The Long Road to Timbuktu: Fay meets Sitan - and the whole community!

After years of waiting, Fay Howell finally arranged a trip to Mali for Christmas. She decided that going to meet her new sponsored child, Sitan (7), would be a good way to begin their friendship and see how the support of sponsors, like her, had helped change the lives of one community.

A Bumpy Start

"I have wanted to visit Timbuktu since I was a small child and started planning this trip for when my youngest daughter was independent. Modibo, my guide, and I set off, a little later than expected, in a 4x4 with air conditioning. Real comfort in a hot, dusty country with few tarmac roads!

"Although it was market day and many of the villagers had gone to trade there were still a lot of people waiting to greet me. It could have been a bit overwhelming but for the obvious interest and pleasure of the villagers and the way the community worker took control! Modibo grabbed my hands and a couple of children's and united us. We were then drummed into the village. It was all a bit hectic and crazy but wonderful at the same time.

"Then Sitan's father was introduced to me, and Sitan, her mum and baby sister also joined us.They were all so shy and awestruck; I guess being centre stage in their village must have been more than they had been prepared for too!"

Meeting the Village

"We went to sit and meet with the village elders next. Mali society has very clear structure and hierarchy, and although this may clash with how we live it is quite beautiful to spend time in a culture with respect for elders and where it is important to make time to greet people properly, enquiring after their health and family with genuine interest.

"I was then guided with Sitan to visit their family compound with everyone following. They had set up a row of seats for us and we were encircled.

"I was welcomed by Sitan's father and (translated by Modibo) they gave me a carved statue, some millet and two live chickens!"

"In return I thanked them for allowing me to visit and for the gifts and introduced myself a little then gave them the gifts I had bought. The children were very pleased to share the sweets!"

A Sense of Community

"This region had never had a sponsor visit so I think there was a mixture of curiosity and nervousness, especially with Sitan's family, and Sitan was so shy she could not speak at first, but the exuberance of the older women from the village meant it was not a difficult visit."

"If you go to Mali be prepared to throw away any self-consciousness - dancing and drumming is an important part of ceremony, so Sitan and I were egged on to dance together and they all so enjoy you joining in, it creates a common ground so that we all laughed together."

"It was very clear to see how closely the community workers knew the children and the families, calling them by name and a couple of children just naturally sat on their knee. The workers also used my visit to promote the idea of sponsorship generally, to reassure families that it can be a positive thing, to reiterate the message about the benefits of sending their children to school, and that I was not there to take their children away."

Experiencing Plan¿s work

"Whilst in the area we drove past a couple of Plan Mali health centres, some schools and visited the regional office to talk to the manager about other initiatives they were focusing on. Two key ones were the credit union for women, which offers finances and help to develop business ideas, and the education program to discourage female circumcision, still commonly practised throughout Mali.

"I would love to have the opportunity to visit again and to be able to stay for longer and get the chance to interact more with Sitan and some of the women in the village and to find out more about life for them in rural Mali.

"What have I learnt? These families who we support are so strong and capable and do not abuse the chances given to them to improve their own lives. They are creative, vibrant and loving life in a tough environment! They are not sad, they're inspirational. Would I go again? definitely!"