The Tandana Foundation

10/14/2026

What started as learning a new craft is becoming a business of their own. 🧶 The women of Yambiro’s rug-hooking group in Ecuador have been building their skills, learning the ins and outs of running a business, and discovering what they can create together.

With materials and guidance shared by Tandana volunteers and supporters, they’re continuing to grow their craft and are proud of how far they’ve come. 💛

"At my age, there is no work available, but with this, I'm very happy... We're working for a reason—to do our small part, for our children." –Virginia Perugachi, rug hooking group member

Supporting achievement of community goals and addressing global inequalities through caring intercultural relationships

10/13/2026

A Note from Anna Taft, Tandana's Founding Director

"I want to thank you all for following our work, and I especially want to thank everyone who has donated recently to support our partners in Mali who have been displaced by terrorist violence. It is heartbreaking to know that many of our friends have faced attacks and had to leave their villages.

This terrible situation underscores the importance of Tandana's relational approach. Our friendship continues—no matter where our partners end up. Our team has been working to identify who has arrived in Bandiagara after leaving their villages and what their needs are. It is a process that has led to tearful reunions and gratitude for the fact that someone cares and has come to check on those experiencing new hardships.

We are supporting some of the newly displaced people in launching businesses, along with our ongoing program for displaced students. This fall, we are raising funds to provide a food program for a school serving hundreds of displaced children. While many of our partners are facing new challenges in new locations, they have brought with them the skills and confidence they have gained through their partnership with Tandana. I'm grateful to all of you who have made that growth possible and who continue to help us support our partners during this time of unexpected need."

💚 To support our friends in Mali, consider making a donation below:
form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/displaced-families

10/11/2026

This year, longtime Tandana supporter Hank Fincken, who usually teaches theater in our Summer School in Ecuador, had a new assignment: writing stories for The Tandana Foundation Blog. In the following post, he visits a former Tandana scholarship student’s quail business. Read it now!

This year, Hank Fincken, a long-time supporter of The Tandana Foundation, who usually teaches theater in the organization’s Summer School in Ecuador, had a new assignment: writing stories for The T…

10/09/2026

📚 Back to class!

Tandana’s literacy team is getting ready to begin the second session of classes for the year. We’re looking forward to seeing students back in the classroom and continuing their learning journey. 💙

10/08/2026

Planning for the dry season is underway! 🌱

The leadership council of the Olouguelemo Environmental Association recently met to plan their upcoming activities and strengthen their work to care for their local environment.

10/07/2026

🎉 Four for four!

All four Dr. Ash B. Varma, M.D. scholars who took their licensing exams in July passed!

Congratulations to Anta Bamia, now an obstetric nurse, and Seydou Seiba, Souleymane Timbiné, and Yacouba Siguipily, now state nurses. 🩺🎓

Four people. Years of hard work. One very exciting result. We’re so proud to celebrate this achievement with them! 💚

10/06/2026

Tandana’s first Andean Cultural Journey is coming February 26–March 5, 2027! 🇪🇨

Designed and facilitated alongside our community partners, this experience invites travelers to explore the worldview through conversations with elders, healers, artists, and local leaders, along with traditions and experiences rooted in a deep connection to Pachamama.

This is a different way to experience —one centered on listening, learning, and genuine .

Interested in joining us? Learn more at:
tandanafoundation.org/andeanculturaljourneys.html

10/04/2026

This year, Tandana is marking our 20th anniversary of weaving intercultural friendships and strengthening communities in Ecuador and Mali. To celebrate this significant milestone, we are inviting new and old friends to join us for a series of events for all ages this November around Ohio. Today's new blog shares information about those events, including our 20th Anniversary Celebration on November 21 in Columbus. Hope to see you there!

10/02/2026

We can tell you what this program does—but the parents building these businesses can tell you what it means. With initial training and startup support from Tandana, displaced families have been able to create new sources of income that continue today.

💛 In his own words:

"Staff members from the Tandana Foundation paid me a visit. I’d also like to extend my regards to the head of the Mali team, and to Yalèma DOLO (Anna) from wherever she is. She has done so much for us, and we still count on her for our income generating activities. (“Anecdote”: We Dogon say that an empty bag can never be filled.)

My sincere regards to Yalèma DOLO—I’d very much like to hear her voice despite the distance. We’re managing to make ends meet despite the difficulties thanks to your support, even though we can’t work as hard as the young people; despite our age, we still get by. We manage to earn about 100,000 to 150,000 during the harvest seasons. All of this has been possible thanks to your support—we thank you."

💚 Ambadjougo

10/01/2026

Through Tandana’s Displaced Students and Families Program, parents continue to receive training and startup support to build income-generating activities in Bandiagara. And for families who received that support last year, we’re now seeing what those opportunities have grown into.

💚 Here’s what that has meant for one parent:

"My name is Ambakane, a displaced person from Golokanda. First, I’d like to thank the Tandana Foundation for its support. Last year’s harvest wasn’t bad. I earned 240,000 last year from my vegetable crops. That allowed me to buy my irrigation system. I’m able to provide for my family, which includes seven children. On behalf of the Tandana Foundation, I thank you very much, and we hope to continue receiving your support."