Help us raise funds for Baba’s urgently needed surgery, scheduled for November 12 in France.

Our dear friend, Oumar Cisse, known to most of the world as Peace Corps Baba, needs our help.  Baba makes his living as an art merchant, living in Mopti, Mali.  He is an ambassador for Mail, traveling to neighboring countries, the US and Europe, selling ethnic jewelry and textiles of the many artisans of his country, and in the process supports hundreds of fellow Malians and their families. Baba’s life’s work has always been more than selling jewelry, beads and textiles. It is about serving people – uplifting, mentoring, inspiring, providing opportunity to the people of his area of the world. He is the selfless friend to the young and old who work with him, his neighbors,  to travelers who never forget him, to fellow exporters and importers. He is a legend throughout West Africa and a mention of him elicits immediate respect. There is no wonder why the Peace Corps honored him with his title of Peace Corps Baba.

Peace Corps Baba never asks for anything in return for all that he does. But now, he needs help. A couple weeks ago he was diagnosed liver cancer requiring medical attention immediately.  His surgery, which will be done in France, has been delayed until 55,000 Euro can be raised.  Recovery and treatment for this will be costly as well.  The need for this funding is very urgent!

Please join those of us who know and love him by donating what you can.  In addition to your contributions, we need you to pass this request on to people in your network, your face book friends, your blogs and tweets.  Many small donations will make it so we can reach or exceed our goal of raising $10k by October 24.

As a young man he worked as a language instructor to new Mali Peace Corps volunteers, and was encouraged by them to build a business out of the beaded jewelry he created. Over the past 30 years he has returned the benefits he received from PCV several hundred fold.  His selfless existence is in service of his people, his West African country, and the friends he has made from around the world.  He makes sure hundreds of Malian artisans have work and that Malian exports are known for their traditional origins and quality.  He is a peacemaker - the one that people come to solve property, family, and neighborhood disputes.  People line up in the evening outside of his home to talk to him asking for money for food for their families and opportunity to succeed – no one leaves without his encouragement and enough food or money to feed their family for the next day.

Peace Corps Baba is in love with life and gives of himself every waking hour. He is devoted to his family, a loyal friend, a national treasure and a model for what is right in the world.  At a time when Mali is experiencing devastating infrastructure deterioration, he cannot look to his neighbors and friends at home to help.  This man is most deserving. With many people providing a donation, we can put a significant dent in the expenses he is accruing to stabilize his health and continue to be the important person he is in the world.

 “Show your support for a great man, contribute TODAY and make TOMORROW a better world for one man, his family, our tribe, two nations, ONE WORLD!”  SS