And Albert Foundation>

 

left: Everyday life in a village near Niamey | right: Mohammed Ahnou, our Touareg representative and his soapstone wares!

Capital of Niger, the Sahara desert region where we have traded since 1993 mostly in Touareg and Fulani crafts but now wish to create Trading Post and guest house facilities near Niamey and Agadez and have appointed a Touareg representative, Mohammed Ahnou, to oversight more trading and further work in 2009, including the planting of fruit trees and their subsequent nurturing. He will be joined by Lagouet Lagouet, the Imam and 'the bird man of Niamey', another long standing friend with whom we have traded with in the area for many years.

 

left: Digging the clay for mud bricks to create our guest house | right: Village elders join in the dance at a local festival

North Burkinabe poor village where we are bringing clean water, farming and craft skills resources to the local community via our base in Ouaga. The birthplace of our Burkinabe Trustee, Jonas Kinda. The previously dug out well in the village has been renovated and another completed so far, and plans for a further two are well underway, as are plans to assist in the upgrading and part rebuilding of the local school. Guest house facilities and a plan to help local orphans has begun this year.

 

left: David Bellamy at the village well constuction site| middle: Our Burkinabe Trustee Jonas and his family, who will oversight the works at Zagtouli | right: Trading post, Offices and Gust Houses under construction at Zagtouli

Village near Ouagadougou, our Offices, Trading Post and Guest Centre for the Sahel and Burkina Faso which will be oversighted by our Burkinabe Trustee Jonas. Facilities for craft reception, small scale farming, skills training, heritage education and eco-tourism. A bore hole well has been completed here giving the area access to clean drinking water for the first time. The picture above on the left shows Professor David Bellamy in November 2005 with the construction team blasting out the rocks from the borehole, just prior to completion. It has since been fitted with a pump and is now fully functional and being used by surrounding villages.

left: Children in one of the villages around Paga expressing their musical heritage | right: our representative in Paga, Steven and his family

Port of exit from Ghana when en route to Burkina Faso. Home of many friends and supporters. A Trading Post and eco-tourist guest houses are planned on land in one of the nearby village areas which will also encompass Mango and other fruit bearing tree plantations.

 

left: Dominic, our Fra Fra Trustee along with Lisa, one our Representatives from Bolgatanga | right: David Bellamy meeting Dominic's father in their nearby village, Nov 2005

Centre of the basket making project, and major town on the road north towards the border and Burkina Faso. Tea and Coffee shop Trading Post and soon to be village Culture and Education centre nearby for the Fra Fra Heritage of fine music, song and dance. We work with workshops in over 25 villages producing millet straw baskets, coordinated by Dominic Agongo, our Fra Fra Trustee in Ghana. The Trading Post land is a prime site for the introduction of new varieties of fruit trees as well as the encouragement and increase of the existing ones that are there already, and the surrounding villages will benefit greatly with the introduction of fruit drinks for the children.

 

left: The first failed attempt at a bore hole for the village | right: The giant Baobab tree at the heart of Singha village under whose shade we and the elders meet

Across the White Volta from Naauni is the old slave track which 7 miles later leads into Singa village which is central to our focus of opening up this area to clean water, medical facilities, edcational resources, ethical trading and a sensitive eco-tourism. The And Albert Foundation has been working in this village for several years to try and improve the lifestyle and health needs of the people living there.

The building of several wells has stopped the need to walk 7 miles to the river for water, but there is still a problem with river blindness and guinea worm caused by years of drinking water from the White Volta river that needs to be addressed. An irrigation ditch from the river,the introduction of solar power, the planting of fruit trees and the possible construction of a road to ease medical and trade access to the village, previously only accessible by motor bikes, are projects that are currently under discussion at a high level. At the entrance to the village, our guest house facility, playground and nursery area have already been started. Most of this we hope to have completed by the end of November 2009.

