I spent this summer in a village called Soussane in Senegal as a part of an intercultural exchange and joint-programme between YesAkademia and the young people of the village.

It might only have been 6 weeks but we 20 or so 'toubabs' were welcomed by the village with more hospitality than I could ever begin to describe. We ate with our host families for every meal, were taught the local language (Serere) and were even given Senegalese names (Ndiafe Ndiaye if you were wondering) (shout out to the best family in the world!! La famille Ndiaye). Together, we young 'uns worked each day on workshops, an international forum for young people, played sport and, most importantly, decided on a project together on which the whole village (approx 900 people!) were invited to vote. Soussane decided that as a village, they were in greatest need of a mill (un moulin à grain) to grind the staple grain of the region. It is the awesome women who do this grinding several times a week (or sometimes even once a day) and as I learned it is bloody difficult and extremely time consuming.

As you would imagine, a gas-oil machine that could process greater quantities more quickly for the entire village would save a lot of time and back pain. So together with the Comité des Jeunes of Soussane (their youth organisation) we are all trying to raise the 2000 euros needed to buy one of these machines (1,309,251 FCFA in their local currency).

As I (mostly) enjoy running, I decided that I would run the Oxford Half Marathon this Sunday (eep) and that I would ask all of my lovely friendies and family whether they could contribute towards the purchase of this mill in exchange for my sweat and (mild) suffering.

Any amount would be enormously appreciated and will get us closer towards our goal!!! Thank you very much for reading all of this, schpiel and also for and donating if you decide to do so!!