PROJECT INITIATIVE MALI (PIM), NürtingenSelf-portrayal1 HISTORY OF ORIGIN / MOTIVATION: At the Nürtingen University of Applied Sciences, a weekly event "Development Aid" was originally conceived in 1982 as a practical supplement to the lecture "Development Economics" in the Department of Agricultural Economics and in the later postgraduate course in Cooperative Management / Development Economics. The original goal of this seminar was to to introduce students to development work through concrete and immediate tasks. The usual fundraising and services for large development aid structures do not allow for such direct and independent experience. On the other hand, in particular At a practice-oriented university, the examination of models leads to a confrontation with reality. The seminar initially functioned in the form of a student working group. At the end of its development phase (1985-86), an association registered and recognized as a non-profit organization for activities outside the university of applied sciences was founded in order to open up financing options (issuing donation receipts in particular) and to make it easier to appear in public (information stands in the Nürtinger pedestrian zone , participation in at least local working groups) and to expand membership. It was decided to limit the activities to a single country or to concentrate in one region in order to increase the efficiency of services. The Sahel was chosen because of its need and geographical proximity. After the general consular and diplomatic authorities of the Republic of Mali (then the 4th Poorest country in the world) promised us their constructive cooperation and support, the “Project Initiative Mali e.V” (PIM) came into being. Today, the General Consular Delegation of this country with the Sahel Countries Support Group is therefore the main sponsor of our initiative. STRUCTURES/GOALS/MODE OF WORKThe PIM branch groups in France (at the Institut Supérieur Agricole de Beauvais) and in Mali (Agricultural and Forestry University of Katibougou) provided the framework for active intercultural cooperation for all project suggestions, advice and implementation. PIM delivers Development aid activities in the classic area of material donations. Over the years, several tons of clothing (in collaboration with Caritas), hospital equipment (donations from the Herborn district hospital) and medicines (donations from the pharmaceutical industry) were transported by truck convoys, even once by the Air Force Sent to Mali. The members, who are always astonished, learn that many development aid structures do not act as they claim in their public relations work. They are also directly confronted with the complex administrative processes of development work at home and abroad. A long-term service of PIM is the technical support of the agricultural department at the Katibougou University of Applied Sciences. For this purpose, a so-called “Mali Garden” (barren soil, southern slope) set up. The Malian students in the PIM group there ask for seeds for various experiments (triticals and maize). Through PIM they introduced the culture of sunflower and soy to their country for the first time. The diplomatic suitcase of the Malian embassy in Paris is repeatedly used for sending seeds (e.g. For soybean cultivation, the soil must be “inoculated” with a certain bacteria. The introduction of the bacterial culture in a suspicious-looking, sealed plastic bag is at least inconvenient via the normal customs route. One of PIM's mainstays is the implementation of its own projects for the benefit of the general population. Under the motto “Environmental protection and agriculture” the expansion of village paddy rice gardens in the desertification-ravaged Niger Basin (initiated by the PIM Group in Mali) is underway. Sun pumps and irrigation systems are designed and set up by members. A third of the costs are always borne by the interested parties there (combatting the Christmas mentality), but we use their payment installments to reforest their surrounding area. Practical semesters and thesis research take place within this framework: construction of irrigation canals, protection of crops, combating large and small pests and fencing against thieves. There are also so-called “Active excursions” take place in Mali. Other missions that arise as needed are carried out by PIM. The Tuaregs who had fled from the north-east of Mali and were in need were supported in their neglected camps in Niamey (Niger) as part of an emergency aid program: medical assistance (hospital ward), procurement of medication, construction of huts, food donations and return assistance. PIM members came as interns for this project, which saved several children's lives with the total budget of 3.800 euros they raised. Further projects are being developed, implemented, completed and handed over. Despite the drastic decline in interest in the Third World, PIM continues to have an impact, esp. through its information role (publications) about the Third World and the supervision of development research activities (diploma theses and guest lectures, e.g. ultimately by Dr. W. Doering).
