andando is our best partner in these areas. Sometimes, other NGOs don’t respect the wishes or methods of the community, and the lagging results show it. But with Andando, we are 100% satisfied.”

Through the use of this asset-based model of community development, those in our programs are active participants instead of just recipients of outside aid. Promoting the agency of those we work with results in much more self-sustaining programs which we believe will maintain these communities on the path to a better future.

“Jéréjëf!” – Thank You!
Lewis Kiker, Executive Director

Forests for a Future

At a workshop led by Trees for the Future, our Lead Garden Technician, Mandaw, shares a sample garden plan incorporating trees. Trees serve as both a live fencing as well as produce food.

We have begun an ambitious and vital new Forest Garden project! Our initial goal is to reforest 50 acres in the Keur Soce region, with more in years to come. Trees not only provide a sustainable food source but also help with deforestation and soil erosion.

Last August, in a partnership with Trees for the Future, several of our Garden Technicians attended a tree planting and forest garden planning workshop. Our lead technicians expanded their knowledge and participated in practical, hands-on training to learn how to incorporate forest gardens into our existing vegetable gardens.

Recently we met with the local Department of Water & Forests and toured their tree nursery facility, gaining valuable insight into the specific needs in the region we work in most. By collaborating we gain buy-in from local leadership as well as the ability to pool our resources to maximize our impact.

This summer we constructed a tree nursery at our training facility in Keur Soce that will serve as the home base for the tree planting project. Our staff of Garden Technicians and Interns will propagate 50,000 seedlings that will be cared for at this nursery until they are strong enough to be replanted in community gardens, schools, and health posts.

Garden members learning how to transplant and care for young trees.

In the meantime, members of Andando’s garden cooperatives are participating in workshops where they are learning how to properly transplant and care for the seedlings once they are ready to be moved to their new homes. These women will serve as leaders and educators in their communities by demonstrating the benefits of Forest Gardens and their successful implementation.

This new project requires the addition of a Tree Technician to our staff in Senegal, who will serve as an invaluable resource for the individuals working with us and the communities benefiting from the Forest Gardens.