ASSOCIATED VOLUNTEER experts

Drafting of the specifications, taking into account the adjustments and modifications made by the sisters, which enabled the contractor, Mr. Diatta, to put a figure on the project; after checking the estimate and the usual negotiations, preparation of the works contract; trip to Senegal for the signing of the contract in December.

Early January 2023 : start of foundation work ; trip to Senegal in February, then in May to check on progress, start of maternity ward elevations. 

Back in Senegal at the beginning of October, the elevations of the two buildings are nearing completion, then in February 2024 I see that the dispensary's framework is being erected, the plasterwork on the facades is complete, and the electricians have begun their incorporation work.

In October, we visited the two buildings to take delivery. A few minor reservations were noted, which the contractor promised to resolve before the inauguration. The facility has been in operation since early September.

Saturday November 30, 2024, inauguration of the dispensary and maternity unit (some forty births have already taken place) in the presence of VIPs and an impressive number of villagers. 

Inauguration of the center in the presence of Mother MARIE JOSE, superior general of the SAINT THOMAS DE VILLENEUVE hospitable sisters.

Mission program

• Field visit to the territory of the future Kikot dam - accompanied by Robert Bidime, President of GIC NYBON (GIC located on the territory of the future dam).

This territory, comprising a dozen villages, corresponds to the arrondissement of Nyanon (main village), which is the only one to have a town hall.
We followed the road from the future dam site (Kikot), passing from village to village. Along the way, we stopped to greet traditional chiefs and the sub-prefect, had a reception at the Nyanon town hall, met under a tree with the main traditional chief of the area and, at the end of the day, held a discussion with some fifty people from the GIC NYBON.

The conclusion is as follows: the potential for agricultural production in this area to supply the 4,000 employees who will work on the dam can only be significantly increased by agricultural development of the savannah zone.

Louis exchanges views under a tree with the main authorities in the area of the future dam

Audit by two AVe experts of pig farms prior to the introduction of High Genetic Value breeding stock

	Audit of Mr Sié Coulibaly's farm in Agnibilékrou

3^rd intervention by Eric, AVe "project management" expert at Djilas Sénégal

For the 3^rd time, Eric, an AVe expert specializing in building management, visited Djilas to check on the progress of the dispensary and maternity hospital construction site. The company is doing a good job, with work scheduled to take 10 months, but progressing more slowly than expected.

the entrance to the current Djilas health center	Progress of work on the new center

Proposing a marketing plan for a toy manufacturing SME in Algeria 

As part of an agreement with PUM (Netherlands Association for the Transfer of Voluntary Skills, like AVe), AVe expert Jean-Baptiste spent two weeks in Algeria. His objective was to propose a marketing plan to a toy manufacturing SME located in Ghardaïa, the country's last city before the immense Saharan desert just to the south.

Getting to know the cooperative in Ivory Cost before prospecting for it in Europe

 

CADESA : a dynamic cocoa, coffee, cashew and rubber cooperative in Ivory Coast.   Key figures for the cooperative :  2,500 farmer-members over 10,000 hectares of plantations 10,000 tonnes of cocoa production 8,000 tonnes of cashew 2,000 tonnes of coffee 5,000 tonnes of rubber. CADESA voted Ivory Coast's best exporting cooperative in 2021

Intervention of an AVe "project management" expert in Djilas Senegal 

At the end of October 2022, Eric, an AVe expert, went to the commune of Djilas, south of Dakar (Senegal), to a health center belonging to a religious congregation. This was Eric's second trip to Djilas. The objective of the mission was achieved: following meetings with different companies (construction, water connection, electrical connection...), a contract for the construction of a new health center and a new maternity ward was finalized and signed. For the religious congregation, this represents an important contract. The intervention of the expert allowed to specify the plans, the estimates, the different points of the specifications of the building constructions and thus to avoid several pitfalls during the construction. From now on, the works will start for a period of 10 months with a remote control of the expert and a visit on the spot if necessary.

	Eric, AVe expert, with Mother Marie José and the sisters of the religious congregation of Djilas		Mr DIATA, from the company ABY TECHNOLOGIE based in DAKAR, with Mother Marie José

Relaunching the cattle industry recently affected by two bovine epidemics.

At the request of an NGO in the Feshi territory, AVe expert Daniel met with several groups of cattle breeders during the second week of his trip to the DRC. These breeders have just experienced a very difficult time in 2019, as they have all been affected by a loss of 98% of their livestock. This is a real disaster that has not been taken into account until now. The causes would be two very contagious diseases: symptomatic anthrax and pasteurellosis. The exchanges with the breeders' groups have revealed a good awareness at their level regarding the measures to be taken in the face of such diseases and the guarantees to be provided before repopulating. With the help of the FAO, vaccination programs have been set up on a large scale in the country at the initiative of the Ministry of Livestock, involving local veterinarians. Daniel's recommendation focused more on improving consultation between livestock farmers' groups (which have 1,200 members) in order to exert sufficient pressure on the country's authorities and on the FAO representation to support them in the phase following such a disaster. The means to be gathered to replace the lost animals are about 17 million dollars!

Daniel met with several groups of of cattle breeders		recovery of the cattle industry recently affected by two bovine epidemics		the groups we met represent 1 200 breeders

What agricultural project for the Ito agro-pastoral center (2,000 ha), located near Bandundu?

	Daniel, AVe expert and Stany, in charge of the agropastoral center waiting for the ferry on the Kwilu river at the exit of Bandundu		the staff of the agro-pastoral center in front of a water point for market gardening		farm equipment and buildings exist, but they are in in very poor condition