The Dragons had a productive meeting with Samba Guissee the Citizenship Manager of
Microsoft West & Central Africa, who has agreed to provide free software and digital literacy training to the girls in Kaolack. This is a hugely important promise, because the girls have already had computers donated but our concern was that without the right software and appropriate training, the generous gift of the hardware could be wasted.

This offer ensures a complete package can be offered to the girls which
will help enormously with our plans to mentor them via the internet from the UK. We are still working on getting help set-up of the
computers, and for ongoing support and maintenance.

The air conditioned offices at the Regus offices was a far cry from our time in Kaolack but we found ourselves missing it already. In the evening we experienced an African pub which was remarkably similar to back home. There were many people sat around having a drink and watching football on the big screen. Marieme Jamme was surprised to see her cousin and we had a lovely drink and chat with him before dinner.

The day has finally arrived! The final line up for making the trip is:

Marieme Jamme and her son Pierre, Richard White, Anna Lowe, and Jonathon Roe. We are also being joined by Anna Shelmerdine from Memory Box Productions who is coming to create an inspiring 10 minute movie of the 10,000 girls project that we can use to raise publicity and show case some of their projects. Anna has a glittering show reel of documentaries to her name from her time at the BBC where she made some classic documentaries like ‘Rough Justice’

Its hard to believe that the African Picnic event to mark the launch of the Dakar Dragons project was 4 months ago!

We are all flying together on Afiquiyah Airways. The flight takes off just after 11am this morning and will take about 11 hours if you include the 2 hour stop-over in Tripoli.

We hope to get to an internet cafe most days to update on our progress and talk about the girls and their projects. All being well we should be able to load some photos too!

I believe Marieme Jamme will be twittering from her phone and you can follow us at http://www.twitter.com/DakarDragons

See you online!

Here is the program for Kaolack and the work we will be undertaking. This is subject to change as we go along.

Monday 23 November 2009

Kounghuel- Village (in Kaolack)

Business plan with sewing and restaurant group

School supply distribution

Order of the day by:  Jean Pierre Londjidaye

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Kaolack

Business plan with sewing and restaurant group

Discussion of tea labels

Order of the day by: Dakar Dragons

Wednesday 25 November 2009

Kaolack

Business plan with sewing and restaurant group continued

Discussion of tea labels continued

Order of the day by: Dakar Dragons

Thursday 26 November 2009

Kaolack

School visits and supply distribution

Sabaar

Order of the day by: Kate Ballantine

Friday 27 November 2009

Kayemor

Business plan with bissap growers group

Order of the day by: Diabou Sall and Malik Ndiaye