Papillon not only feels like sharing West Africa’s beauty with others, she also feels like sharing with West Africa and creating a balance between receiving and giving.
Therefore Papillon Reizen donates to the Papillon-emergency fund and to the Papillon-project fund for every journey.
Papillon Emergency fund
The local community can plea for a contribution from the Papillon Emergency fund in poignant situations when a family cannot timely bring up the necessary funds themselves. This could, for instance, be for medical assistance in case of illness or an accident, but also as a contribution to a funeral or the rebuilding of an in the rainy season collapsed house.
Each request will be discussed with and judged by our local contacts.
Papillon Project fund
The Papillon Project fund is created to support (mainly small-scale) local initiatives. For and by the locals.
For instance with a focus on the environment. This could be a project to raise the awareness on waste and environment or a project that creates financial independence for the locals by supporting them to create a project or a business.
Possibly Papillon will create projects in cooperation with the local communities.
support for Fanga schools from the Project fund
Fanga schools are part of the regional organization CRDERMS, which strives to opening up professional education to children in the Ségou region. School projects are in place in Fintiguila, Touana and in Ségou town. Beside theoretical knowledge, both girls and boys learn carpentry, sawing, mechanics and agriculture. The practical classes provide skills and self confidence to the children. At a young age they are introduced to the skills, which will later in life allow them independency and income.
The Papillon Project fund does a monthly contribution to the salary of the carpentry teacher and supports the building of the school in Ségou.
support for a tree planting project from the Project fund
For the tree planting project Papillon Reizen collaborates with Souleymane Diakité, a young driven man from Ségou. He had already been planting trees around town for several years when we got aware of the fact that expanding his activities was blocked by the lack of financial means.
From the Project fund means are provided to buy the needed materials, like covers to protect the trees against hungry goats.
providing microloans from the Project fund
For several years already Papillon Reizen has been providing microloans to locals to start or expand income generating activities. Even though a few loans have been provided to men, helping women gain more financial independance is the main goal.
organisation of GiveBackWednesday from the Project fund
Under the name GiveBackWednesday we take the local youth on river trips. A day on the river and a good meal are combined with educational village visits. The children, who hardly ever have been any further than their home and school neighborhoods, learn in a fun way about the history and crafts (e.g. pottery) of their own region.
Scholarship fund for Malian girls
A collective initiative resulted in the scholarship fund for Malian girls. In low-income families it’s often the girls lacking the chance to get proper schooling. The scholarship fund pays for school fees and necessities to give these girls a chance.
