Today we have traveled to Kaolack. It was quite a journey but it passed in no time. Lots of interesting sites and experiences along the way.

We got there at around 1.30pm and was greeted Viola Vaughn who made us feel very welcome and introduced us to Kate and Jessica who support Viola.

We had a wonderful lunch outside and then had an introduction session with some of the older girls from the centre who were talking about some of the products they make and sell. These included:

• A handmade doll – each of which is apparently a collectors item in the USA.

• A range of organic teas made from Hibiscus flowers which they can sell as much as they can make.

• A wide range of fabric products such as duvet covers, to table placements, to bags for computer laptops. They have plans to sell these from their website

Each business area were started by the girls and are run by the girls themselves. They have very high levels of creativity and ambitious plans. More about that another time.

We then went to the local school where girls who are enrolling in the current years educational programme were presented with a goody bag for their lessons. The head teacher showed all the children the contents of the goody bag as they all gathered around. The chatter of excitement was deafening. As the head teacher raised each item in the air it was accompanied by a round of applause. Then there was an audible gasp as he help up 5 coloured biro pens. We later discover that children who are not in the programme have to share 1 pen amongst 3 other children.

We have checked into a hotel in Kaolack which is wonderful. Tomorrow we have an early start and will be traveling to Koungheul to look at some of their projects and help them to learn how to put together a simple business plan.

We have arrived safely in Dakar – our luggage, however, is in Tripoli! So day 1 has been an interesting experience.

We have all been measured up for African hand made shirts and trousers and we have been shopping in Dakar market which seems to be the whole city! Our haggling skills have been sharpened which was great fun.

We have lots of lovely African dishes made for us and even a veggie one for Richard White.

Early start tomorrow to Kaolack with limited access but we will be updating as soon as possible.

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

If you live in Surrey listen out between 9.35am and 9.55am when team member Richard White will be interviewed about the Dakar Dragons project just in time for our departure on Saturday the 21st of November 2009.

Here’s a preliminary itinerary for the Dakar Dragons’ trip to Senegal in November-December 2009. More details to be added as our plans firm up. Its subject to change as more details are emerging.

Saturday November 21

The team flies from London Gatwick to Dakar, Senegal

Sunday November 22

In Dakar- Brainstorming Day, Meeting with Authorities

Monday November 23-Monday November 30

In Kaolack, working with Viola Vaughn and training/mentoring the girls there about business and marketing;Meeting with the Girls and working on Business plans.

Tuesday December 1

Return to Dakar; meeting with various people and organizations.

Wednesday December 2

Meeting with Awa Ndiaye – Ministry of Family Affairs, Women’s Entrepreneurship & Micro-finance

Thursday December 3-Friday December 4

Business meetings , visit to Goree and relaxation in Dakar

Saturday December 5

Team flies from Dakar to London, arriving Sunday morning December 6

All is now happening,we had our second skype call today Friday the 3rd of July. We are currently working on the branding of the Dakar Dragons. A draft concept was released by Ces today and it is just beautiful to see. The team Dakar Dragons is shaping up nicely with wonderful people. I am so honored to have them! So Far we have 5 people including one from Hong Kong.We are leaving uk the 20th of November and will be back on the 5th of December.

Mariéme Jamme

Just want to let you what had happened in the last couple of days! Well we now have a blog as you can see, we have finished the logo, it looks Fabulous! Really!Thank you Ces and Jonathan from Creatively Minded Design. http://wwww.ecademy.com/node.php?id=131231-

Our Own Dakar Dragon Nick Tadd has helped us set up the blog and that’s a great news.

More exciting things are happening with the Dakar Dragons projects and I am getting so excited.

Last week I have been inundated with emails and requests to join the DD2009 team. People with good will are looking to help and support us. I think that so wonderful. Really lovely. The Team spirit is high and we are all excited.

We had one sponsor last week, and I am convinced that more people will come forward. I will be sending our first sponsorship letter this week and more during next week. I have wonderful people on the list, I will be handing some of the letters myself. I will be in PARIS next week and will be talking about it.

The whole team is working so hard. Last week Kay from Hong Kong looked into our Marketing materials. Richard has been blogging and had lots of views on his blogs through Ecademy. Romany also made a great contribution this week with my blogs and complied some great pictures etc… We also have the lovely Dianna Bonner in the team now; she will be taking the pictures of the trip. How wonderful.

Can’t wait for the 19^th picnic, it will be awesome.

Until then see you soon!