African Development Foundation board members recount visit to Africa

The United States African Development Program (USADF) held a Board of Directors meeting today, and discussed last months Board Trip to Africa. The board visited Kenya, Ethiopia, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and other countries where the USADF currently operates projects.

Board Member Jack Leslie said while in Kenya the board members looked for areas in the North that are currently receiving little focus, and where the USADF could do possible projects. He said in Niger they funded three co-ops of farmers who are exporting onions, and they saw the farmers increase their income by working together with other co-ops through the use of cell phones.

Leslie said that though the USADF does not have a program in Burkina Faso, all the government officials eagerly showed up to talk to the board members when they visited. In Senegal he said they saw a co-op for the blind making brooms. He said that without this co-op these workers would otherwise be out begging or dead. Chairman Edward “Ward” Brehm said this co-op demonstrates an organization that needs enterprise expertise and a marketing plan, along with more assistance and funding from their government. Leslie also said they saw deplorable working conditions in Senegal for people cleaning and salting fish on the beaches.

In Mauritania, Leslie said USADF can develop agricultural programs with refugees, and will look into further involvement in the dairy industry. Lloyd Pierson, USADF president, said people in Mauritania want a democracy and to become friends with “the West.” He thinks this is a country that deserves assistance from the United States.