Toilets for Timbuktu!

by Andrew Williams | October 31, 2017 | 0 Comments

It's been a milestone week here in Hay on Wye as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the twinning of our town with Timbuktu in Mali. I'm sure there are many visitors (and perhaps even residents) who think that the African city must have approached us, but in fact it was Hay which had to apply to twin with Timbuktu, eventually winning their bid against York and Glastonbury who were also shortlisted. 

Since then there have been reciprocal visits and a variety of unusual fund-raising projects to mark the twinning project. 2012 saw a military coup and increased destabilisation in the region which has hampered some projects, but as time has progressed there are high hopes that further links between the two towns may be established. 

Hay2Timbuktu is the organisation in Hay which leads on the twinning process, and they held their AGM on the same night as the 10th anniversary celebrations. Our very own Louise has agreed to act as a Trustee for the charity again and there are some intriguing plans for the year ahead. 

The first project is a toilet twinning scheme called "Toilets4Timbuktu!" One of the things that schools in the city desperately need is new and refurbished toilets. Hay2Timbuktu is aiming to raise the money to rebuild the toilets at three secondary schools by the end of 2018.

If you want to donate, or find out more about the great work of Hay2Timbuktu, just visit the website!