Dynamo star Dwayne De Rosario is in Mali, Africa on behalf of the United Nations Foundation and Nothing But Nets, a charitable effort to provide netting to help stop the spread of Malaria.
Batteries are fully charged and we are ready to face the Malian Market Place. If you really want to experience Malian life, one must attend the Market Place, where you see all aspects of tradition and culture. One thing I have noticed is that the Malian people are very respectful and appreciate a simple smile.
The smell of the Market Place was in the air as people offered everything from carvings, beads, various drums, paintings, food and traditional medicine etc ... I have to say some of the art is amazing; they really have a lot of talent and an in depth eye for creativity. Mali is well-known for their colorful fabrics and mud cloths seemed to be the order of the day.
We learned a great deal on this trip and hope the children of Mali did the same. After today we have started to pack for the trip back home to see our children and share our experience with our family and friends. We were welcomed at Salief Keita's road manager's beautiful house by Kumba, a sweet lady! She provided us with our last taste of Mali and one last dose of hospitality. From the poorest to the richest, we have now seen it all and if I would like to do it again, without a doubt! I hope that you have enjoyed my blogs as I enjoyed writing them and I hope that I really painted a good picture of our experience here in Mali.
Africa awaits her creatures, though, so buy a Net and save a life. It is all worth it. Au Revoir, Anisha!
What a magical view I embrace every morning, gazing at the Niger River!
Today, Diego and I got to meet 60 kids, ages 12-16 years.
Problem: none of us speak French and you would think coming from Canada I would have my French down pat! Unfortunately I slept through the majority of those classes and I encourage all those young ones reading this to take full advantage of learning different languages!
We ran the kids through passing, possession, crossing and finishing drills. We briefed them on the importance of our visit and why using the insecticide-treated nets every night is important to their health and life. Thanks to MLS, Houston Dynamo and Puma, the kids were able to walk out with their hands full and smiles that illuminated the whole of Mali. So if you happen to visit Mali someday you might see a couple of MLS All-Star shirts and Dynamo shirts.
We were then treated to a boat ride with none other then Salief Keita, Mali's world-renowned musician, who in fact was diagnosed with Malaria. He was such a sweet man; his music touches all who listens. The sun was setting which means, "Mosquitos come out at night." So we made haste back to the hotel and had excellent food with live music with Kora players creating a captivating ambience. From Kempenski to you I say, goodnight, Au Revoir!
We just returned from Selingue feeling tired and trying hard to stay awake, but the cause is so much worth it. This morning we visited a local clinic to see more distributions of vaccines and nets, and once again the people we very welcoming and thankful. We also toured a hydroelectric dam and hydropower plant at the upper Niger River; the power generated through this plant is important for development of the region of Bamako, the capitol of Mali. The dam serves irrigation of fertile land, power generation, improvement of the Niger river by flood regulations and promotion of fishery. So this is a major operation providing life for hundreds of thousands of people.
Until next time, "Buy a net and save a life".
This morning provided a lot of special moments, in particular, the Presidential Campaign For The Launch of Malaria, called Keneya Sugu.
There was a massive crowd outside a school, observing the Campaign. Darting through the crowd and into the school yard I noticed that there was abundance of children of various ages watching the event.
The Presedent of Mali, Amadou Toure, spoke to the young and old, encouraging them to participate in the week-long campaign. I had the honour to present the President of Mali with an official Houston Dynamo jersey, number 14, with Toure on the back. That for me was a real special moment because the President really appreciated the gesture and saw that we cared and wanted to help aid his country.
After that the President himself went to vaccinate children and gave out some insecticide treated nets to their mothers. The relief and excitment that soared through the experience confirmed that this campaign was going to be a success.
While mothers and their children lined in the hundreds waited ever so patiently, we had the opportunity to mingle with the kids which was a lot of fun. They seemed so happy and grateful.
We then moved on to the next adventure, a one-and-a-half hour drive to Selingue. Before we arrived we stopped briefly at a couple of points where immunization and net distributions were being carried out, and this was quite an experience. The encounters with different villages and the people was educational.
We finally arrived in Selingue, a quiet town with a very peaceful setting led by the town doctor. The hotel was called,'Hotel Club" and we went to bed sleeping under nets, which depicts the whole experience.
Like I always say, 'Until next time".
Au Revoir!
Diego Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire is accompanying Dwayne on this trip. For Diego's blog, click here:www.chicago-fire.com
Day two is now coming to a close; so I pull out the pen and paper again asking myself where do I begin. Well, this morning I awoke with the Sun piercing through my curtains and Nothing But Nets on my mind. Did the whole morning procedure and headed downstairs to face the day.
Let me first mention the Hotel Kempinski in Bamako is a great hotel and the service is excellent. Had a great breakfast of fresh fruits consisting of watermelons, pineapples, and pappaya. The rest you have to come and see for yourself.
