A Few Shots From Our 24th Intercultural Dimensions Program In Senegal, January, 2017

 Néné, Khadija, Sali at Diedhioucounda

 We visited the Peace Corps office in Dakar.

 On the road to Tamba

 Adjusting his Kora

The wonderful bread of Sedhiou

 Discover Senegal with the 24th Crossing Cultures Senegal Program of 

Intercultural Dimensions, January 2017

Experience the real story of Senegal.  Intercultural Dimensions, Inc. offers a unique and stimulating travel and educational program focused on the Republic of Senegal, West Africa.

Led by two former U.S. Peace Corps volunteers, this is a well-established cultural immersion opportunity.  Participants experience family life and community projects in rural areas of this diverse nation. The Crossing Cultures Senegal group (three leaders and three to five participants) is small, allowing the leaders to tailor activities to the participants'  interests in areas such as dance and music training, teaching, literature, drumming, community action, environment, medicine, government, NGOs, agriculture, small business, language, politics, medicine and health.  

  

The $1431 fee is at cost. The leaders receive no compensation and pay for their own airfare and program fee. Extended stays for volunteer work or field study can be facilitated. This program is an eye-opener. For some it can be a stepping stone to their future; for others it can be an enrichment of the work they are already doing. Some have said this is a life-changing experience. Start now to plan and apply early. 

Please visit ID's website for more information and to apply:  www.interculturaldimensions.org or or call the leaders at 617 864 8442.

 Intercultural Dimensions, Inc. is a non profit 501 (C)(3) organization.

Janet Ghattas and John Hand

Intercultural Dimensions at Home in Sedhiou

Our home in Sedhiou is Diedhioucounda. John lived and worked with Alioune Diedhiou fifty years ago and we have kept close ties with the Diedhiou family since then. Senegalese tea (attaya) is a wonderful institution, at least it seems so. See, https://simmeringsenegal.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/ahhhhhhh-attaya/

Gabbing and drinking Attaya under the Mango tree.

Preparing Attaya in the afternoon

A mid-day meal of scrumptious Maafe was prepared by Néné Diedhiou

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(Above) A security person is in charge of seeing that people wash and disinfect their hands before entering the City Hall of Sedhiou. There is no Ebola in Senegal but hygiene is getting a boost all over the country. For example, here is a wall poster about the importance of washing our hands regularly.

Samba Diedhiou surfs the web with a clé d'internet with Ibou Diedhiou's suggestions

Tabokoto's new house to raise chickens

It is not easy for a young man to find a job in Senegal, even a bright, get up-and-go fellow with a college degree. After a year of frustration, Bouly Diedhiou, the youngest of Alioune Diedhiou's children decided to start a business. So, with help from several comrades he founded and directs an association named Tabokoto to raise and sell chickens. The name is taken from a tree where people gather. Tabokoto succeeded in getting grant money to begin their project with a building and a hundred chicks purchased from a source in the Netherlands and necessary supplies.

So far the chicks are thriving.

a meeting of Tabokoto's members

(above and below) Bouly organized a neighborhood clean-up with the Tabokota members.

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(Above) Imam 

Janet Diedhiou, named after our Janet

a few favorite sunsets and sunrise shots

Sunset near Arches National Park, Utah

Sunset at Beirut 

Sunset, Georgetown, Maine

Sunrise over the Casamance River, Sedhiou, Senegal

Sunset at Sedhiou

Sunset on Boulder Mountain, Utah

Sunset at Waikiki Beach

Sunset at Temento Samba, Kolda, Senegal

The Kolda Agricultural Fair -- March, 2013

Cakes baked by the Diedhiou Family's solar cooker

The Peace Corps in conjunction with other groups and the local  government organized the third annual Agricultural Fair at  Kolda, Senegal. Two members of our family in Sedhiou attended  and demonstrated their solar oven. We understand that the demonstrations were successful, producing delicious cakes. Good job! Solar cooking saves money, helps to alleviate the environmental damage caused by the use of wood for cooking and saves people from breathing unhealthy smoke. Samba and Néné Diedhiou --- center right interior of the Diedhiou Family's solar cooker Cake baked in the solar oven

Crossing Cultures Senegal, January 2013

 Gorée scene by Janet

 At the Ile de Diable

 At Sobo Badé

 At the Alliance in Kaolack

 In the fields at Temento Samba

 Senabou at Diedhioucounda

 Sunset at Temento Samba

Late afternoon in Temento Samba

Various places our Intercultural Dimensions program visited in Senegal

 APROFES Theater group in Kaolack

 Garden in Kolda assisted by a Peace Corps Volunteer (on left).

 Janet at the market in Kolda before visiting the village of Temento Samba

 Dancing at Temento Samba

 The Chief, Samba Mballo gave us his home during our visit.

 Solar power for this home in Temento

 pounding couscous at Temento

 preparing dinner at Temento Samba

 Fields adjoining the village

 Pape, who coached successful men's and women's soccor teams now turns to basketball.

Vocalist who sings with the balafonist at Sedhiou

 M. Mané, master balafonist at Sediou

 Fatou Diemé at Diedhioucounda

 El Hadji Abdoulaye Biaye giving us a lesson about the Region of Sedhiou

 Garden at Diedhioucounda

 We took a pirogue ride on the Casamance River to the Ile du Diable. (They say, it's best not to step onto the land).

 Computer room at the "Fort" in Sedhiou. (I hope it's being used by the people in Sedhiou.)

 Dinner at Diedhioucounda

 Cakes were baked for us in the solar oven at Diedhioucounda

 Tea in the afternoon at Diedhioucounda

 The Kankouran marches about in Sedhiou in front of our compound.

 Some of the women of Diedhioucounda

 On the road east of Kolda-maybe some work should be done here instead of building the new airport!

 We always enjoy visiting the artists' retreat, Sobo Badé at Toubab Dialaw.

 On the road outside Dakar

In the market at Kolda