• About
  • Our Work
  • Join
  • Partner
  • Media
EMAIL SUBSCRIBE
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER

Sign-up for monthly updates on Winrock's work around the world.

Volunteer Blog

VOLUNTEER BLOG

Impressionable Bonds

  • SHARE:
  • Copy

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Jen Snow

Volunteer Stephen Veryser returned from his trip to Mali last week and had wonderful words for Winrock’s field team:

I had a wonderful experience in Mali on account of all of your support, excellent relationships established the host communities. I was so comfortable in Mali due to the fact that everyone we met and worked with was very kind, welcoming, and accommodating. I learned a lot from seeing the way that people live in Mali, especially the agroforestry used prevalently, the tight communities that villagers live in, traditional architecture, and beautiful art and music.

While he was in Mali, Stephen’s training participants wrote a tribute to him on the blackboard before their second day of training:

“My friend, it is good to know when to start. Agriculture has been done without requiring skills, but now agriculture is not done in ignorance. Before, agriculture was not considered to be profitable but now agriculture has become profitable and is the greatest thing in the world. Now, a white man himself came to lift agriculture and it becomes a great thing for us. So let’s help the white man to lift what he’s lifting so that agriculture can become profitable for us.”

They also gave Stephen a local name, Kunje Senougou. Touched by these powerful words, Stephen explains,

I was pretty amazed since I hadn’t really told them anything like that directly but what they wrote pretty much described what I thought we were trying to do too. Interesting with the language barrier and all. The M’pendougou community gave me a beautiful traditional robe as a parting gift, and the name ‘Kunje Senougou,’ which means ‘old road’ (as in the long-time relationship between Mali and U.S. –they had hosted a number of Peace Corps volunteers previously) in the initial meeting with them.

Stephen in traditional robe, gifted to him by the M'pendougou community where he volunteered

Stephen in traditional robe gifted to him by the M’pendougou community where he volunteered

This is the kind of cultural exchange that makes Farmer-to-Farmer such a valuable program. Beyond just a technical exchange and training opportunity, this program builds connections and bonds that are impressionable for both sides.

Posted in Africa, Mali, Volunteer Feedback | Tagged international travel, international volunteer, Mali, people-to-people exchange
ABOUT FARMER-TO-FARMER WINROCK VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE

SUBSCRIBE TO POSTS

Loading

ARCHIVE

  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011

CATEGORIES

  • AET
  • Africa
    • Ghana
    • Senegal
  • Asia
  • Bangladesh
  • Cuba
  • El Salvador
  • Ethiopia
  • Field Staff
  • Guinea
  • Kenya
  • Latin America
  • Mali
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Nigeria
  • Postharvest
  • Rural Livelihoods
  • Senegal
  • Spotlights
  • Volunteer Feedback
  • Volunteer of the Month
  • Winrock Staff
WinrockIntl
Tweets by @WinrockIntl
Follow @WinrockIntl

204 E 4th Street | North Little Rock, Arkansas 72114

ph +1 501 280 3000 | fx +1 501 280 3090

2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 700 | Arlington, Virginia 22202

ph +1 703 302 6500 | fx +1 703 302 6512

  • Contact
  • E-News Signup
  • Low Bandwidth
  • Code of Conduct
  • Winrock Privacy Statement
  • Site Map
  • Terms of Use
Copyright © 2015- Winrock International
DEV ENVIRONMENT