From the Blue Communities Kene Elou Te (Switzerland) and Réseau Ecole RadioChico (Mali):
The Swiss Blue Community Kene Elou Te, together with its partner Blue Community Réseau Ecole RadioChico in Mali, its coordinator Souleymane Guindo, and the children of Ecole RadioChico – Kene Elou Te Mali, a small book has been created:
“Graines de joie (seeds of joy) – From the children of Mali for the children of the world”.
In this little book, the children tell in their own words what they have learned – about gardens, nutrition, health, community, peace, and also about the respectful use of water.
Many of their experiences are closely linked to the values of the Blue Community.
The manuscript is now in its first draft and is continuing to grow – with drawings and additional contributions from the children.
The children on the cover live in Telly, in Dogon Country. The small plants they hold in their hands grew from seeds from the children’s garden in Kambila. Thus, a seed became a link between the villages.
Dedication
To all the children
who seek paths to peace.
To those who plant seeds
even when the ground seems hard.
To those who share
what they learn
with other children.
And to all those
who believe
that a small gesture
can change the world.
With the children of the RadioChico School – Kene Elou Te – Mali
Alongside Annemarie Koch and Souleymane Guindo
Foreword
This book was born from a simple yet profound idea: children can learn a great deal from one another.
In the villages of Mali, children began to share their experiences: how to cultivate a garden, how to protect their health, how to save seeds for the next season, and how to work together for peace in their community. Gradually, these experiences became stories, reflections, and advice that the children want to share with other children around the world.
This book is not just a book about children.
It is a book written with their voices.
Each child contributes a small seed of experience.
Together, these seeds become a garden of ideas.
Vision – A Seed That Travels
One day, the children of KeneElouTe in Mali began to plant seeds.
They planted tomatoes, basil, lemongrass, and corn.
But without realizing it, they also planted something else.
An idea.
Today, we imagine these little stories traveling far and wide. We see the children of Mali with their book
in their hands.
And we also imagine children in other countries—in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and elsewhere.
Children reading these pages in their own language.
Children discovering that with a little soil, a few seeds, and a lot of courage, life can grow.
Perhaps a child will read this book and plant their first seed.
And perhaps that seed will become a garden.
Thus, the seeds of joy will continue to travel.
