About FOG

With another year of COVID-19 and suspended Peace Corps activities, 2021 provided FOG a time to reflect and place energy on ways to achieve our mission and assist Peace Corps Guinea. Activities this year included focusing on potential partnerships and collaborations with like-minded organizations. To this end, we met with the Amadou Diallo Foundation, an organization based in the U.S., and the Association des Jeunes pour la Defense des Droits des Enfants (AJDE), a Guinean NGO which was founded by a Guinean RPCV. FOG also provided assistance to one in-country project this year, providing funding to assist the Orphanage Regina Maris in Conakry. The project was led by Thee Bee Project, a US based NGO that assists disadvantaged Guinean women and children. 

Our collaborative work with Peace Corps Guinea included assisting with the promotion of two important projects: a COVID-19 vaccination sensitization video campaign and Peace Corps Guinea’s virtual volunteering pilot project for 2022. The video campaign featured awareness messages by Guinea RPCVs in local languages to Guinean communities to support the vaccination campaign launched by the Guinean government. FOG reached out to members and used social media to help amplify the messages.

2021 was also Peace Corp’s 60th anniversary, and FOG launched a project to collect RPCV stories of “Where are You Now?” We hope to use these stories, through our social media and blog, to highlight the accomplishments of Guinea RPCVs.

FOG provided a steady presence on social media via Twitter and Facebook, through Guinea-related cultural information and current events. To increase member engagement and show recognition of FOG Officers, we created a campaign spotlighting our officers. FOG hopes to continue this campaign into 2022 to recognize new officers. We also created an impact sheet (see attachment), highlighting FOG’s impact and accomplishments.

FOG experienced a few Board Officer changes for this year. We welcomed Kerry Johnson (Officer-at-Large) our most seasoned officer, having served with Peace Corps Guinea during three separate occasions. Katherine Boyle (Secretary) completed her service with FOG. Recruiting efforts were underway to bolster our board to full capacity.

FOG membership stands at approximately 300. For social media presence, FOG has reached over 1K 880 Facebook members and Twitter followers.

2020 was an unprecedented year world-wide due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. On March, 15, 2020, Peace Corps made the decision to temporarily suspended all Peace Corps activities globally and evacuated all volunteers for the first time in its history. 

FOG saw this year as a time to provide support to the evacuated Guinea PCVs through continued outreach via email and social media. One example of this effort was offering evacuated volunteers opportunities to meet virtually for language practice and to have conversations in French, Malinke, Susu, Pulaar and/or Kissi. FOG also represented at NPCA’s virtual Town Hall for affiliate groups to gain ideas on how best to help evacuated Guinea PCVs during this transition.

This year, which has seen Black Lives Matter campaigns against violence and systemic racism toward Black people, has also given FOG the opportunity to make a statement of solidarity in social and racial justice and offer support, by calling on members and communities to stand united and work together for change. To that end, FOG chose to support the Amadou Diallo Fund.

While activities that FOG normally carries out, such as the Small Grants Fund and supporting partner projects such the Hope of Guinea annual STEAM Camp, were put on pause, FOG maintained communication with current partners and reached out to other contacts with similarly aligned missions to develop future partnerships.

FOG also took this time to focus on internal organizational development. There were ongoing efforts to update its website to make it more user-friendly and concise. FOG provided a steady presence on social media via Twitter and Facebook, providing Guinea-related cultural information and current events. FOG is now registered on Amazon Smiles, which is a helpful addition to fundraising efforts.

FOG experienced changes to their Board Membership as well. The Secretary position transitioned from Anne Sites to Katherine Boyle, and both Lisa Hoffmann (Membership) and Laur Ebone (Communications) completed their service to FOG. This offers opportunities for new FOG Board Members in 2021. FOG membership stands at 350 and has just over 880 Facebook members.

Two new officers joined the Friends of Guinea leadership team in 2019: Lisa Hoffman as Membership Director and Laur Ebone as Communications Director. Laur also attended the NPCA annual conference, Peace Corps Connect, in 2019 and represented Friends of Guinea. 

Friends of Guinea initiated a project in December 2019 to increase our connection with Guinea PCVs. Plans are in place to complete this project in January 2020 — stay tuned!

