The First Fan of World Vision

Pierre Faye - Posted on June 15, 2009

Mamadou has natural leadership skills. His dedication and involvement in many aspects have helped to uplift many families in Tattaguine. Thanks to him, and with the support of World Vision, many people in his village have been transformed.

Mamadou Diallo lives in Tattaguine with his wife and children. He has many responsibilities over his shoulders and he is a man respected by his peers.

He was born in this community with a heart for leading and a strong motivation to be involved in development activities.

"When the community had seen how I was leading the young group, they believed in me and gave me more responsibilities. I have demonstrated, through my work, that it was possible to uplift the young people and raise their awareness to work for the betterment of the community," says Mamadou,

When he was 25, Mamadou started to work in the Youth Association. Each year, during the rainy season, from June to October, he organized a soccer competition.

In 1988, the Rural Council [local political institution] granted a plot of land to them and at the same time they got sports equipment and balls for their soccer team.

Smart in project designing, Mamadou knew that the sustainability of the Youth Association would depend on their capacity to have their own financial resources.

"I started thinking about how to develop income generation, like commerce and animal husbandry, to have funds for the association," he says.

From leisure and youth activities, Mamadou moved on tackling education needs. He was always at the forefront, engaged in education promotion, doing advocacy and boosting other community leaders to write to the authorities so that a school could be built in the village.

In 1997, his dream has was realized. "A school was built and I was appointed as the President of the Pupil's Parents Association. I undertake all issues related to the education of the children and their rights," adds Mamadou. Mamadou Diallo was World Vision's first supporter in the Tattaguine community. "In 2003, World Vision provided funds ($12,000) to build the wall around the school, for the children's security. As we live in rural area where most of people are cattle breeders, a wall protects the kids from roaming animals. This has been achieved thanks to the support of World Vision," he says.

One of Mamadou's children is sponsored, Maty, 9. She is in third grade and she has received many benefits, such as mosquito nets and school supplies many times from the sponsorship program. "My daughter, thanks to the mosquito [net], can escape to the predators—the mosquitoes. Since Fama has got that precious gift, she didn't have malaria [again]. One hundred and twenty mosquito nets has been distributed to the children," says Mamadou.

Leaders, like Mamadou, are agents of transformation and education champions. They are the catalysts—dedicated people that World Vision can rely on to partner with for the transformation of a whole community.

Mamadou is still in the saddle, working hard and leading the community for the betterment of their children. He is a farmer, a trader and a counselor.

Thanks to his dedication and his partnership with World Vision, many families in Tattaguine have been uplifted.

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