Clean Water for Rural Villagers in Burkina Faso

Greetings Project donors, supporters and stakeholders,

We feel blessed to have so much support around us.  In recent months BARKA Foundation has attracted several pro bono advisors in the field of sustainable development who are helping us in the areas of strategic planning, fundraising and project development.  The results can be found in the attached document: WASH + Irrigation + Reforestation.  The document designer, Jennifer Cain, also donated her services and did a stellar job.  The Project Summary extends the project posted here on Global Giving to include irrigation and reforestation, two components which will enable villagers to generate income.  Without this type of financial mechanism within a village, breaking the poverty cycle is not possible.  BARKA Foundation will be using this document to apply for grants and major gifts for both project and organizational funds.  Please check it out to get the full picture of our work, methodology and vision for a village micro-model to create sustainable empowerment and autonomy.

A brief recap of other activities includes the following:

• 3 Canadians from Quebec have already raised over $16,000 for BARKA by running the NYC Marathon which will take place on November 7.  Check out our website for updates and to follow the runners during the race. They'll be wearing BARKA t-shirts and draped in the Burkina Faso flag! See link to online press release below.
• BARKA's co-founders, Ina & Esu, are putting the finishing touches on an Echoing Green Fellowship Application. Although extremely competitive, 2/3 of past winners have achieved sustainability for their organizations. 
• BARKA is continuing to deepen its relations with schools in NY, MA and ME- Ina & Esu are scheduled to speak at an assembly at John Bapst Memorial High School in December, and later this month will be re-connecting with schools in Berkshire County to continue integrating BARKA's sustainable development work into service-learning curricula.  Conversations have begun with Calhoun School in NYC and BARKA is discussing a student exchange program for seniors at Marblehead High School for Spring 2011.
• Stay tuned for e-commerce from BARKA's website- DVDs, t-shirts, gift cards, and Ina's one-of-a-kind knitwear and jewelry... in time for the holiday season.  Special thanks to volunteer webmaster (mistress) Ali Thomson and Ed Dowd working hard for BARKA in Europe.
• Thanks to a team of volunteer video editors found through Idealist.org, BARKA has begun logging and editing 80 hours of previously unseen footage from the 6 months spent in Burkina during 2009. A new documentary film is underway and will be submitted to FESPACO, Africa's largest film festival.
• Lastly, BARKA's relationships with Rotary Clubs continue to expand.  Earlier this month Ina & Esu gave a presentation to the Marblehead Harbor Rotary Club which is currently considering a sponsoring role for BARKA's WASH+ Pilot as part of Rotary Foundation's Future Vision Plan.

Thank you all so much for your continued support on all levels.  At this point we've secured funds for a trip to Burkina in December during which BARKA will conduct final research, planning and confirm in-country partnerships before project implementation.  As always, we'll keep you posted.  Barka!

Links:

• Team BARKA Races NYC Marathon Press Release

• WASH+ Irrigation + Reforestation Project Summary (PDF)