|
|
|
|
Despite chronic poverty and malnourishment, the kindness and generosity of the Malian people is something that I will never forget. I hope that these pictures and links will impress upon you how, despite physical and cultural differences, there is a common thread of humanity that runs through us all.
|
A cargo boat in the Niger river near Segou, Mali. |
 |
Jump to some Links to Peace Corps and Mali sites. A DOS is the official Description of Peace Corps Service. |
 |
In rural areas almost every farmer has a craft which allows him to earn cash. Any skill that you can think of that would be useful in a rural area is sure to be found. Dufakoro and Jaraké repair bicycles in the market that is held every Friday in Koula. They are a great source of funny stories and gossip and are the best of friends. Much of their repairs involve fixing broken spokes and replacing worn bearings. Markets in Mali are vibrant, day-long events. People go not only to engage in trade, but to exchange news and visit with relatives and friends from nearby towns. The types of things available in the market generally reflect the normal needs of people living in the area -almost everything! |
|
Two of the three years I spent in Mali were in the village of Kossaba. I lived in my own house located on the edge of the village. Meals were taken with a village family, who I compensated by providing fresh vegetables, meat, and various condiments for cooking. I could not have asked for a better family with which to spend my time. For two years I was a member of the family, attending weddings, baptisms, and funerals. We spent many an evening after dinner lying on mats looking at the starry sky and talking about just about everything imaginable. Ami was born a few months after my arrival. To see her grow and develop before my very eyes was an incredible experience. She was never quite certain what to make of me -I was part of the family, yet I did not look like anyone else at all. I think of my Malian family often. Despite their relative wealth, only one of the family's children was able to attend school. It has been almost 6 years since I left Mali. There is still a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kossaba. I hope that they too have the same wonderful relationship that I have with these very special people. |
 |
 |
Field work is often a group effort for the more intensive tasks. Harvest commences in early September and continues into October. Threshing millet is the final stage of the season's work. Men conduct the threshing with long curved sticks and women follow later in the day with the winnowing. Children play on the periphery of the threshing ground, practicing for the day when they will be allowed to join the village men. Back and forth across the millet the men work, raising clouds of sweet smelling dust to the sky... |
|
Rainfall in this part of Mali averages about 650 mm per year, and most of this is concentrated between June and August. No more than 50 years ago this same area received almost twice this amount of rain. Adapting agricultural methods to this changing climate is the biggest challenge to these farmers in the Sahael. A group of children take the opportunity to play in a small pool of water. These pools may linger for a few weeks after the rains cease, but within a month after the rains all these pools will be gone. |
 |
| Links to Peace Corps and other interesting web sites about Mali and Peace Corps. |
Peace Corps Washington |
A brief history
of Mali |
USAID
Mali page |
 |