Home  > 2007 Visit to Mali
	Buying vegetables while travelling across the plateau.
Buying vegetables while travelling across the plateau.
Village Chief, Dogolou Saye, on left  looking at 'Independant Burley: A village, its people and its councils'
Village Chief, Dogolou Saye, on left looking at 'Independant Burley: A village, its people and its councils'
Equipment in Téréli school canteen
Equipment in Téréli school canteen.
Food stored in the school canteen.
Food stored in the school canteen.
Zakari and teachers - seeing the start of work for the 3 extra classrooms.
Zakari and teachers - seeing the start of work for the 3 extra classrooms.
Stone prepared for the new classrooms.
Stone prepared for the new classrooms.
Imam with card from Burley.
Imam with card from Burley.
Member of Protestant Church with card from Burley.
Member of Protestant Church with card from Burley.
The Catholic Church in Téréli showing cards from Burley.
The Catholic Church in Téréli showing cards from Burley.
Sand dune stabalisation near Idyeli.
Sand dune stabalisation near Idyeli.
	The well at Bangala 2 (Provided by West Park URC Leeds)
The well at Bangala 2 (Provided by West Park URC Leeds)
Abbot Noel, Pel Catholic Mission, showing produce growing
Abbot Noel, Pel Catholic Mission, showing produce growing.
Traditional well which needs replacing as water is so muddy.
Traditional well which needs replacing as water is so muddy.
		Members of A.E.E.R.T.P.S. (the Association of pupils, students and friends from Téréli and Pégué)
Members of A.E.E.R.T.P.S. (the Association of pupils, students and friends from Téréli and Pégué)
May picture
Translator Isaac with Anne Parker.

The visit of Mary & John Wood and Anne Parker to Téréli and the surrounding area - January / February 2007

Seven years after our first visit John and I, together with a friend Anne Parker, set off from Bamako with Zakari on the long journey to Téréli. Nothing could have prepared us for the welcome. Travelling across the plains and on the plateau very few people are seen but about 2 km from Téréli the 4x4 Toyota, which we had hired, was surrounded by hundreds of people. The drums were beating, people were singing and dancing, guns were being fired and we were surrounded by people greeting us. It must have taken us an hour or two to finally reach the village where there were more formal exchange of greetings with the Village Chief, Dogolou Saye, and elders of Téréli. The welcome continued for several hours with all the young people dancing and singing. ‘You have left your home but you are at home‘ was said to us many times. This is what it really felt like.

We were keen to go to the school in Téréli as several adults and youngsters from both primary schools in Burley had given us pencils, books, crayons etc.. The Headteacher, Sana Tembely, gave them out to all the children. He spent much time showing us round and explained why it was so important to get 3 extra classrooms for secondary education. We saw work on the foundations as well as men breaking stone.

During the last seven years many photographs and cards have been sent to Téréli. I was amazed to see them on walls in churches, in the school and elsewhere in the village. Time and time again we were asked to pass on thanks to everyone who had helped raise money for the Maternity, the school well and canteen.

Going to Téréli was only part of our time in Mali. We stayed for a few days at the Catholic Missions in Bandiagara and Pel where we were able to see the incredible work of the White Fathers. Apomi Saye, Director of the Joliba Trust, organised visits to a wide variety of projects including:- sand dune stabilisation near Idyeli, micro credit classes in Koporo Pen and tree planting in the surrounding area, women‘s health and welfare with the Fulani people who are nomadic, land reclamation and locust egg collection in Sogodougou, wells at Bangala 2 and Koumbogounou Peulh, the Maternity and midwifery projects in Tanivan - and many other truly inspiring projects.

The last few days were spent in Bamako. Sékou Diarra, who visited Burley in 2001, was able to come and see us and tell of his important work with peasants in the cotton growing areas. It was good to hear about the difference Fair Trade Cotton is making.

In Bamako we were able to see where Zakari is living and studying. He has to complete his thesis before qualifying as a doctor. It was reassuring for us to know had we needed medical assistance Zakari was there to help!

We have returned to Burley with so many wonderful memories - the amazing welcome - remarkable gifts showing their rich culture and many friendships renewed and strengthened. It has been such a privilege to stay in their community and both encouraging and inspiring to see what has been achieved.

Mary February 2007

	Apomi Saye, Director of The Joliba Trust, with Zakari Saye, International Secretary for A.E.E. R.T.P.S.
Apomi Saye, Director of The Joliba Trust, with Zakari Saye, International Secretary for
A.E.E. R.T.P.S.
	Vegetables growing in Sogodougou.
Vegetables growing in Sogodougou.
	Locust eggs collected at Sogodougou.
Locust eggs collected at Sogodougou.
Zakari's accommodation in Bamako - with friends sitting on the bed.
Zakari's accommodation in Bamako - with friends sitting on the bed.
Mary, Zakari and John.
Mary, Zakari and John.
Sunset on a hill above Bamako.
Sunset on a hill above Bamako.
School in Téréli with pens/ pencils/ books.
School in Téréli with pens/ pencils/ books.
Looking at pictures from Burley Oaks School.
Looking at pictures from Burley Oaks School.
Getting water from the school well in Téréli.
Getting water from the school well in Téréli.
	Isaac and Headteacher, Sana Tembeley, showing work on foundations for new classrooms.
Isaac and Headteacher, Sana Tembeley, showing work on foundations for new classrooms.
Rhoda, the midwife, outside the Maternity in Téréli.
Rhoda, the midwife, outside the Maternity in Téréli.
	Mother and child visiting the Maternity.
Mother and child visiting the Maternity.
The Maternity at Téréli.
The Maternity at Téréli.
The Toguna in Téréli.
The Toguna in Téréli.
Health and wefare classes with the Fulani women.
Health and wefare classes with the Fulani women.
The midwife at the Maternity in Tanivan.
The midwife at the Maternity in Tanivan.
Micro - credit classes at Koporo Pen
Micro - credit classes at Koporo Pen.
Weaving at Songo. Amadou Karembee has been doing this for 25 years.
Weaving at Songo. Amadou Karembee has been doing this for 25 years.
Priests from Bandiagara Catholic Mission.
Priests from Bandiagara Catholic Mission.
Zakari outside his accommodation in Bamako.
Zakari outside his accommodation in Bamako.
Zakari Saye, who organised our visit.
Zakari Saye, who organised our visit. He has been a wonderful guide and has explained so much about their rich culture.