When I arrived, I felt like I was coming home. An odd way to feel given that I had never been there before and the environment of tented and adobe homes on a sandy expanse was quite foreign to me. But Ariane's stories had settled into my heart, and for me the people in that village were part of my family as well.
I was surprised to learn that Alhassan, Ariane's host father back in 2005, did not speak French. Rather, he spoke English, which he had learned in Nigeria. Immediately, this solidified my connection because, given my inability to speak French, he was one of the only people with whom I could directly communicate. He warmly took my hand when I arrived to show me the borehole and facilities.
We were happy to discover that a school was in session. The building, made of millet stalks, had a sandy floor. It was cool inside, thankfully for the 20 children who were learning their subjects in French. Shy at first, the children were very happy to see Ariane. From photos, I knew some of them by name: Mariama, Hassi, Mouheni....
On our second visit to the village, we did a Friendship Exchange with the children. With a pile of beads protected from the sand on their laps, the children made bracelets to give back to their friends in America. They were so very happy and proud to have a photo of their American friend!
Mouheni holding a card from her American friend.
The children demonstrated their lessons for us, counting and reciting in French with great enthusiasm. This is quite significant because most of their parents speak only Tamachek, the local language. These children, who now have water to support their healthy development, will have greater opportunities and choices in their future.
Respecting traditions while encouraging a greater role for women requires delicate but stable support. I was impressed at how Ariane and Denis spoke frankly with the people of the village, maintaining their trust while getting them to shift their habits into new patterns that will sustain their future. At one point while meeting with the men, Ariane stood up and walked out of the meeting, until the men agreed to bring in a woman. That action created an opening that set the stage for real change to take place.
Mariama and Anaou washing at the Tangarwashane faucet.
Debbie with Mouheni, Hassi, Mariama...
In late February, the Montessori School of Louisville (MSL) presented a check for $5,000 to Amman Imman. The funds represented part of the proceeds from the school's first annual Butterfly Benefit auction on February 21st, 2009, held in tribute to the shared values of Dr. Maria Montessori and Muhammad Ali at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The school chose to support Amman Imman in keeping with Montessori's global community ideals and spirit of service.February 19, 2009
Ms. Cynthia M. Gonzalez
Director, Montessori School of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40206
Dear Ms. Gonzalez:
I thank you for inviting me to participate in the first annual Butterfly Gala at the Ali Center. I deeply regret not being able to join you, for I am a great believer in the work of Montessori Schools, and I am a fan of Ariane Kirtley's humanitarian work in Africa. Moreover, ever since I was a young man I have been an admirer of the boxing champion Muhammad Ali, and it would have been a special pleaslure to visit the Ali Center in his honor. Hopefully I will be able to greet all of you soon in Kentucky.
I have asked my friend Michael Kirtley to read this letter on my behalf. As Ariane's father, Michael is well aware of the sacrifice that a parent must experience, to help his child follow her dreams. Although few of our children will endure the hardships of Ariane to save lives among the poorest of the poor, we all hope that, like her, they will choose pathways that leave the world a better place than they found it. Montessori cducatioli is particularly suited to shaping these model citizens of the future. Over the past year 1 have become better acquainted with the creative, personalized approach they provide, and I congratulate the parents for sending their children to such a fine institution as Montessori School of Louisville. I feel sure that they are in good hands.
Ariane Kirtley herself is a shining example of the impact of Montessori education. I have met her several times, and am always amazed that a young mother, graduate of Yale, would give up monetary success to bring water to children who otherwise might perish from thirst. At great personal risk, she braves heat and other harsh conditions to offer hope to people who are ignored by the outside world. Your generosity towards her work will not only save lives, it will inspire others to give.
Finally, I will close by inviting all of you to come to Morocco, my beautiful country. You may not know that we were the first nation to recognize America's independence, in 1777, and the first nation to sign a Treaty of Friendship with America, in 1756. In this spirit, Moroccans consider Americans as family, so please take advantage of our hospitality. Moreover, we are in the process of preparing a major educational initiative of friendship between Morocco and American Montessori Schools, and 1 sincerely hope your school will participate. That way perhaps your students will become Ambassadors of Friendship between our two great cultures.
