It has been a very exciting few days for ECHO employees, preparing for our 1st West Africa Networking Forum. In Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, delegates have been arriving and registering for the event. A sea of people with ECHO Forum Nametags have taken over the Splendid Hotel, and we can’t be happier!
Registration began on Monday afternoon with over 100 delegates registering in four hours. Packets were completed by ECHO interns, staff and volunteers. Be on the lookout for these awesome ECHO bags, made in Ouagadougou in the ECHO Bookstore.
The Forum began on Tuesday morning with the opening ceremony hosted by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture in Burkina Faso. He spoke about the need in Burkina Faso for development workers 
and the government to work together to lessen the hold of food insecurity and poverty on the people. It was very exciting to see the encouragement that the government offers to ECHO’s work here and throughout West Africa. ECHO President/CEO Stan Doerr spoke on the
goal of ECHO’s work in the region to connect successes in one area with others across the continent.
Beginning the plenary sessions, Njegollmi Mbairodbbee presented his perspective on Biblical Holism in respect to Agriculture.
ECHO Farm Manager Andy Cotarelo gave participants a chance to learn about a conservation farming technique called Foundations forFarming with a double session,
separated by a much-appreciated coffee break.
So much excitement and this is only the beginning. Stay tuned for more updates from Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and ECHO’s West Africa Networking Forum!
See you tomorrow!
