About Us
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Greetings!
Thank you for taking the time to visit our site and for your interest in learning a little bit more about Cultural Bridge Foundation. CBF has grown from a tiny grassroots organization to a registered and fully functioning non-profit, and we are both grateful and excited to be moving forward in our mission to serve those in need. |
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In 2006, I took my first journey to the West African country of Burkina Faso. The month-long journey and entry into the diversity of African cultures and civilizations, ranging from developing cities to ancient villages and tribes was, indeed, life changing for me. It opened my eyes and heart to the extraordinary people and tribes of this land, laying the groundwork for what was to become a non-profit endeavor.
One pivotal event during this first trip happened the day I was unexpectedly left alone in a remote village and was taken in by a 106-year-old African Male Elder. Because of this Elder, I met a young man that was to become my guide and translator for many years, furthering my first-hand cultural education and deepening my relationships in the villages.
Over the course of the next 2 years, this Elder requested my return to Africa. These return journeys took me into other tribes and villages where I met families and was taken in as one of their own. I ate their food, slept in their villages, and witnessed their day-to-day living experiences; how they prepared their fields turning the soil with plow and oxen, collected the wood for their cooking fires, lifted water from the deep open-pit wells, and prepared their food in outdoor kitchens. Certain nights I slept on flat adobe roofs and others, in small adobe rooms with tin roofs. Healers shared how they helped the men, women and children, and we discussed both traditional healing and also the lack of certain modern western medicines. By the time the loving Elder died in his 108th year, many relationships had been created with many different tribes, Elders, villages and their peoples.
With each subsequent journey to Africa, I began returning with suitcases filled to the brim with items to assist the villagers; over-the-counter medicines and first aid items, solar lights and pencils for school children, LED flashlights, soccer balls, mosquito netting, modern electronics such as computers and cameras, and other donated items such as clothing. With each visit to a family and village, sacks of corn and rice were purchased, as were certain animals, to be offered and given for nourishment to the villages. The items brought from America we appropriately shared and were freely given in the spirit of friendship and family. I saw and witnessed many lives touched by this generosity.
This outreach continued and grew as I was requested to build and repair several homes, provide medical aid for those needing medication and hospitalization, and assist with the education of young children. In looking at the issues the people of Africa faced in their daily lives, it became evident that certain items of modern technology, as determined by the local community and village Elders themselves, would certainly serve their fundamental needs without compromising their indigenous customs and beliefs. It was in light of this that a vehicle was purchased to provide added productivity and efficiency to benefit the expansion and support of this mission, and another project was undertaken successfully to acquire and buy a small used tractor to assist in growing food for one village. It was at this point that Cultural Bridge Foundation, Inc. was conceived and implemented, and continues to serve communities today.
As this community-based organization continues to grow and develop, we set our outreach goals on the following areas:
Medical: One of the greatest needs in all villages is for various types of medical assistance. As malaria is so prevalent, and a pressing danger to so many, we focus on the disbursement of mosquito netting and malaria medication when needed. We acquire and deliver basic medical supplies, over the counter medications, and first aid kits. In some cases we support financial needs for hospital visits and hospitalization, including transportation from remote villages and medication. We support traditional healers in practicing indigenous medicine and plant medicine.
Water Well installation and Clean Water Initiatives: Clean, healthy drinking and cooking water is crucial to living in a Sub-Saharan climate. Rainfall only occurs during the monsoon season and water wells provide the majority of village water. Open water wells need be capped and hand pumps provided. We engage in well installation, well improvement and construction projects, and community well and water education projects. We provide provide ceramic water filters and other safe chemical water treatment systems such as chlorine dioxide and colloidal silver purification to remove harmful fungus, bacteria, mold, and parasites. Well constructed well sites and appropriate water treatment plans dramatically improve the health of communities and ease both physical labor and medical burden.
Solar Panel and Solar Reading Lights: We seek to supply our sponsored students, their families, and different village families with small solar panels (able to charge mobile phones and run small electronics) and durable solar reading lights. Access to solar light creates extra opportunity for families and students and provides and alternative to burning harmful oils, gas, or precious wood just for light.
Solar Cooking Stoves: Immense amounts of time and energy are spent in any given day for the village women collecting firewood for their cooking fires, in a landscape feeling the stress of over-collection. These cooking fires can also be a source of much pollution and a great concern to health. CBF distributes solar cooking stoves to the villages in conjunction with an education program for women as to their operation and use.
Education: To enable the youth of these villages to adapt to modernity and thrive as both traditional and modern people, it is essential for the children to receive an education. To many children and their families, it is of primary importance. Not all families can afford this, given the nature of their lives. Qualifying children are given whatever assistance we can provide, such as paying school fees, supplies and clothing to attend. Currently, we provide education to 8 children and anticipate sponsoring more. In addition, we provide solar-charged LED reading lights to all students; providing illumination for them to read at night. This eliminates the need for candles and oil for lamps so the money can be used for other school and living needs. Incidentals for education are also provided, such as pencils and paper.
Food: There is always a continuing need for food, such as grain and animal protein. We provide support to families and villages in urgent need of such provisions. This includes giving seeds from local fields to plant, supplying bags of grains to families without food, animals to be raised for food and in exchange of goods, and tools to work the fields.
Housing: We continue to support families who cannot afford to build or repair their own homes. Most homes are built traditionally of mudbrick adobe from the riverbank, and require skilled craftsmen to demolish or repair damaged homes. We work with local craftsmen to support them in their craft in assistance to families and communities.
Community Engagement: We interface with local, community, and government agencies, as well as other international non profit organisations, to assist in the development and implementation of our mission. Clearly, none of this is possible on a larger scale without such cooperation.
