Binta is proud of her work after World Vision Mali and FCPA's training
Every Tuesday, Binta Karambe leaves her neighbourhood of Walirdé and travels early in the morning to Sarema, a neighbourhood to the east of Sevaré, to the large courtyard of the Sini Gnèsigui association.
Binta is a member of this association and one of the main cooks of pre-cooked djouga. Before her comrades in the group join her on the djouga cooking day, Binta steams the fonio and grinds the peanuts that will be used to prepare the pre-cooked djouga that will be sold.
Binta believes that fortune has smiled on them since the Sini Gnèsigui association, of which she is a member, benefited from training in the processing and preservation of local products provided by World Vision Mali as part of the FCPA (Fragile Contexts Programming Approach) project.
Tuesday was dedicated to the preparation of pre-cooked djouga by the association. This preparation was expected to improve gradually after the training. Binta and her fellow association members quickly surpassed this stage, given the quality of the pre-cooked djouga and other products they sell in the market.
‘’ I remember when we Malian women had difficulties making pre-cooked djouga. Today, that's a distant memory, thanks to World Vision, which trained us. Our products, such as peanut paste and pre-cooked djouga, are particularly appreciated. This is due to our strict adherence to hygiene measures. That's why we often get orders before we start production," Binta says happily.
Today, the association has grown from being a simple consumer to marketing local products in the Mopti Cercle, with a point of sale at the Sevaré market.
The women of the association also sell their products at a number of weekly markets in the surrounding villages. From May to mid-July, the association sold FCFA 166,000 worth of djouga and peanut paste.
‘’ Our association has also been trained in the conservation of onions and okra from our market garden plots, as we have received equipment such as driers and tarpaulins for drying, kitchen utensils and other materials," adds Binta.
Within the association, tasks are divided according to areas of expertise.
The "Sini Gnesigui" association is one of 13 women's groups, including 06 in the Mopti cercle and 07 in the Djenné cercle, that have benefited from the FCPA project's capacity building and equipment support for processing local products in fragile contexts.
‘’ We are envied by other friends who have not been able to benefit from this training, which has changed our lives and those of our families, especially our children. I'm passionate about making 'djouga', and I love it. I'm lucky," Binta concludes.