TRIP TO SENEGAL BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
The Treasurer of the Association (Jordi Juvinyà) and the member (Quico Zamora) traveled last February 2019 to Senegal to visit Korbis Agri projects and make local contacts to be able to continue working.
The trip to Senegal consists of a visit to the different projects carried out by Korbis Agri and other projects in which we could collaborate in the future.
Observe and listen to the needs expressed by the main benefactors of the projects and collect as much information and contacts as possible in order to be able to develop the necessary projects and plan the next interventions of Korbis Agri On the ground.
The different projects that were visited are the following:
WOMEN'S COOPERATIVE
After speaking with the women of the cooperative, they have a single request that they believe is viable to start, a chicken farm, is what they see the most future for working and expanding with the profits until they have a sufficient number of chickens to be able to control and earn a living
In principle it would start by making an investment to buy 300 hens to fatten and sell and 200 layers to sell the eggs.
With the profits, they would expand until reaching 1000 chickens, which is the limit they believe they could control.
They ask for a training course, since having four chickens at home is not the same as running a chicken business with all the controls that this represents.
A veterinarian was spoken to and the first contact is made in order to establish a future collaboration.
YOUTH AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVE
The land is 4 ha, but there is only 1 ha. clean enough land to grow many crops.
They have a generator to draw water from the well but it doesn't work and they ask to change the generator to one that works with solar panels, in order to make the land more sustainable and lower fuel costs.
They are ready to work in the field to plant what the agronomist advises them, which cannot be incorporated until the month of May, but while they wait, they want to sow vegetables to take advantage of these months.
Korbis Argri will try to provide them with the solar pump, with the corresponding panels and 200 mts. of fence that they ask to close the perimeter, because otherwise the animals will eat their harvest.
If after this investment the project works and is productive, a second phase will be studied where there would be the installation of an elevated water tank (the support is already built) and a drip irrigation system drop and cover a much wider part of the land they have.
On the one hand it would be for family consumption and on the other hand the sale of production with the collaboration of women for sale and distribution.
The profits will be reinvested in the expansion and sustainability of the operation.
Some projects were visited that Korbis Agri could collaborate on specific moments and that it was interesting to be able to see "in situ" and create contacts with those in charge.
M.S.A.E. (Mutuelle de Santé des Agents de l'Etat)
It is a National Mutual of public officials that covers the health needs of this group.
The current management of this Mutual has the will to work to extend health care to the rest of the population (80%) who do not have access to health care and must do so through public hospitals, but by paying certain amounts which makes it impossible for them to access it.
So, the Mutual wants to take advantage of its resources to create a network of dental clinics, a social health center (CAP) and a social hospital.
Today I met with the president of this Mutual and his collaborators, they are people who are truly concerned about the health needs of their country.
DENTISTS
The proposal to bring a group of volunteer dentists to attend to basic needs in an area of Senegal is explained.
They say that there is no problem and that they can take care of everyone who participates, because they will leave us the facilities that the Mutual has throughout the country and that they will also take care of the accommodation.
We are asked how many people make up a team, in order to be able to cover different towns and expand the visiting areas, these details must be consulted with Acción Planetaria.
Regarding the compressors and the distilled water that the dentists requested, they will check if they can get it in Senegal, otherwise they will let us know.
"CAP" SOCIAL HEALTH CENTER
Through this association and with the financing of the Mutual, they have bought an abandoned house of a former minister of Senegal in the city of Ziguinchor.
There they will create a social health center with specialists, to serve the population at symbolic prices, with the aim that everyone who needs it can go there and start working with people on the importance of preventive medicine.
There will be specialists of all kinds who will visit alternately one, two or three times a week and there will also be an emergency service and blood draws for analysis.
The works will start in March and they already have a budget to do it. They estimate that they will be in operation in the month of May.
It will be the first "CAP" in Senegal and if it works and the cost can be assumed by the Mutual, they will open more centers throughout the country, they already have experience with dental clinics.
HOSPITAL
We visit the land where they want to build the hospital in the town of Djiabelur, 3 km away. of Zinguinchor, are 3 ha. on flat footing and next to the road.
Through Pera Mora (architect) and the college of surveyors and architects, they are studying to make the project of the social hospital and take control of the works.
It would be very important for the area, as it could provide coverage for around 500,000 inhabitants of Ziguinchor and the surrounding towns.