Friday, March 7th, and Saturday, March 8th 2014

The last two days….how time has flown.

On Friday, March 7th, we started with a meeting with US ADF, the United States Agricultural Development Fund.  We wanted to ask about funding to start a goat business for the women’s associations, using the brown goats of Maradi. The country representative of US ADF told us that our Women’s Associations must apply directly. Another potentially great opportunity. As Dov always says, “Leave no stone unturned”.

On the way back Hamani suggested we stop at the Agricultural Fair, which the Minister of Agriculture had recommended we see. It was very educational and everyone there knew Dov. At one point, Dov recognized the “plants” from the Sadore nursery, even before he saw the women from Sadore!

Women from Sadore came to sell their plants!

The President and Secretary General of the Sadore Women’s Association and our FOF team!

Dov pointed to many varieties of vegetables and fruits that were created by him and his team when he worked at ICRISAT.  I saw a big crowd of VIPs walking with Military protection, and spotted the Minister of Agriculture among them.  I broke through the security and crowd and tapped him on the shoulder and he enthusiastically exclaimed, “you came”! I thanked him for making the recommendation to visit.

Selling all kinds of fruit and vegetables

Would you like some?

Stands at the Agricultural Fair in Niamey

On our way back, we drove through the busy, crowded petit Marché, Niamey’s small vegetable market and saw the hustle and bustle of daily shopping and trading.

Activity in the Petit Marche!

At 11am, we saw the first draft of the first video we had commissioned to show the stories of successful farmers to children in school.  This one was about the women in Sadore and it was really well done. We added some thoughts and suggestions before they finalize it and discussed the next two videos they will shoot.  We are excited to show the videos to students in our pilot schools and eventually to students across the country. This will show them, by example from others,  that agriculture is a successful way to make a very good living.

Then we began a marathon of team meetings that would last until the end of our trip. We are all so energized by each other. It is rare in life that you find a team that you work so well with and whose skills so perfectly complement each other.

John, Helen, Dov and Robin

LAST DAY, Saturday, March 8th

At 9:30am, after an hour and a half of team meetings, we travelled to Libore for our debrief with Boubacar, the current mayor and all the local municipal Councilors. After we filled them in on the week’s activities, they went around the table thanking us so much for our efforts.  The Mayor then invited us for dinner at the Grand Hotel for 8 pm that evening. This was a very gracious and thoughtful offer which we readily accepted. Our flights didn’t leave until after midnight, and as tired as we were, this would be a lovely way to spend our last few hours. 

The local politicians, the Mayor and the FOF team.

The rest of the day was spent meeting, packing, talking and reviewing the week’s events.  Our brains were working at half mast.

And then came the wonderful parade of friends to say goodbye to us.  Sidi  with his many adorable children,

Sidi, his family and our FOF team

Hamani and his four cute daughters,

Robin, Hamani and his four daughters!

the Chef de Canton joined by  his warm and gracious bodyguard, the former Vice Mayor, Fatouma (who also accompanied us to the airport), Amadou and his wife Fati, Gaston and Madame Foumakoye, the former Ambassador to Canada. All made a point of coming by.

We had a really relaxing and enjoyable dinner with the Mayor, Amadou and the Councilors who attended.  A perfect end to a special trip.

We were taken into the special lounge at the airport with Hamani, Amadou, Fatouma and Ibrahim (one of the Councilors who works at the PM’s office) and passed the next hour laughing and telling stories.

Just before boarding, 4 Air France Officials came in and looked at me, and said that because it was International Women’s Day, they put all the boarding passes into a pail, and mine was selected to win a prize! So they gave me a leather Air France pouch and then took photos!!!

Robin is given prize by Air France in honour of International Women’s Day!

Before leaving, I had a chat with Hamani.  For eight years, since we met,  I have watched him grow from a shy, quiet person to the confident man he is today at 40. We have been through so much together as both our organizations Pencils for Kids and LIBO started around the same time.  It was a really special moment.  He is humble and kind and respected within the community and spends his life trying to help the Nigerien people.

Hamani Djibo, President of LIBO

In fact, there are simply no words to explain the depth of grace that the Nigerien people have – they are supremely cultured in the way they interact with each other, with their families and with visitors.  We saw their integrity, kindness and warmth every day.

It has been 8 years since the Canadian Consulate suggested I speak with Amadou Madougou, and from that moment on, I knew we were in the best of hands.  Amadou remains our mentor and guide and above all, our friend.  Can’t wait to see what the next 8 years will bring!

Robin and Amadou