African Culture Night

Colorado Springs, CO – trees + water + community = hope for villages in Senegal where climate change, poverty, and political unrest create huge challenges for native peoples.  A locally based non-profit successfully provides all three and has already seen how small changes can make a big difference for villagers.

“The virtue of planting a single tree cannot be measured. The future gratitude of every person who rests in that tree’s shade, every child who eats of its fruit, every bird that nests in its branches, is reflected upon those who placed it in the soil and helped water it into life.”  Maam Massamba Ndiaye, an elder from Ndiguel village.  

Yermande is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting environmental and economic sustainability in the Republic of Senegal by supporting community based reforestation, clean water, and economic development projects.  Yermande is a word in Wolof, the most popular African language in Senegal.  It is best translated as compassion, and describes the empathic understanding that motivates people to help one another.

Springs Dance, a local dance academy, will host an “African Culture Night” fundraiser for Yermande Friday, April 24th from 6-9 p.m.  The evening features a Senegalese dinner, African drumming and dance presentations, and a fashion show of traditional African dress.  The event will be held at Springs Dance, located at 4705 Centennial Blvd, 80919.  There is a suggested tax deductible donation of $25 per person and attendees should RSVP by contacting Springs Dance at (719) 635-1004.  100% of proceeds will go directly to Yermande Inc. 

“We are so happy to support Yermande by hosting this event.  Dance is an international language that can break social and cultural barriers.  We’re excited for dancers and others in our community to get to know a little more of the Senegalese community through movement,” says Academy director Mago Lauritzen.

For more information about Yermande, Inc., visit their website at Yermande.org.