! ABENE NEWS !

ABENE FESTIVALO 2009-2010 welcomes Guinean drumming master Mamady Keita!!!

Check out the programme.

HEAVY RAINS DESTROY HOMES

Due to a combination of heavy rains and strong winds, over 20 households have lost their homes, mostly mudhouses, which fell down. Thankfully neighbours have temporarily helped those who have lost everything under the rumbles, some sheltering whole families, until they manage to build a new house. On the other hand, the rain means that the fields are full of rice, beans, groundnut and millet, which will help the families to be self sufficient.

TAEKWONDO CLASSES

Ousmane Diabang, an accomplished Taekwondo Master, who qualified in Dakar with his own master, returned to his native village and opened the first club for adults and children. They did their first demonstration on 4th April during Senegal Independance day's celebration, and that did not go unnoticed.

RECYCLING ART

Yankouba opened a shop a few months agon on the road to the beach. His recycling shop has: handbags made of recycled rice bags, pots made out of recycled paper, recycled beewax candles, purses made out of recycled milk and juice packs and tailor-made objects on order (even a wardrobe with recycled metal and bags!). A shop not to be missed.

A REAL TREAT IN ABENE

Finally a Mini Market in Abene! "Mini Market Gédi" is run by Frenchman Gérard and his wife Dienaba. A little treat of continental food and sweets, such as pasta, wine, cheese, frozen meat, yoghurts and chocolate. For the locals, these exotic foods coming from Europe are always worth a try! Also a selection of traditional local recipes such as jams, local fruit juices etc

NEW LOOK FOR CRAFT MARKET

The craft market is an oasis of calm where local artists make beautiful objects out of bush wood. There are also paintings, fabric and even local jam, shea butter and natural incense. The market has a new and more welcoming look and has also been provided with electricity.

ORDI-LAURIE CONNECTS ABENE TO THE WORLD

In February 2008, Laurie opened the first internet café in the village.
The locals have warmly welcomed this initiative and are slowly coming to learn how to use a computer, open a email address, send messages and surf on the internet.
Laurie started initiation classes for Abene school’s teachers and locals, and would like to continue with teaching the schoolchildren. Please see the information about the Ordi-Laurie Project.Extra services such as burning digital pictures on CD, recording the latest African tunes on mp3 players, and also copying, scanning, typing, printing and faxing are on offer.
Ordi-Laurie is located in the heart of the village and has become a key meeting point and information centre on events, concerts, places of interest and trips in the area, as well of as the festival of course.

PROJECTS PAGE

A new set of pages have been added onto this site. Our aim is to inform you about current projects in place Abene. However although the list seems short, ongoing projects and new projects will be added to this page and updates added on a regular basis.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any expression of interest, ideas or suggestions on how to help the village further. Thank you in advance if you can contribute.

POWER!

The arrival of electrical power has contributed to the development of the village. Whilst remaining authentic and traditional in its way of life, Abene is able to offer services which were only available in the next larger market town Kafountine or the capital of Casamance, Ziguinchor. Young people have more faith in staying with their families rather than looking for work in big cities.