She suddenly realized how much she had changed over the course of a day and a half. Before she left yesterday morning,…
By Ariane Kirtley
My name tells my story: Ariane Alzhara Kirtley. Like Ariane in Greek mythology, I endeavor to help lead others to safety. Like Alzhara flowers, I blossomed in the wondrous Saharan wastelands. And in the footsteps of my family Kirtley — “over those hills” in Old Gaelic – I am driven by a compulsion to walk, seeking new adventures, discoveries and meaning. After obtaining a Bachelors in Anthropology and a Master of Public Health from Yale, I founded Amman Imman: Water is Life to help Africa’s indigenous populations. I am also the mother of Fassely, Soriya, and Indima. Similarly to how my parents raised my brother and me, we travel the globe as a family.
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Hearing the camels and donkeys arrive, Sadouan stepped out of her tent, holding baby Tahir in her arms. Her heart leaped for…
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The sun began to dip behind the horizon. Takat and Raichatou jumped off their donkeys; they were so eager to get home…
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Fada and Mouheini gathered the donkeys together so that Wasselkou could help tie the jerry cans onto their backs. The load was…
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“Come over here,” Fada beckoned them. Raichatou and Takat ran over to the faucets and splashed water over their faces, hands and…
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Completely worn out by the previous day, the girls slept until mid-morning, when the sun, already high in the sky, seared their…
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The cheikh listened with great empathy, while pretending to be otherwise occupied. When Mouheini had finished, he turned around, “Alhamdulillah, you are…
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“Who goes there?” A looming voice bellowed, before the children reached the hill. The voice belonged to Wasselkou, Cheikh Almoustapha’s right-hand man.…
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After a long moment of silence, Mouheini recounted the story of the boy at the well, “He was about our age, Fada.…
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“What will we do now?” Takat wailed, “I’m so scared. Where will we go tonight? How will we get water?” Fear and…
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