After breakfast, I went to the lobby with Diego to plan out our soccer clinic for Friday which I am really looking forward to. After the meeting, I headed to a meeting that was already taking place and let me mention for those who don't know punctuality and I don't always see eye to eye. As soon as we walked in, we had to introduce ourselves in front of Muslim and Christian leaders from Mali and around the globe. I was not ready for that one, but mumbled something, smiled, and sat down.
I then realized who was sitting at my table--Admiral Ziemer, Father Felix Coulibay of the Catholic Church, El Hadj Maddaoou Toure, the secretary general of Islamic network for population and Development, and Hadja Astou Kourouma of the National Union of Muslim Women's Associations of Mali.
This experience was like a school project as we sat there and asked questions, took notes, and presented the major points we discussed in front of the class full of the other leaders. In fact this experience was wonderful in my eyes. Not only did I have the opportunity to sit amongst distinguished people and be enlightened by some of the topics discussed, it was also uplifting to see all of the different religious delegates sitting in perfect harmony with the leaders for the integrated health campaign. It was fulfilling to hear that we are all working toward a common goal of making Mali safer and better.
After the meeting, a group of us went on hospital visits. Now this is where everything in terms of this campaign all makes sense and we can know why there are people who work tirelessly, selflessly and determinedly to giver their every last bit of strength towards this campaign.
It's only when you see, smell, hear and feel the suffering that reality hits home. The patience the doctors, mothers, and children showed was remarkable. To be in the state of some of these poor sweet kids with their mothers and their fathers. To have cameras all around them taking pictures with their sick kids, made me step ask to ask myself what we were doing. But then I realized that without this footage and the visible images people around the world wouldn't have an idea of what is taking place here and the effect malaria is having on children and their families in Mali and other parts of Africa.
Some of the warmest smiles we received from kids when we gave them pencils, signed player cards, crayons and coloring books eased some our pain we were feeling for them.
When the families knew our purpose and what we were trying to achieve here in Mali, they were so grateful and appreciative towards us and that right there is priceless.
My wife and I really were touched by the whole experience and truly felt by joining this integrated health campaign through MLS W.O.R.K.S. and Nothing But Nets was the best decision we have made in our lives.
So to all the people that put $10 towards Nothing But Nets or is thinking of contributing to this great campaign, I have witnessed it all for you. You have played a major part in saving lives. Before I say good night, let me add, this epidemic in Mali is the real deal and if we had to do this again, we would be honored. Until next time or should I say before next time, Buy a net and save a life. Good night.
Diego Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire is accompanying Dwayne on this trip. For Diego's blog, click here:www.chicago-fire.com
Today is officially my first day in Mali and I have been attending briefings from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to learn more about Mali's largest ever integrated health campaign that will protect an estimated 2.8 million children by providing polio and measles vaccines, vitamin A, deworming medicines and antimalaria nets to help them grow strong and healthy. I would like to add that the only reason I am able to sit up right now and write this blog is due to a traditional tea known as "gun powder." I think the name speaks for itself.
While I sit in my room and gaze at the Niger river, I question myself, as to where do I start? The amount of information received today was extensive and the travel via United Nation's vans from one point to another allowed us to see the culture and day to day life of Mali. I feel as though I could write a book, but I won't bore you.
First I think it would only be appropriate to warmly thank Diego Gutierrez and his wife, Ginna, MLS W.O.R.K.S., and the the United Nations Foundation's Nothing But Nets campaign for giving me and my wife the opportunity to be a part of observing this important campaign.
The Malian people are warm and grateful to have us here to help in the fight against malaria. Living in North America, we really haven't grasped how good we have things in terms of medical treatment, when you realize a mosquito bite can cause serious illness and death. This reality is mind blowing. When you look at the statistics--every 30 seconds an African child dies from a malaria infection transmitted by a mosquito bite, and every day 25 million pregnant woemen risk severe illness and harm to their unbord child, one cannot overlook this epidemic and gravitate to this worthy cause.
So again I am very blessed to have the opportunity to be here in Mali to see first hand the effect malaria has on the people and to see the distribution of medicines, vaccines and insecticide-treated nets to help protect children under five and pregnant mothers. As Admiral Ziemer of the President's Malaria Initiative stated today, "this is by far the biggest campaign in the world at present."
To be a part of this trip representing MLS W.O.R.K.S., the Houston Dynamo, Canadian National team, and Nothing But Nets is huge honor.
I will also add that I was proud to learn today that the Canadian International Development Agency and the Canadian Red Cross are among the largest supporters for this campaign.
De-Ro and Diego with Exxon's Steven Phillips...
I am really looking forward to what lies ahead. Given that I've seen women walk with baskets full of bananas on their heads and men driving bikes with goats on their laps, I can't imagine there will be a dull moment here in Mali. So long and stay tuned for more from my trip.
This holiday season, give a gift to the world through the United Nations Foundation. Buy a gift or even build your own - at www.unfoundation.org/gifttotheworld.
Diego Gutierrez of the Chicago Fire is accompanying Dwayne on this trip. For Diego's blog, click here:www.chicago-fire.com
