By Vanessa Sanchez
In January 2008 and 2009, the Anthropology Department took a group of students to Mali, Africa. Throughout their two-and-a-half-week stay, these groups traveled up the Niger River. They began in Bamako, then traveled north to end in Timbuktu.
During a meeting, some of the students that went to Mali explained that this trip is “unlike the other trips that Hofstra offers.” They stated that even though it was an educational experience, it was very “hands on.” Some nights they stayed in hotel rooms, but camping out in huts and living with the natives were also part of their agenda. During the time that the groups traveled, they listened to speakers that taught them more about Malian culture. Someone that left a lasting impression on these students was Mody, their tour guide.
Giovanni Green and Amanda Ortega, two students that attended the first trip to Mali, spoke of the relationship they shared with Mody. “He is a wonderful man,” said Ortega. “And he is one of the few people that was able to get out of poverty and become very successful.”
At the mention of Mody, all five students that attended the meeting had something to say about Mody’s success story. “When we went to different villages and everyone saw Mody, they swarmed to him,” exclaimed Brittany, a student. “They would run to him and show so much respect when we spoke.”
After Green explained how much fun he had with Mody, he stood up, turned around and pointed to his back. He was wearing the vest that Mody wore throughout their trip and joked about how he kept bothering Mody until he gave him the vest.
“Gio is still in contact with a man that he met in Africa,” said Ortega. “He actually called him right before this meeting.” It was a relationship like this that inspired these students to build a well in the poor town of Sebe.
There is no running water in Sebe. Their main source of life is the Niger River. They bathe, wash clothes, cook and clean in this water, which also serves as the town’s main source of drinking water, leading to a growing amount of pollution.
“Along with the continuous growing problem of pollution,” explains Oretga, “the river has been slowly depleting.”
When asked the question about how the idea to build a well came about, Amanda explained that the head master of Sebe gave them the idea. It is something that is absolutely necessary because not only is the river depleting, it is also causing illnesses to the people of the village.
These students feel passionately about getting this well built because they experienced the side affects of the polluted river firsthand. “I got sick because of the water from the river,” said Josh Affron.
“We feel like something so simple like getting water shouldn’t be such an issue,” said Nadia Swanson. “It is so easy for us to go to a faucet and get clean water. Why should it be so hard for them?”
The natives that these students met were happy with how they lived. To us it may seem impossible to live in such poverty but Affron explained that “everyone is poor yet happy.”
“They are grateful for everything that they have,” says Swanson. “When we brought them school supplies, one girl cried over a pencil, yet we sit here and take so many things for granted.” The love that these students have for the people that they met in Mali and the experiences that they encountered is what pushes them to raise enough money to have this well built.
Even though this project is something that will definitely be completed, these students have a long road ahead of them. For those of us who have ever tried to raise money for a cause, you can relate as to how much work and time is put into it. It is for this reason that these dedicated and passionate students are asking for the help of the University community.
They are working through a non-governmental organization called Plan International. When enough money is raised for the building of the well, the students will make sure that it is taken to the natives of Sebe. The future well will greatly improve the lives of these people.
“The natives of Sebe will be building the well themselves,” continued Ortega. “Hopefully, it will give them a sense of pride.”
A group of these students have been sitting at a table in the Student Center atrium for the past week and will continue to do so in order to get their cause out to the public. On their table, they have several facts that will teach people more about their cause.
“Every 15 seconds, a child in Africa dies due to pollution in water,” says Green. “Every time that I cross the unispan, I think about how many children just died in Africa.”
They are also asking for the help from outside organizations and are planning several events in the future. “A concert might be in the works,” says Ortega. “But we will advertise all of our events in the near future.”
For more information on how you could help, feel free to e-mail your questions to [email protected].