Niger Currents
Exploring life and technology along the Niger river

As I sail the boat towards the end of our journey, the evening sun starts to fade as we approach Niafunke. It always seems as if the last few kilometres are the longest. It's my last hour on this river, in this boat that has carried me, however briefly, into the lives of people who make their homes here.

It seems appropriate that this journey should end in Niafunke, the home town of Ali Farka Toure, one of Mali's preeminent musicians. Ali helped put Malian music on the world stage, using an electric guitar but playing music true to traditional Malian styles. When Ali passed away earlier this year Mali lost not only a great musician but a true community champion.

As we sail into Niafunke, Ali's impact on the community can be seen clearly. South of the river we spot the large irrigated farm he built for the community. Some people have even claimed that he is responsible for bringing electricity to the town.

But Ali's impact on Niafunke goes far beyond the infrastructure he built for the community. The morning after our arrival, Mike and I walked through town asking people what Ali meant to them and their community. Everyone we met along the way spoke of Ali with a sense of pride. One young man told me: "He is one of us. Because of him, everywhere they know Niafunke." For many, Ali Farka Toure stands as proof that Africans can succeed - can overcome the odds and do amazing things.

As we talk to people about Ali's contribution to the community, I can't help but be reminded of all the amazing people I have met along this journey.

I remember being nervous as we rode out of Kissidougou three months ago, wondering who we would meet, wondering whether I would truly be able to understand people's hopes and fears, and communicate these to the world. The following day a man named Karifa Karuma washed away all of my fears and doubts.

As I watched Karifa race back toward Yardo with his irrepressible energy, I knew that this was an important story to tell. Karifa's life is such a vivid and stark contrast to many of the stereotypes about West Africa that it can't help but jump off the page.

Over the following ten weeks, I met many people like Karifa - people working to create positive change in their lives and in their communities. I was continually inspired by the people I met, and I hope my readers were too.

I undertook this journey because my experience of the past two years, working alongside and living with rural West Africans, has shown them to be strong, open-hearted and courageous people. I believed that if people in Canada came to know the Karifa Karumas and Bintu Traores and Omar Diarras of West Africa they would feel hope for Africa and a commitment to helping ordinary Africans create positive change in their lives.

People like Karifa Karuma, Bintu Traore and Omar Diarra deserve to be the face of this wonderful place. I hope that for those reading each week, the images of an Africa ravaged by AIDS, war and drought are balanced by the potential I saw in the people I have met along the way. To meet Karifa Kuruma is to know that people here have the skills, vision and determination to seek a better life for themselves. So often they just need a roadblock removed or a little bit of help to initiate that change.

You and I have the power and the responsibility to give the Omars, Bintus and Karifas who live in villages throughout Africa the opportunity to make that change a reality.

For the past two years, I have had the opportunity to work in Northern Ghana with Engineers Without Borders Canada, helping people living in rural areas empower themselves through access to appropriate technology. Development work is incredibly challenging, but I feel that EWB volunteers are able to have a positive impact by adopting a cooperative approach and working closely with the people who will be responsible for driving change in their own communities.

I encourage you to support the work of Engineers Without Borders Canada. Your donation will enable EWB's volunteers to work in partnership with developing communities, creating opportunities for the world's poor to improve their situation and lead lives they value.

I'd like give a very heartfelt thank-you to some of the people who have made it possible for me to undertake this journey. First, I am very grateful to all the people who took me into their homes and lives. They have given this journey purpose and me a constant source of inspiration. I am also grateful to the translators and guides who worked tirelessly to help us learn about the lives of the people we met along the way. I also truly appreciate the efforts of the team, both in Canada and in West Africa, who made this journey possible. In particular, I thank Eli, Mike, Avi, Jen and Anna for their dedication to making this journey a success. I also thank Chris, Genevieve, Kingson, Matt, Nick, Samina, Sarah and Sonya for their support, and the numerous past and present EWB overseas volunteers who offered insightful comments on my weekly posts. I am also indebted to Engineers Without Borders Canada for their support and to Roadpost for equipping me with a satellite phone that allowed me to keep in touch with the team in Canada no matter where I was.

As I prepare to return to Canada, I am thinking more and more about how I will continue to fulfil my commitment to help my friends in West Africa create positive change in their communities. One way will be by continuing to share the stories of the ordinary yet extraordinary people I have met over the past few months. I will challenge those I share these stories with - as I challenge you now - to make a commitment to empowering positive change in African communities. It is a privilege that we are afforded, and a responsibility that we bear.