DUGUTIGI HUMANITARIAN & LEADERSHIP RETREAT
Experience a life-changing business and humanitarian retreat designed to give business executives powerful perspective and renewed vision.
Join our elite expedition of ambitious, adventurous, purpose-driven and philanthropic business men and women as we visit and experience one of the most under-developed regions in the world, Mali, West Africa. Participate in the digging of a well, the building of a school, and the irrigating of Sub Saharan farmland, all the while learning skills and principles that will take your leadership and vision to the next level. This retreat will be one of the pinnacle weeks of your life.
Where is Mali?
The Republic of Mali is a landlocked country in the middle of West Africa, just east of Senegal and north of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Mali is the third largest producer of gold on the continent of Africa, and is also known for its Salt, Cotton, Mango, fertilizers, oil and iron. While the country of Mali balloons up deep into the uninhabitable regions of the Saharan desert, most of the 21 million inhabitants live in the southern two-thirds of the country where plant life is more abundant. Here are some important facts about Mali.
- Mali reached per capita income of USD 833 compared to a worldwide average of USD 12,607. The United States has a per capita income of USD 80,034.
- Human Development Index considers life expectancy, education and per capita income. In 2021 Mali scored a 0.428 compared to a world average of 0.724 based on 184 counties
- On average 30% of students pass the 9th grade exams and continue on to high school. Everywhere a middle school is built by Empower Mali, 80-90% of the students from that school pass the 9th grade exams
- Adult literacy stands at 26.18%
- Mali has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Old Towns of Djenné, Timbuktu, the Tomb of Askia and the Cliff of Bandeagara.
- The average annual income for a Malian is $830 USD.
Lodging
Lodging for this retreat will be at the Raddison Collection Hotel in Bamako, a 5-star hotel in the capital city of Mali. From here excursions will be made to several locations throughout the country of Mali, each night returning to the comfort of a clean and well-furnished room.
For one night of adventure, willing participants will join the expedition leaders for a night under the stars on the Samake Farm where they will rough it, experience the night sights and sounds of Mali, enjoy a delicious dinner cooked over a campfire, and walk away with a memory of Africa very few Americans will ever experience.
Benefits From
Coaching Sessions
- Get away from the noise and busyness of life so that you can think clearly and objectively
- Develop clarity around your goals and priorities
- Identify the limiting beliefs and challenges you must confront
- Explore options and develop a greater awareness of how you can overcome these obstacles in your life
- Create a plan, including the vision, skills, incentives, resources and actions needed to succeed
Activities
The week’s activities may include items from this list, subject to trip length and number of participants.
- Fishing on the great Niger river
- Celebration Feast and Dancing with Villagers
- Experiencing the Malian Market
- Digging a Water System
- Building a School
- Laying Irrigation on the Farm
- Observing Worship at the Great Mosque
- Business Coaching Session
- Night Under the Stars
Empower Mali
Officially organized in 2012, members of Empower Mali have been working to empower Malians since 2004, building schools and teacher housing, installing water systems and solar power, transforming farming practices, and providing educational materials for the poor rural villagers of Mali. Their success has been founded on the principle that they don’t give anything away. The beneficiaries of their humanitarian efforts pay 20% of the cost, provide land and labor where needed, and in the case of the tractor, pay for it completely as their income grows. Board members of Empower Mali are proud of the fact that between 90-100% of every dollar donated to their foundation goes directly to the end goal of helping Malians. The leverage the American dollar has to do good in Mali is incomparably great. To date the foundation has built 45 schools, installed 45 water systems with deep wells up to 600 feet deep, provided 7 tractors, and donated educational materials to dozens of their schools.
More than 95% of your donation will go to the end project.
Weather
What to expect
Rural Mali is hot, dry and dirty. Generally speaking you should wear clothing that will protect you from the effects of the sun, and not expose you to them. Shorts are fine, but light, breathable pants are even better. Loose flowing clothing will be your best friend. You will be provided with a daypack wherever we go that has enough food and drink for the day and all of your meals will be taken care of.
Health
How to Prepare
You will be required to have a Yellow Fever vaccine. Outside of this requirement there are recommendations to be current on all your standard vaccines. Modern hospitals do exist in Mali, but nothing works there quite like it does in America. Mosquito nets are recommended at certain times of the year, but will be unnecessary during the hottest and driest months. Malaria is chronic to many Malians and can pose a threat to travelers, but is also conditional upon the climate and temperature, and migration of the mosquito.
Everywhere we go, you will be driven in comfortable vehicles with air conditioning. The times in which you will meet the most discomfort will be while working on projects in the hot African sun. During these times you may opt out if there are any medical conditions not conducive to the work.
Bottled water will be provided at all times, everywhere we go, so that you can remain hydrated.
Travel Insurance is highly recommended for the unknowns that can always happen while traveling.
Money
Most of the activities will be taken care of through the fund created by your initial fees. The only thing you will need cash for will be tips, souvenirs, gifts, and personal items. ATMs can be accessed in Mali with a typical daily limit of $500 USD.
Pricing For the Excursion
The DUGUTIGI experience includes a humanitarian expedition, therefore all participants are encouraged to consider making a donation to the humanitarian work being done by Empower Mali. The donation would be above and beyond the program costs. Program costs cover the coaching sessions for Power Participants as well as lodging, food, and transportation within Mali for all participants. The trip will begin and end in Paris, France.
Chief of the Village
Power Participant-
5 Executive Coaching Sessions
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Transportation and Food
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5 Star Hotel (8 Nights)
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Tax Deductible
Village Delegate
Guest Participant-
Transportation and Food
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Life Changing Experience
-
5 Star Hotel (8 Nights)
-
Tax Deductible
Humanitarian Costs
Here are the costs for some of the things we can do to help the rural villagers of Mali
- Build a school for $60K
- Provide a tractor for $30K
- Build teacher housing in a village for $25K
- Install a water system for $20K
- Install solar power on a school for $20K
- Provide a Threshing Machine for $10K
- Provide books to a school for $5K