CURRENT EVENTS

August 2010 - Dan and Sam will return to Sierra Leone, maybe.

February 2010 - Dan and Josh will head to Sierra Leone. Josh will be attending school in Sierra Leone, and Dan will continue the work with the team and review new areas to expand the program.

September 2009 - Dan will return to Sierra Leone if funds are available to do so.
- goal: meet with Sierra Rutile to discuss cooperative efforts
- goal: work with child relief org to discuss ways we can mentor young students about business and farming
- goal: followup on loans

February 2009 - Dan returns to Sierra Leone to work with the CIP Sierra Leone team, reviewing all prior loans and discussing new loans. The team will be expanding into the Makrugba area, making a 50-goat loan to ten farmers, assisting in the re-introduction of livestock. Dan will also visit with the Kamara family of Magburaka (Desmond's parents), M.S. Conteh of Makeni (originally from Makrugba) who is the director of MADAM (an indigenous NGO), and many others in two weeks.

See the video by clicking here.

12/02/2009 - Depart US. Arrive London. Depart London for Sierra Leone
13/02/2009- Arrive at Lungi Airport and spend thenight at DS Gbla's resident.
14/02/2009- Cross over from Lungi by Ferry.
14/02/2009- Team meet at the Ferry Terminal,Kissy andleave for upcountry(Rochen)15/02/2009- Team visit Mamamu and environs and proceedto Moyorgbor and Kondobie to see and talk to projectbeneficiaries.
16/02/2009- Team meet with Rochen Junction,Murray Townproject beneficiaries and see project sites.Team visitRochen Kamandao Health Centre and talk to Nurse amdmanagement team.
17/02/2009- Team visit Kpetema to see intended projectand talk to community about CIP's activities.
17/02/2009- Team witness schools football match finalorganised by school authorities.
18/02/2009- Team witness female football match atRochen Kamandao.18/02/2009- Radio discussion on Radio Gbafth,mile 91.
19/02/2009- Team depart for Makali and Makrugba.
20/02/2009- Team meet with Makrugba goat projectbeneficiaries for experience sharing/discussions.
21/02/2009- Team return to Makali.
22/02/2009- Team leave for Magburaka,Makeni andFreetown.
23/02/2009-Team visit Immigration Office forregistration process.
24/02/2009- Dan meet with KDK,Philip and Dan.
25/02/2009- 26/02/2009- Others.

Lodging in Freetown We (Patricia and Manfred)have agreed that you stay atthe YMCA Guest House at Fort street which is morereasonable.i will inculde the cost in the budget forthe trip.


Below is the budget for the trip (once in Sierra Leone)
(A) Transportation
1.Vehicle maintenance = Le 600,000
2.Fuel(To and Fro)30 gallons @ Le 12,500 = Le 395,000
Total Le 975,000
(B) Food
1.Lungi = Le 20,000
2.Upcountry = Le 300,000
3.Freetown = Le 200,000
Total = Le 520,000
(C) Lodging in Freetown(YMCA)
1. 4 nights @ Le 40,000 Le 160,000

Total(A+B+C) = Le 1,655,000(Dollars 552)

Manfred

December 2008 - Board Member Desmond Sammy Kamara (currently at the University of Lethbridge but originally from Sierra Leone) will be arriving in Seattle for ten days. He will meet with CIP Board members, discuss plans for the future, and cook up some excellent Sierra Leonean food with Dan.

November 2008 - Manfred Musa reports from the field that most of the loans have successfully been made, with close followup by the team members. Manfred and Patricia have begun planning for Dan's return in February 2009. As funds become available, Manfred and the team will continue to analyze the requests and make loans on their own.

November 2008 - Heather Hull (Board Member of CIP) and Dan Lavin completed the application process for 501(c)(3) status in the United States. They obtained a federal tax identification number, became licensed in the State of Washington and in the City of Seattle. Now we wait for acceptance.

October 2008 - Dan traveled to Calgary, Canada to meet with the Fig Tree Foundation, presenting the five points of development to the Roundtable. Dan also made a presentation at the Petroleum Club in Calgary, teaching about sustainable concepts of development. Bree Gardner also participated at the Petroleum Club.

September 2008 - Dan Lavin and Bree Gardner returned to Sierra Leone to work with Manfred Musa, Patricia Turay, Henry B. Conteh, Mohamed Sankoh and Okomeh. As a team, they made 42 business loans, worked on educational toy program, assisted the community health center, made improvements to the sports program, started a second library, hired a librarian for the first library, started a solar experiment at the Rochen Library, met with many communities to explain CIP, and planned for the future.