Sadly, we had to cancel the volunteer tourism trip to Mali and Festival in the Desert for January 2010. The poor economy has hit volunteer tourism very hard. Our tour operator in Mali said tourism is definitely down. We had a wonderful school garden project lined up in Terili. We sent the money ahead to buy the trees, so, hopfully, the school will still benefit from receiving the trees - even though we won't be there to help put the trees in the ground. Ah...well...such is life. We WILL get back! And, we have plans to attend the 2011 Festival in the Desert. To watch for that trip and other volunteer tourism trips, please go to:  www.givebackkickback.com  We hope to see you soon! -Tina

When in Kori-Maounde in January 2009, the school director, Daniel, told us he dreamed of building a cafeteria. About half of the children walk from surrounding villages. The lunch break is from 12n-3pm, then they return for the afternoon session from 3-5pm. Some of the children walk 1.5 hours one way, so they often don’t return for the afternoon sessions. Traditionally meals are hot – one pot for carbohydrates (rice, millet, etc.) and one pot for the “sauce” (water, spices, vegetables, meat if there is any). Therefore, it’s traditional for kids to go home for lunch. The outlying villages like Kori-Maounde aren’t familiar with the concept of packing a lunch for their children. And if they did, it would be pretty hard to pack and keep (much less heat) these kinds of meals. There are no refrigerators; no electricity; no Tupperware; no sandwiches. So, a cafeteria and food service would help keep these children in school. I'm thrilled to announce that my church donated $750 towards this project! Thank you UCOH! If you'd like to help this dream become a reality, we could use your donations. Just click on Pay Pal button to your left. Thank you. -- Tina

Great news! We've finalized the trip itinerary to return to Festival in the Desert in January 2010. We'll be doing another school garden project, for our second annual trip to Mali. We really love donating the fruit trees and helping the school plant them. This time, we'll be going to Terilli, in the magical Dogon Country. Check out the new Give Back - Kick Back travel website for details and prices. http://www.givebackkickback.com/ Hike the Escarpment near the Mali border. Lean back into the sand dunes to listen to Mali and other West African music. Sail on the fabled Niger River. Watch the sweet faces of elementary school children as they plant fruit trees with us, side by side. Plus, we'll stop by the garden we planted in Jan. 2009 to see how our trees are doing. Hope you can join us for memories of a lifetime. -- peace, Tina

We're finalizing the last details on our next trip to Mali. Like our 2009 trip, we'll be combining a 'service' ("Give Back") project with a trip to the exotic Festival in the Desert ("Kick Back") outside of Timbuktu. Departing Dec. 30, 2009, returning January 15, 2010. "Give Back" - We'll once again be donating and planting trees in a school garden - this time in Tereli in Dogon Country.  The school children will grow fruit to sell at the market, and use the money to buy school supplies. Be a part of a gift that keeps giving year after year.  "Kick Back" at the Festival in the Desert, then touring this ancient country. We'll sail on the Niger River, visit the fabulous mosque at Djenne, get a drumming lesson, shop in local markets. Hope you can join us! Watch this site for more details, and contact us if you are interested in the trip. All the best...Tina.

We're back from Mali!
Just returned from the Mali trip last Thursday. So many stories. Pictures to come soon! But, I have to say that the trip FAR exceeded my expectations. The service portion of the trip - digging holes and planting fruit trees in the garden of an elementary school - was fun, exciting, rewarding, humbling, and magical. The children joined us in planting 54 of the 85 trees we donated. (The number keeps fluctuating!) They were amazingly hard workers, as we pick-axed the hard ground, then shoveled up the dirt to dig deep holes for the fruit trees. Some papayas planted only 1 year before had already produced fruit, and we had some for dinner one night. Delicious. Our money stretched to also build a pipe and a water basin, so the kids don't have to walk too far for water to tend the garden. The kids will harvest the fruit and sell it at market to buy much-needed school supplies. This school is only a few years old. It began with Grades 1-2, and now has Grades 3-4. The hope is to add Grades 5-6. Many children walk an hour and a half from nearby villages just to attend. And, surprise! the classes were almost equal in girls and boys.

To read a wonderful description of the trip, with photos, please visit the Blog of two of our travelers on the trip, Craig & Stephanie: http://craigandstephsvacations.blogspot.com/ Enjoy!

This trip has shown me that people DO want to 'Give Back" to the country they're visiting, then "Kick Back" and have fun. So, stay tuned for future trips! ~ Tina

The journey has begun! Travelers are beginning their trek to Paris, then on to Bamako. The Mali trip experience is just beginning. We've gotten word from Anna Taft, Executive Director of the Tandana Foundation, that the village where we'll be planting trees is eagerly awaiting our arrival. Our money has bought 100 trees (we were expecting only 60!). And, the village elders, parents, and people from the school will be helping us plant the trees & vegetables. We're looking forward to leaving this ongoing gift behind - the fruits of our labor will help school children buy much needed school supplies. Internet access is limited, but I'll post experiences when I can. Stay tuned! Tina

Well, the trip is official. Travelers have begun signing up for the trip.  We've made the first donation to buy the trees for the elementary school garden for the "service" portion of our trip.The final schedule has been announced for the Festival in the Desert. The show will close with Mali's top rock band Tinariwen. Check them out on You Tube. They've played all over Europe and on stage with Robert Plant and Santana.

About Festival in the Desert: "It's one of the few honest things I have been part of in a long, long time. It's amazing to play out in the sand. There are no doors, no gates and no money. It reminded me of why I sang in the first place. It's not commercialized."  Robert Plant (Rolling Stone/March 6, 2003)

About Tinariwen: "...one of the most extraordinary and unlikely musical success stories of the last few years. With its spacey Fender Stratocaster sounds and elemental rock feel. Tinariwen's music has always had the potential to appeal well beyond the confines of the world music audience."  Mark Hudson, The Daily Telegraph, POP CD OF THE WEEK

I hope you'll join us. Sign up at Adventures in Rock today!

I'm very excited. All of the details are coming together for our trip to Mali.  I'm launching Women Worldwide, and teaming with Adventures in Rock and the Tandana Foundation to create a very unusual type of trip. Some call it "Voluntourism". It's travel with a purpose. We're going to a "hard to reach", incredible world music festival in the Saharan desert, plus, being of service to people in the country. It's the best of both worlds. I'm going to use this blog to post news and information about the trip before, during and after. Stay tuned! - Tina Williamson, founder of Women Worldwide