 

left: Children in Naauni Village enjoying seeing themselves on film | right: The new ferry (foreground) which replaced the older models behind

Crossing point on the White Volta River, the last village on one old slave route before the river and the Northern village of Singa and the sparesely inhabited region beyond. We have been working here for several years and have supported the repair of several small ferries, before building the first large one, which could be used to take people and transport goods and possible medical supplies across the Volta.

Another one we are building can be used along the Volta as an eco tourist experience or trading vessel (approximately 100 villages along the river) to look at the huge variety of wildlife that graces it's banks and shores. When bolted together, the ferries will also act as a vehicle to transport a medical relief Landrover across to the villages thereafter. See also Singa.

 

left: Logshegu school, painted this Spring 2006 with help from AAF | right: String making and spinning in Logshegu village

A small village, not far from Tamale, en route to the White Volta where we are variously engaged in projects involving a Rural Resources Centre, pottery, string and rope making, weaving, educaton, farming, tree and medicinal herb nursery, and the introduction of fruit trees to provide the school with fruit drinks for the children and the adults an opportunity to sell their produce at the local market in Kumbungu. Logshegu is one of our our eco-tourism base's which has traditional facilities for staying and study of local skills and bush land life, whilst being a "member" of a small typical Dagomba village.

A Childrens adventure playground "Learning through Play" was completed in the village in October 2008, constructed from local materials andclose to the first phase of the nursery development, it is used daily by all the childen in the village and school.

 

left: David Bellamy filming for our documentary at the proposed Kintampo Rockland Heritage Centre site | right: Kintampo Falls, on the edge of our project area

The "Centre of the Earth" Rockland site which would have a Trading Post, Guesthouses and Heritage Centre at the heart of it but would be particularly focused on developing an international synergy of culture, art, music, drama, dance and creatve enterprise to demonstrate and invest in Africa's wealth of talent.The vision being a "University of Practical Skills" for any student of any age - a communication/sharing centre for Africans beyond Ghana's boundaries.

The Rockland area and surrounding villages and schools would also benefit from the introduction of other fruit bearing trees and an expansion of the Mango plantation that exists there already. Also home of Kintampo Waterfalls.

 

left: Gathering fruit in the forest on the outskirts of Kumasi | right: David Bellamy with AAF Trustees John Mahama and Wumbe Fuseini

The principal city and ancient capital of the Ashanti Kingdom with the famous university of science and technology - UST. It is our office and guest house base at Atonsu and the hub of many villages, including Kukuofrom (brass workshop village) and Kyekyewere (see map link) that we have set up trading projects with. Our Trustees, John Mahama and Wumbe Fuseini (above with David Bellamy) live there close by to the Centre to oversight and manage the projects.

 

left: The women of the textile workshop, with Wumbe's wife Awabu (far left) | right: Local village children on their way to school

Asante village on the outskirts of the rapidly developing Kumasi suburbs. Almost last remaining indigenous forest half surrounds it, containing important specimens of native trees, plants and shrubs and is also the home of two very important Asante shrines.

And Albert supports the Judah Mahama Foundation and the Cornerstone project who work on the site running a small training farm and sewing/batik/tie-dye workshops for "Poverty Refugees", young men and girls, mostly from the Northern villages of the Dagombas. Preservation of the forest will allow further investment for a Visitor Centre for research, Tree and Plant Nursery, Fish Farm, Butterfly Farm, School and Ecotourist Guest Houses.

 

left: Anomabo children overlooking the fishing boats | right: Local music and dance performance inside Fort William

Fishing vilage on Atlantic coast. Project is centred on Fort William, the Dutch/British slave castle at it's centre. Our intention iis to turn it into an African Heritage and culture and communication/education centre for African youth. This Fort is what was dedicated as a memorial to George VI before the Gold Coast became Ghana in March 1957. The William Wilbeforce Bicentenary in March 2007 would be the focus linking the project to Hull and the UK.

The advent of a proposed RACHEL project for using computer technology for education will be linked to this famous site as soon as possible. Just one more step to redeeming the effects of Slavery. this time with the "children" of the slaves in the USA becoming involved also.