Bring Clean Water to 500 Villagers in Burkina Faso

Greetings and blessings for a happy, fulfilling new year.  The BARKA Foundation is on the move and one to watch in 2012.

Right now we're readying a return to Tantiaka to implement the water, sanitation & hygiene project and getting all the final details in place.  We actually expected to be in Burkina right now, however shortly before Christmas Ina broke her ankle.  She is recovering beautifully and as soon as she's able to walk, we'll be on a plane to Burkina Faso. 

So much is involved in preparing a trip like this.  It's safe to say we will return forever changed after living with the people of Tantiaka for 3-4 months and fulfilling our promise to them to address the community's water needs.  We're currently updating our vaccinations, purchasing necessary items such as hand pump water filters and working out travel arrangements.  Since BARKA is still searching for operational funds, it would be most appreciated if you would consider making a donation at this time to help cover some of these trip-related expenses which otherwise must be covered out-of-pocket.  Given the fact that we have not collected any salary for the past 5 years, your contributions are vital in ensuring the success of the project.   

We are thrilled about the huge step we're about to take and so grateful to have you on this journey with us.  We'll be in touch soon.

"Barka" is a West African word of gratitude, blessing & reciprocity.

Barka,

Ina & Esu

Greetings and Happy Autumn,

We wanted to take this opportunity to provide a brief update from The BARKA Foundation:

1. PUMPING UP THE VOLUME:  BARKA's co-founders were invited to give a presentation at "Sustaining the Blue Planet Conference" (see link 1 below) and UNICEF offered BARKA a stipend to attend the "Water & Health Conference" at UNC Chapel Hill.  Both conferences proved extremely worthwhile.
2. DANCE, SING: Earlier this month BARKA teamed up with the critically acclaimed African electronica band Burkina Electric to host a series of events at Williams College, the #1 liberal arts college in the US (see link 2 below) including workshops, discussions and a concert. 
3. WALK, RUN: High school students from John Bapst HS hosted the 1st Annual 5k "Peace, Water & Wisdom Walk/Race" in Bangor, MA.  See link 3 below for details and photos. 
4. Right now, our exclusive focus is on securing the necessary project funds to implement the water project in the village of Tantiaka.  We can't return to Burkina until we have the necessary financing to ensure the project's success.  

Thank you for being a stakeholder in this project and for being invested in this project's success.  There's a terrific opportunity this week to further help us through leveraging your donation with a match by GlobalGiving. 

This Wednesday, October 19, at 12:01 am, Global Giving is holding their final Bonus Day of the year.

Thank you for your continued support and helping make sure that our next update comes from on the ground in Burkina.

Sincerely,

Ina & Esu Anahata, Co-Founders and the entire volunteer staff of The BARKA Foundation

Links:

• BARKA's presentation at Sustaining the Blue Planet Conference
• "Burkina Day" @ Williams College
• Bapst Students Organize "5K Peace, Water & Wisdom Race"

BARKA has been busy at work preparing for its trip back to Burkina Faso in the Fall. And as always, we've been working hard to raise funds.