Friends of Guinea (FOG), a National Peace Corps Association affiliate group, is a volunteer-run nonprofit organization consisting mainly of current and returned Peace Corps volunteers serving in Guinea, and their friends and families that aims to, among other goals, work towards the longterm development of Guinea by supporting and initiating worthy projects. Friends of Guinea (FOG)’s activities in 2018 included development of the FOG small grants fund. Launched in May 2018, the on-line small grant application process allows Peace Corps Volunteers and charitable organizations in Guinea to apply for one-time, small project grants of up to $500 to support people and organizations which provide direct benefits to the people of Guinea. During 2018, several applications were received, resulting in one project funded and others scheduled for funding in early 2019. FOG is excited to see this enthusiastic response to the small grants fund! FOG also focused on increasing partnerships during 2018, with connections made to US-based organizations affiliated with or interested in Guinea. FOG Advocacy Officer connected with Afrikan Unity, an organization led by a fellow Guinea RPCV, the Amadou Diallo Fund, and the Motherland Rhythm. In 2018, FOG continued its partnership with Hope of Guinea and provided support to HOG’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Camp in Conakry. FOG’s membership holds steady at 246 individuals at the end of 2018. During the year, FOG maintained communication with members primarily through social media presence on Facebook and LinkedIn and FOG’s website, www.friendsofguinea.org. FOG retired its quarterly newsletter “CaVa” in 2018, with the last newsletter published in April 2018. 2018 was also a year marked with transitions. Many FOG members were saddened by the news of the passing of El Hadj Thiam, Peace Corps Guinea Deputy Director during 1986 – 2003, and James Boucher, friend of Peace Corps Guinea and renowned batik artist. Numerous tributes publish on FOG social media pages and in the April newsletter, attesting to and remembering fondly Mr. Thiam and James’ many contributions to Guinea and Peace Corps. FOG Board Members, Alex Yalch (Membership) and Hannah Koeppl (Newsletter Editor), completed their service to FOG during 2018, offering opportunities for new Board members to come forward.

In 2017 Friends of Guinea (FOG) made significant progress in formalizing its organization. Having been incorporated in 2016, FOG worked diligently throughout 2017 on the application process for 501c3 status. FOG is happy to report that this status was approved by the IRS in early 2018. 

For the 3rd year in a row, a FOG representative attended the Peace Corps Connect Conference. This has been a valuable networking and educational opportunity for FOG. This year it was held in Denver, and FOG also sponsored a happy hour fundraiser there during the conference. A similar happy hour fundraiser was also organized by FOG in New York City later in the year. 

FOG was proud to support Hope of Guinea’s STEAM Camp in Conakry in July not only with a financial contribution, but also with the volunteer efforts of one of our officers onsite. The camp was a joint effort between 4 Hope of Guinea staff members, 10 Peace Corps Volunteers, 15 Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and 5 Guinean teachers. Fun and engaging experiments/activities in the areas of math, chemistry, biology, physics, and art were conducted. Thirty-two students in grades 7 – 9 were able to take advantage of this camp, with over half of them female. FOG’s officer onsite, Hannah Koeppl, noted that “the sense of curiosity, wonder, and pure potential was electric.” 

Much progress was made in 2017 in growing FOG’s advocacy infrastructure by creating a small-grant application. Indeed, FOG plans to launch the process for this small-grant application in 2018. Peace Corps Volunteers and charitable organizations in Guinea will be able to apply for assistance from FOG in a thorough, streamlined manner via our website. 

To date, FOG’s membership totals 255 individuals. FOG experienced significant growth in its membership in 2017. Indeed, its total membership has nearly doubled within the last 3 years! FOG maintains its communication efforts with its members via its social media presence, regular publication of its newsletter, and continuous improvements of its information-rich website. 

With a growing membership, full 501c3 status, and the upcoming launch of its new small-grant application process, FOG is ready for additional growth and impact in Guinea. 

2016 was a productive year for Friends of Guinea (FOG). Much planning and paperwork was

accomplished by its leadership team to make headway in its application for 501c3 status. FOG is very

happy to report it is now an officially licensed non-profit in Washington, D.C., and IRS approval of its

501c3 status is anticipated by the end of 2017.

For the second year, FOG was represented at the Peace Corps Connect Conference in September. During

the conference, FOG was very proud be a recipient of the NPCA Loret Miller Ruppe Award for

Outstanding Community Service, for its leadership — along with the Friends of Liberia and Friends of

Sierra Leone — in funding and operating the Ebola Relief Fund in 2014. FOG framed its award and gifted

it to Peace Corps Guinea in Conakry, as a symbol of solidarity and gratitude.

2016 was also a milestone year for Peace Corps Guinea, which saw the return of dozens of Peace Corps

Volunteers (PCVs) in-country, after the 2014 evacuation due to the Ebola outbreak. To ensure its

communication with PCVs as well as all friends of Guinea, FOG continues to publish a strong quarterly

newsletter. This publication features topics about Guinea including environmental concerns and

projects, the status of female genital mutilation (FGM), current events, updates from the Peace Corps

office in Conakry, and much more.