Very sincerely yours,
Aziz Mekouar
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the USA
In the Azawak Valley of Niger, peopled often walk 35 miles round trip to find water.
At the Montessori School of Ojai, student are learning about the plight of the Tuareg and Fulani ethnic groups who inhabit the Azawak Valley in West Africa, and are helping raise money for a well that will bring life-sustaining water to the region.
I hope that this email finds you well! Our Amman Imman team recently returned to Niamey from a rewarding couple of weeks in the Azawak. Debbie has already gone home to the United States, and Denis, Laurel and I are developing partnerships with organizations. We are also keeping busy negotiating with contractors.
Among the many things that we accomplished in the field, the following are of foremost importance:
Since there is so much to talk about, I am going to keep this email focused on Tangarwashane, our future construction site named Kijigari, and on our new local Amman Imman team.
Tangarwashane:
What a beautiful site: a great looming water tower, nomads and villagers waiting to retrieve water from the faucets, and herds of cows, sheep, and camels drinking from the troughs. Over the hill, beyond the water tower, stood a little hut filled with 20 eager boys and girls learning French, and one devoted teacher. We dropped off a chalk board and adult learning booklets for the new adult classes that are soon to begin.
What a joyous moment it was to enter the school and see the Tangarwashane children – the same 
children I have known and watched grow up over the past four years -- clean and healthy, and most important of all, learning! Before the borehole existed, these children never had time to go to school because they were too busy looking for water. I never dreamt that I would someday be able to have a conversation in French with them. They are so smart and ready to learn everything brought to them.
And thanks to our newly hired female field agent, Assaidat, we had a very open and honest conversation with the women. They are so excited to have the borehole, and to no longer have to walk all day searching for water. But they told me, « Ariane, we now have so much time on our hands, we don’t know what to do. We have no skills, but we want to have our own income. Our husbands sometimes leave for months at time, at which point we have to beg for food and other things to keep our family alive ». They want to learn how to sew, and to raise their own livestock, as well as own a village store. The men have built a wall around the water tower, and are planning on growing gardens in the walled off area. This may open up an opportunity for the women to have their own gardens. The women, also, want to get even more involved in the management of the borehole well. I promised to bring these women people who can help. We are going to now work with and seek out NGOs to bring Tangarwashane other forms of assistance. The population is now ready to develop Tangarwashane into a prosperous community.
Kijigari, the next site for the Montessori Well of Love:
Kijigari, a large rural village surrounding a sweeping marsh, regroups over 4,000 inhabitants living directly within its boundaries, and many more than 25,000 in the surrounding communities. Kijigari was originally inhabited by refugees. For this reason, it is different from most villages one might encounter in the Azawak because it has received a good deal of assistance from international NGOs. It has had an operational school for over 20 years, and has a little village clinic held by a government nurse, and a large market where people come from afar to sell their goods once a week. As long as there is water in the marsh wells, the women run a village store, a sewing cooperative, and grow their own gardens.
For most of the year, however, Kijigari has no water. As soon as the marsh wells dry up, all activities end. Instead, families abandon the village in search for water. During the height of the dry season, Kijigari becomes a ghost town.
Everyone from the prefect to the mayor and the hydraulics department, as well as people from neighboring camps and 
villages, said that Kijigari should be our priority. As I got to know the village, I agreed, for several reasons:
Montessori schools worldwide partner with the school in Kijigari. We have already completed a friendship bracelet exchange with their school and a Montessori school in America. Local Amman Imman Team:
Our newly appointed local team is composed of two men, one female field agent, and a representative in Abalak. This team will conduct follow-up studies on borehole sites and will help to develop our relationship with local authorities and potential partner NGOs. They are an invaluable resource.
I will keep you posted as our negotiations progress. I hope to send an email soon with the good news that we are preparing to drill. However, if we cannot bring the drilling cost down enough, then we will have to leave Niger sooner than planned in order to resume fundraising efforts with the hope of bringing water to the people of Kijigari in the very near future.
Yours in hope for the children of the Azawak,
Ariane