• On Global Giving's July 15th Bonus Day, BARKA raised $1,100 in funds. Thank you to all that donated and continue to support our efforts in Tantiaka.
• BARKA Co-Founder, Esu Anahata, was selected as an Ariane de Rothschild Fellow earlier this year. He left for Cambridge University on July 14th to start the Fellowship this summer. The focus of the Fellowship is social entrepreneurship and inter-cultural dialogue.  Esu has been creating a business plan to help BARKA generate revenue and become a social enterprise.
• BARKA Co-Founders, Ina and Esu Anahata, traveled last month to Washington D.C. and met with representatives from USAID and WASH Advocacy Initiative. They also had the opportunity to meet with the Burkina Faso's Embassy in D.C.
• The BARKA Foundation has recently been selected to give a presentation about its work with students in the US and to speak about its innovative approach to water, sanitation & hygiene (WASH) at the "Sustaining the Blue Planet" Conference in Bozeman, MO from September 13-16. BARKA needs just 4,000 more donated frequent flier miles to afford tickets to Bozeman. If BARKA can raise the remaining frequent flier miles, the Conference may provide an opportunity for BARKA's work to get on the radar screens of numerous movers and shakers- which of course will help us expand our impact in Burkina Faso.
• The BARKA Foundation was honored to be this year's beneficiary of last month's Annual "Duct Tape Regatta" organized by District 7930's Swampscott Rotary Club. Marblehead Rotary Club, Marblehead Harbor Rotary Club, Swampscott Rotary Club and Interact Club, North Shore Rotaract Club, and Tower High School Interact Club combined efforts to raise over $4500!  These funds will be used as matching funds for a forthcoming $50,000 Future Vision grant application to Rotary International.
• BARKA has two new blog posts up on its website: one on the youth role in sustainable development, and the other on the right of indigenous peoples to free, prior and informed Consent.
• As mentioned above, BARKA is heading back to Burkina in the fall to begin work on the water, sanitation & hygiene project in Tantiaka, Le Petit Village. We are working to leverage our $25,000 in the bank by finding a partner to match that.
• What's the difference between a squad and a guild? For BARKA’s Facebook Cause, “Peace, Water and Wisdom,” it’s 427 people.  Our Cause is currently at 573 members and it takes 1,000 to become a guild. Here's what you can do to help; Join the Cause and recruit your friends to join "Peace, Water and Wisdom." What makes the Cause worth it? A great tool that the Cause provides allows members to create a birthday wish asking friends to donate to BARKA in honor of your birthday. Once you follow the simple steps to create a birthday wish, you can begin using Facebook, email, etc. to ask your friends to help meet your donation goal And you can even create a wish for a holiday, wedding or other occasion.

We are looking forward to big things, and we value all of your support along the way.

BARKA Foundation is going through another growth spurt.  Our singular focus right now is raising funds for projects and operations.  Here's the latest news:

• Georgie Badiel, a supermodel from Burkina Faso, and her friend and fellow supermodel, Heide Lindgren, have agreed to be Ambassadors for The BARKA Foundation.  They are utilizing their connections and network within the modeling field to raise awareness and funds for BARKA's work.  We're currently planning a benefit Fashion Show in NYC in September.  Stay tuned!
• We've just returned from a 10-day road trip, the 2nd one we've taken in 4 weeks, to meet with potential donors, partner schools and create new relationships with strategic partners.  One example is Williams College- Esu's alma mater, which is currently in discussion with BARKA about several initiatives including summer internships, winter study programs and participating in the Williams-in-Africa program.
• Two schools currently have Walks for Water planned in the coming weeks- Marblehead High School's Interact Club is planning a community walk on May 15th and John Bapst High School in Maine is organizing one on May 21st.  BARKA is also speaking to schools in Berkshire County about a walk before the end of the school year as well.  100% of funds raised will go toward the project listed here on Global Giving. 
• Rotary Clubs in MA, particularly District 7930, are expressing interest in BARKA's water, sanitation & hygiene initiatives.  We're inching closer toward being able to apply for a Future Vision Grant to Rotary International.  Recently, we had the opportunity to speak to many young rotarians at the district-wide Interact Club meeting in Woburn, MA.  Marblehead students will be reaching out to them to invite their participation in the upcoming walk, and BARKA hopes to make new connections with their associated Rotary Clubs.

In other news, Burkina Faso is experiencing some unrest given the highly volatile situations in neighboring Ivory Coast and nearby Libya.  We're monitoring the situation closely and will keep you up to date on any important news.

Thank you for your support.  We're so grateful to be on this extraordinary journey together with you.  Together, we are changing the world in a small yet significant way.

'Barka' is an African word of gratitude, blessing & reciprocity.

Barka,

Ina & Esu

'Barka' is an African word of gratitude, blessing & reciprocity.  The best way we know how to say thank to you for your care, concern, generosity and willingness to join us on this journey, is to say barka.