FOG is represented on social media via LinkedIn, Twitter, a blog, and Facebook. For the latter, FOG has

revamped its Facebook presence to allow for improved dialogue. In addition, FOG gave its website an

update with fresh photos and content. Indeed, FOG recently published its bylaws and posted them to its

website.

FOG happy hours were conducted in Washington, D.C. and Denver to give regional FOG members an

opportunity to connect in person and raise funds for FOG-supported projects.

With approval of its 501c3 status on the horizon, and a small-grant application process being

established, FOG is poised for growth and greater impact in Guinea.

2015 was another year of growth for Friends of Guinea (2015). We increased our membership, social media presence, and provided our members with a regular quarterly newsletter. Our work with the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) Ebola Relief Fund also continued. In addition to monetary support, FOG representatives served on the NPCA Ebola Relief Fund’s steering committee to help review and select aid groups in Guinea to receive funding. FOG also conducted a fundraising drive in 2015, and made a $1000.00 gift to Dare to Innovate. Dare to Innovate is a non-profit group run by RPCVs which provides support to young entrepreneurs with creative and inspiring ideas to promote social growth and change in Guinea. 

FOG officers also have been networking with other West African “friends” organizations to glean ideas for further growth and expansion. This led to our decision to pursue a 501c3 status. The new year has already seen some preliminary goals met in this direction. Other networking efforts included sending a FOG representative to the Peace Corps Connect Conference in California. 

The FOG officer ranks have also expanded with the successful recruitment of two Advocacy Co-Chairs. With this addition of human resources, as well as the 501c3 goal in sight, FOG is poised for continual growth and impact in the future. 

2014 was a year of growth and transition for Friends of Guinea (FOG). After a couple of years of struggling with much turnover in our leadership, FOG secured 3 additional officers – giving us vitally-needed human resources to update our website, expand our social media presence, and begin to revamp our membership and communication practices. For example, FOG recruited a Guinea Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV) early in 2014 to blog for FOG – thus providing a much needed voice from the field to update our membership. This became even more important as Guinea found itself in the world’s spotlight due to the tragic outbreak of the Ebola Virus. 

FOG responded to this crisis by joining forces with Friends of Sierra Leone and Friends of Liberia on the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) – sponsored Ebola Relief Fund. FOG recruited recently-COSed Guinea PCVs (volunteers who have recently ended their Peace Corps service) to represent FOG on the steering committee. These individuals provided essential contacts, field experience, and French language skills to help review and select aid groups in Guinea to receive funding. FOG also donated $500.00 to the fund, and encouraged participation from its membership via social media and other communications. In addition, FOG wrote a letter of support to the people of Guinea, in both French and English, which was distributed via social media as well as in Guinea via the assistance of the Peace Corps Office in Conakry. 

Earlier in the year, FOG donated $150.00 to Books for Africa, a PCV –sponsored project. Even without PCVs in country currently, 28,000 books in French arrived in Conakry during February 2015 and will be distributed to community libraries throughout the country. 

FOG is greatly looking to 2015, and the New Year has already brought us a presence on Facebook, the revival of our newsletter, and a marked increase in our membership, surpassing 200 members as of December 2014 and plans to continue growth in 2015. 

Launched the new FOG website, including asking members to sign up on the new website

Created a new FOG board

Embarked on a major website revision to revitalize the organization

Communications

My main activities in 2008 concentrated around maintaining and updating the FOG blog. This took on particularly significance in late December following the death of Lansana Conte and the resultant coup d’Etat. The blog seemed to see a big uptick in reader activity during that time.

Newsletter

Since taking over the duties of Newsletter Editor in March 2008, I have produced three issues of the quarterly newsletter CaVa? on schedule (5/15, 8/15, and 11/15). I am currently working on the February 2009 issue. All three editions were between six and eight pages long and included interesting articles and information on Guinea, PC Guinea, and RPCVs from Guinea. 

In October, I secured the donation of a gently used laptop computer to compliment the purchase of a new LCD projector by FOG. The items were donated to the Amazonian Bi-lingual School in Conakry. In December, I traveled to Guinea and delivered these good to the school in a short ceremony. I also delivered 14 DVDs FOG had purchased to the Conakry PC Volunteer House. 

Secretary

I ran quarterly meetings, including setting the agenda and scheduling, though only 2 quarterly meetings took place this year.  I coordinated the sale of 2009 calendars, getting about $500 for FOG.  I coordinated and submitted the NPCA re-affiliation for 2008 and am compiling it for 2009.  I fielded numerous inquiries from our email address.  Since Klatha.com was not forthcoming with requested changes on the website, I found a friend to do the requisite changes (a captcha to keep spam out of the registry, and to change the email address on the FOG dump file) and located an external web consultant to help Nathan with items that he needs technical assistance on.  

