My cousin’s family is, granted, a bunch of overachievers. My cousin has a doctorate earned while raising three children, and before that spent two years in Africa in the Peace Corps — an act that inspired her retired professor mother to do the same, and now my cousin’s daughter is following both of their footsteps. (This cousin’s husband has a share of the Nobel Peace Price — no I’m not joking — but that really has no place in this discussion other than for braggingcontext. 🙂 )

The 3rd-generation Peace Corps cousin is nearing the end of her stint and has closely bonded with her small Senegalese village. She calls it “my second home.”

That picture is what it looks like today.

A few days ago a fire swept through the village. Fanned and spread by high winds, hut after hut burned with all of their owners’ belongings and even some livestock. While fire is not too uncommon, it is usually confined to one or two huts and the villagers can come together and support those who have lost their homes; in this case, it’s too large a blow, and they don’t know how they will go on. There’s no insurance; there’s no FEMA; there’s no national charity to swoop down and provide hotel rooms and food and water. There’s just ash.

My cousin’s daughter writes,

Almost 30 huts burned down with everything in them, and over 100 people are now homeless. This is the community I’ve come to think of as a second home, and I want to do whatever possible to help them. The people of Niaming are some of the kindest, most generous, and overall good people I have ever met (my parents and siblings can attest to that, I think!), and they deserve all the help I can give them. So, if you can, please share this story and the link to the crowdfunding page. It would mean a lot.

I’ve thrown in some bucks even though my wife and I are facing an uncertain future coinciding with the arrival of our first child. They don’t need much; a little bit goes a long way there. If you have $50, $15, or even $5 to spare, please show your support here. 

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