In 2006 I traveled to the USA to share the stories of the people of the Azawak that I had grown to love, hoping to raise funds to bring my new communities clean and sustainable water sources. I not only wanted to share their plight, but also their courage, beauty and dignity. Quickly, a movement of schools – predominantly Montessori schools — grew. They pledged to build permanent wells throughout the Azawak. At the same time, I published my first article on the Azawak, in “Yale Medicine”. Several other articles on the Azawak appeared in various magazines, newspapers and journals.
In this photo, I am reading letters from Montessori students, children that promised to give up birthday presents and allowance money, and undergo various activities to finance our first well. I am also showing pictures of the community that were published in the Yale Medicine article.