What is most apparent and critical for such an adventure to succeed is the quality of implementation of the infrastructure. This foundation has been established by co-creating with people who have the vision, resources and integrity that are essential for such a grand undertaking to come to fruition. We continue to reach out to those willing to share this vision and change the lives of so very many people.
With deep appreciation and gratitude,
Floyd Striegel
President
Cultural Bridge Foundation, Inc.
One pivotal event during this first trip happened the day I was unexpectedly left alone in a remote village and was taken in by a 106-year-old African Male Elder. Because of this Elder, I met a young man that was to become my guide and translator for many years, furthering my first-hand cultural education and deepening my relationships in the villages.
Over the course of the next 2 years, this Elder requested my return to Africa. These return journeys took me into other tribes and villages where I met families and was taken in as one of their own. I ate their food, slept in their villages, and witnessed their day-to-day living experiences; how they prepared their fields turning the soil with plow and oxen, collected the wood for their cooking fires, lifted water from the deep open-pit wells, and prepared their food in outdoor kitchens. Certain nights I slept on flat adobe roofs and others, in small adobe rooms with tin roofs. Healers shared how they helped the men, women and children, and we discussed both traditional healing and also the lack of certain modern western medicines. By the time the loving Elder died in his 108th year, many relationships had been created with many different tribes, Elders, villages and their peoples.
With each subsequent journey to Africa, I began returning with suitcases filled to the brim with items to assist the villagers; over-the-counter medicines and first aid items, solar lights and pencils for school children, LED flashlights, soccer balls, mosquito netting, modern electronics such as computers and cameras, and other donated items such as clothing. With each visit to a family and village, sacks of corn and rice were purchased, as were certain animals, to be offered and given for nourishment to the villages. The items brought from America we appropriately shared and were freely given in the spirit of friendship and family. I saw and witnessed many lives touched by this generosity.
This outreach continued and grew as I was requested to build and repair several homes, provide medical aid for those needing medication and hospitalization, and assist with the education of young children. In looking at the issues the people of Africa faced in their daily lives, it became evident that certain items of modern technology, as determined by the local community and village Elders themselves, would certainly serve their fundamental needs without compromising their indigenous customs and beliefs. It was in light of this that a vehicle was purchased to provide added productivity and efficiency to benefit the expansion and support of this mission, and another project was undertaken successfully to acquire and buy a small used tractor to assist in growing food for one village. It was at this point that Cultural Bridge Foundation, Inc. was conceived and implemented, and continues to serve communities today.
As this community-based organization continues to grow and develop, we set our outreach goals on the following areas:
Medical: One of the greatest needs in all villages is for various types of medical assistance. As malaria is so prevalent, and a pressing danger to so many, we focus on the disbursement of mosquito netting and malaria medication when needed. We acquire and deliver basic medical supplies, over the counter medications, and first aid kits. In some cases we support financial needs for hospital visits and hospitalization, including transportation from remote villages and medication. We support traditional healers in practicing indigenous medicine and plant medicine.
Water Well installation and Clean Water Initiatives: Clean, healthy drinking and cooking water is crucial to living in a Sub-Saharan climate. Rainfall only occurs during the monsoon season and water wells provide the majority of village water. Open water wells need be capped and hand pumps provided. We engage in well installation, well improvement and construction projects, and community well and water education projects. We provide provide ceramic water filters and other safe chemical water treatment systems such as chlorine dioxide and colloidal silver purification to remove harmful fungus, bacteria, mold, and parasites. Well constructed well sites and appropriate water treatment plans dramatically improve the health of communities and ease both physical labor and medical burden.
Solar Panel and Solar Reading Lights: We seek to supply our sponsored students, their families, and different village families with small solar panels (able to charge mobile phones and run small electronics) and durable solar reading lights. Access to solar light creates extra opportunity for families and students and provides and alternative to burning harmful oils, gas, or precious wood just for light.
Solar Cooking Stoves: Immense amounts of time and energy are spent in any given day for the village women collecting firewood for their cooking fires, in a landscape feeling the stress of over-collection. These cooking fires can also be a source of much pollution and a great concern to health. CBF distributes solar cooking stoves to the villages in conjunction with an education program for women as to their operation and use.
Education: To enable the youth of these villages to adapt to modernity and thrive as both traditional and modern people, it is essential for the children to receive an education. To many children and their families, it is of primary importance. Not all families can afford this, given the nature of their lives. Qualifying children are given whatever assistance we can provide, such as paying school fees, supplies and clothing to attend. Currently, we provide education to 8 children and anticipate sponsoring more. In addition, we provide solar-charged LED reading lights to all students; providing illumination for them to read at night. This eliminates the need for candles and oil for lamps so the money can be used for other school and living needs. Incidentals for education are also provided, such as pencils and paper.
Food: There is always a continuing need for food, such as grain and animal protein. We provide support to families and villages in urgent need of such provisions. This includes giving seeds from local fields to plant, supplying bags of grains to families without food, animals to be raised for food and in exchange of goods, and tools to work the fields.
Housing: We continue to support families who cannot afford to build or repair their own homes. Most homes are built traditionally of mudbrick adobe from the riverbank, and require skilled craftsmen to demolish or repair damaged homes. We work with local craftsmen to support them in their craft in assistance to families and communities.
Community Engagement: We interface with local, community, and government agencies, as well as other international non profit organisations, to assist in the development and implementation of our mission. Clearly, none of this is possible on a larger scale without such cooperation.
What is most apparent and critical for such an adventure to succeed is the quality of implementation of the infrastructure. This foundation has been established by co-creating with people who have the vision, resources and integrity that are essential for such a grand undertaking to come to fruition. We continue to reach out to those willing to share this vision and change the lives of so very many people.
With deep appreciation and gratitude,
Floyd Striegel
President
Cultural Bridge Foundation, Inc.