Introducing phase two of the Segou Ecolodge Project

The ecolodge is now approaching being operational, but there is still much to be done. The three huts need to be finished, the restaurant needs a floor and a roof, the trails need to be fixed up, and much more. The first phase of funding, provided through USAID's Small Projects Assistance and the contributions of the village, is almost used up. It is now time to introduce the second phase of the Segou Ecolodge Project.

Where the goal of phase one was to construct enough of the ecolodge that it could house tourists, the goal of phase two is to turn the ecolodge into the best tourist lodge in the area. In order to do that we need to finish the bathrooms in the huts, build the storeroom for the restaurant, build the kitchen, and do all of the finishing touches necessary. Of course, all of this will require additional funding. The village has committed to contributing 26% of the costs but that still leaves a $7,741 USD need. To explain the what is needed, how it will be accomplished, and how you can help out by donating I created the Segou Ecolodge Project website (sites.google.com/site/segouecolodge). Please take a look at it and consider donating. Every little bit helps and a donation of only $77 dollars will cover 1% of the total. Also please forward the link to anyone you think might be interested in learning about the project.

First guests!

The ecolodge had its first guests!!! I can't describe what a great moment it was. After a year of working on the project we finally saw some results!

It is still not finished, at the time they stayed there the windows and doors were not up, but the four American students were able to accommodate that in exchange for having the honor of being the first guests. While I had been involved with the project for a year, it was a much more exciting moment for my counterparts who have been trying to realize this dream for many years. I told them, "Jooni, menen acii fudugol golle keso e jooni ha yesso golle amen ko gaynugol ko menen fudike hari." "Now we are done starting new work and now the rest of our work is just finishing off what we have started."

The other really exciting aspect of having our first guests was I could see how the benefits of the ecolodge are going to spread throughout the community. Even though they were the first guests and we were unprepared to host them, as I was walking around town I counted over a dozen different people who were involved in preparing food, finding things to sell, or trying to find their old ceremonial dance equipment. The whole time I have been working on this project I have been dreaming of all of the auxiliary projects that will be possible for the community: selling shea butter or baobab power, selling rope made from local trees, teaching Pula Futa lessons, telling traditional stories, creating a community development fund, and much more. These are the side projects that will extend the benefits of the ecolodge out into the village and will be much more fun to execute than supervising construction. They will also be much more mentally challenging. I can't wait to start taking them on.

It's rare that PCVs get to see the fruits of their work so clearly. Now I see not only the physical buildings we have created but a vision into the future of how the ecolodge, and my work, will function to the benefit of the entire community. This is the moment that I joined the Peace Corps for.

Photos

Not my photos, but they are very good. I don't have any photos like this because most Senegalese do not like their photo being taken by a stranger (tourist/white person). Looking at the photos I can't help but imagine the photographer being yelled at by the people in the photo immediately afterwards. Anyway, really good stuff:

http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/07/senegals-changing-urban-landscape/?ref=africa