We are very fortunate to have a dedicated and passionate team on the ground in Senegal, working every day to build resilient, thriving communities. We think this team is pretty amazing and are sure you will agree. This is the second in a series introducing the people that make it all possible. (Click here to see others in this series.) Meet Mandaw, our Lead Garden Technician.
Mandaw joined the Andando team as our first Garden Technician in 2012.
“I am very happy to work to help my compatriots. As a Senegalese, I must do my best through my knowledge to support them in the field. I really want the Senegalese to know about the importance of organic vegetables. When the person does not know the basis of his economy, he has no knowledge of himself.”
Like most of our Garden Technicians, Mandaw uses a scooter (or moto) to travel between the garden sites and provide support to the women’s garden collectives.
Mamadou Ba, or Mandaw (pronounced Mon-dow) to his friends, has been working with Andando since 2012. Born and raised in Fas Toucouleur (a village three miles from our offices in Keur Soce), Mandaw is well-known and respected in the community.
Growing up, Mandaw learned horticulture and arboriculture from his father, who is a Master Farmer through the Peace Corps program. He worked with his father for 10 years before he joined Andando as our very first Garden Technician.
Mandaw with his father, Abdou Salam Ba, in the Fas Toucouleur Community Garden. (Abdou joined the Andando team in 2018.)
Mandaw brought with him years of experience and knowledge of local and traditional methods of agriculture including grafting techniques, treatment and prospecting of soil and plants, and natural methods of pest control.
Checking on the seedling nursery, Mandaw teaches those new to gardening how to propagate and rotate crops.
Working directly with the women in the community gardens, Mandaw teaches skills such as how to construct a small nursery and germinate seeds, proper care and transplanting of seedlings, pest control and disease treatment, and how to make safe and effective fertilizer to boost crop production.
Teaching sustainable garden techniques gives participants the knowledge to become self-reliant.
Over the years the number of our community gardens has increased, and it became necessary to bring on additional Garden Technicians. Mandaw moved into the role of Lead Garden Technician, training new staff and overseeing the entire community garden program.
Mandaw (center) oversees the entire community garden program including training new Garden Technicians and supporting Agriculture Interns from Dakar University.
Mandaw with some of his extended family. In Senegal it is common for multiple generations to live together on a family-owned piece of land.
The oldest of eight, Mandaw lives with his relatives on a family-owned piece of land. He and his wife, Souadou, welcomed their first child, Abdou, last year.
Mandaw and his wife, Souadou, welcomed their first child, Abdou (named after Mandaw’s father), last year.
When he is not working Mandaw enjoys listening to music and will often be the first to get up and start dancing. Your support enables Mandaw to help his fellow citizens. Thank you for investing in their future!
Andando staff show off their dance moves along with the women of the Ndioufene Community Garden celebrating its opening. Mandaw is pictured on the left.
Update (Feb 9, 2023): Congratulations to Mandaw and his wife, Souadou, who recently welcomed their second child, Boubou! (Pictured left to right: Boubou Sy (Country Director) holding baby Boubou, Soudadou and Mandaw.)
We are excited and honored to introduce you to more of our team and share their hope for the future with you. Thank you for your support!