Anna Taft’s Story
"The people of the village and of all the commune of Wadouba continue to talk about the visit of the group. The commentaries are mostly about your manner of integrating yourselves into society, your physical effort, your engagement, your determination, and especially your joy in sharing with the people in unity and cohesion. For Kansongho, you were like old friends who had come to work with her and not like people coming for the first time to work in an unknown and unfamiliar situation. "¦ The people are asking when will be the next visit of the group. For the commune, she has never seen white people come and work like you have done in your visit to Kansongho."
--Moussa and Timothee from Kansongho, Mali
"Thank you for believing in relationships. We were so welcomed into this community because of seeds you had sown on prior visits. The willingness of the people of Kansongho to share their lives with us has profoundly impacted me. May my own words and actions as I continue this journey home and through the rest of my days bring this village honor. "¦ Welcomed by the entire community, we were also embraced as individuals and ushered into better understanding as the people of Kansongho shared their own personal stories, shared their comforts, worked with us side by side, taught us their songs, celebrated great joys, and spoke of sorrow and hardships. I can only hope that both the differences and similarities of our cultures enhanced each other. We are indeed one people sharing far more than I ever imagined."
-- Julie from Minnesota
These responses from Malians and Americans brought together through a Tandana Foundation program exemplify the depth of good will that can result when cross-cultural interactions are prepared through longstanding relationships and framed in mutual respect. I have been developing relationships with individuals and communities in Ecuador since 1998 and in Mali since 2006 that allow me to bring together Americans and people of these nations in ways that benefit all and foster enduring good will. I created The Tandana Foundation to promote positive cross-cultural relationships, and, since 2007, over 180 Americans have participated in Tandana programs, enjoying meaningful interactions with sixteen communities in Ecuador and three communities in Mali.
Program participants have gone on to raise thousands of dollars for projects in the communities they have visited, to study global health or international relations, to return to visit their friends on other continents, and to share their experiences of other cultures with more Americans through talks and slideshows. Community members have been inspired by their experiences with Tandana to study tourism and work in the field, to open a cooking school and a guest house, to share their enthusiasm with other communities who quickly request visits from Tandana, and even to refuse less-respectful forms of development assistance from other nations, because "we have American friends. The quality of everyone's experiences leads to lasting friendships and deep appreciation for others.