Across the West
In the summer of 2022, Blossom Together sent 7 volunteers to Mali - our largest team at the time - while funding projects in Burkina Faso and setting foot in Benin for the first time, marking three countries in a single season.
Year:
2022
Project Destination (s):
Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso
Trip Destination (s):
Mali
Trip Duration:
~10 days
Key Projects:
ESL education
Overview:
Mali was familiar ground - we'd been there before, and our partnerships with Gaoussana Fofana and Clinic Planet Vision meant we knew exactly where the work was needed. One hundred cataract surgeries later, the impact spoke for itself. But 2022 was also about expanding the map. Benin was new territory, where five water wells went up with support from partners in Charlottesville and the Rotaract Club at UVA. Across the border in Burkina Faso, ONG Education helped us get food packages to families in Ouagadougou. Three countries, one team, ten days.
Impact:
Three countries, ten days abroad: 100 cataract surgeries in Mali, 5 water wells in Benin, and 100+ food packages in Burkina Faso. Behind every number is a year of hard work from everyone - travelers and supporters back home alike.
Highlights:
The work was the priority - but the memories made in between will stay with our travelers. Canoeing across the Niger River. Village visits and tours across Mali. A layover in Casablanca on the way home, hosted by local partners for a tour of the city. Shout out to everyone who made the journey: Sami Kandil, Rachel Lee, Callahan Burton, Melih Kandil, Dylan Pierre Louis, Unoma Aguolu, and Eren Okandan.
