Songhai Newsletter- December 10, 2024
Dear friends of Songhai,
I was finally able to speak to a person at the IRS yesterday, and they said we could accept donations as a 501c3 charitable organization for the year 2024. We’ve been waiting almost six months for this exciting news! I wanted to let you know as soon as possible in case you wanted to make a donation for this year.
Father Nzamujo is working hard on his solar projects in northern Benin and Nigeria. They’ve helped water the fields and have enabled the projects to produce multiple harvests a year instead of just one during the rainy season.
He has also installed cold storage units to preserve the food to send all over Africa.
Next year, 2025, will be the 40th anniversary of Songhai, and time to highlight and celebrate its incredible success in transforming Africa’s agriculture and land restoration, as well as jobs for the youth.
Money is always needed for the ongoing training of students from all over Africa, for their six-month education program, plus housing and living expenses.
Since we just found out today about the donation status, we don’t yet have a donation account where you can send money online. But you can send a check made out to
“Songhai”
c/o Susan Mattern – President-Songhai
4 Shepherd Ct.
Ladera Ranch, Ca. 92694
I know that whatever you can give will be put to good use- I’ve seen the incredible work that’s been done there not only by Nzamujo, but by hundreds of people at the Songhai sites in Benin.
I’ve been privileged to visit Songhai three times and I’ll be returning again this summer. I wish you could experience the sense of joy and accomplishment- and hope in their community. They’re all aware of the importance of what they’re doing- whether its growing crops, aquaculture, solar energy, computer science, or learning how the soil can not only produce more but be restored in the process. Each person is aware of the important part they play.
Nzamujo has also made sure that women comprise 70% of the students being trained- they will be an important part of the future of Africa.
I’m looking forward to seeing the progress made in just one year, as I’ve seen every year I’ve visited. I hope you’ll join in helping us.
Songhai may be far away in miles, but as we’ve learned from the pandemic and climate change, we’re more interconnected than we ever thought, and we need to rely on everyone in the world to do their part in taking care of our earth- and each other!
Thank you,
Susan