We got the following information from Mackenzie on her visit to Guinea:

PCTs arrive bi-annually, in July (education) and December (other sectors). They are averaging about 30 per group right now. They are up to 87 PCV/PCTs in country right now. COS conferences take place bi-annually also (April/May for the education and September for other sectors), although this one coming up will be the first in a while since the evacuation two years ago set things off kilter. The new PCTs swear in soon…they just found out their sites. 

The PCVs I spoke with still didn’t know much about FOG, but hopefully having our stickers on the DVDs will spark some interest.

GPS

• G16 (July 08) listserv currently has 48 participants.
• G17 (Dec 08) listserv currently has 59 participants.
• Two parent mentors are assisting in managing and providing information to these listservs: Diane Carlson and Eleanor Hoagland. Diane is already a FOG mentor; I suggest adding Eleanor.
• We are maintaining 12 GPS listservs. I believe we should tap these resources for FOG participation or membership, calendar sales, other fund raising, and project contributions.

Projects:

The PCPP donating process has been simplified.  

I learned about PCPP’s “Country Fund” which would leave surplus funds for any Guinea project, but it seems unnecessary if we continue to get timely updates from PCPP.  CD Daniel Evans did not seem interested in providing more oversight for this, although he does seem, in general, supportive of FOG’s activities.  

We sold calendars this year for a profit of $554.  This year people bought 10-20 calendars and sold them locally, reducing shipping costs and resulting in larger profit and less headache.

2008 was an important year politically for Guinea.  Lansana Conte died on December 24.

FOG was involved in funding 4 projects.

• First, FOG provided some classroom technology to a private school for refugees in Conakry.  This school was started by the Amazonian Initiative, and is a parochial school that instructs in both English and French.  The students are a mix of Guinean, Sierra Leonian, and Liberian.  We provided a new projector and 2 gently used laptops (procured by Mackenzie) to help computer instruction.  The total cost of the donation was $846.  Mackenzie Pfeifer brought all the items to Conakry during the Christmas holiday.  She also agreed to be the contact person for follow-up with the school’s administrators.
• We also helped fund 2 projects volunteers are currently working on in Guinea.  One of these is a project that will repair a school roof in a village.  This project was done by PCV Samantha Levin a Public Health Volunteer.  FOG donated $400 to this project and is waiting for feedback from the PCV.
• The second PCV project is a project aims at the development of an eco-tourism site in the Fouta.  This project was designed by PCV Catherine (Katy) Murtaugh, a Small Enterprise Development Volunteer  We donated $1000 to this project and we are waiting for feedback.
• Finally, we gave the Volunteers in Guinea 14 new DVDs to update the collection in the Conakry house, per request of the PCVs, at a total cost of $206.  

Donated $2600 to Partage Quebec-Guinee, which financed the shipment of about 15,000 books to Delaware, from which they were transported to Guinea by the mining company ALCOA.

After this donation, we received a note from Robert Dykes of PQG:  “”This shipment will be very close to that symbolic container which allows us to say we have covered, during the first decade of our efforts, to provide books to every village with a school in every sous-préfecture of Guinea! I am glad that you can
share the pride of that symbolic moment with us. I thank you very sincerely for your contribution and I ask that you extend the appreciation of the staff and
volunteers of Partage Québec-Guinea to all of the members of FOG who have helped Guinea in person the past and who now continue to help indirectly in these efforts to support the efforts of Guineans help themselves.”

• Donated $3000 to a water pump project in Upper Guinea, through Peace Corps Partnerships, that provided safe, clean drinking water to a village of 1650 people

• Advocated successfully for the continued funding of the Gender Conferences via Peace Corps Partnership, despite new regulations that would have discontinued it.
• Donated $7300 to Gender Conferences
• Started the FOG Blog at http://friendsofguinea.blogspot.com/
• Donated $100 to GuineeNews
• Created listservs for RPCV and PCT groups from 1960 to 2007
• Sold Peace Corps calendars as a fundraiser ($450 profit)

• Auctioned Guinean cloth for a fundraiser ($127 profit)
• Sold Peace Corps calendar as a fundraiser ($684 profit)
• Donated $8786 to Gender Conferences
• Began to send the FOG newsletter to PCVs in country via diplomatic pouch
• Donated $200 to GuineeNews
• Photos published in Kennedy Center Cuesheet on Guinean drumming and dance
• Gave the FOG website a brand new look!
• Donated $300 to Partage Quebec Guinea (PQG)

• $71 to Wayne Kleck’s World Map Project
• Awarded $1000 in NPCA’s Continuation of Service Grant for use in Gender Conferences
• Revamped the FOG website (again!)
• Raised $8786 for the 2005 Gender Conferences
• Kelly Hamblin Health Center Organizational Project ($91.50)
• $500 to Meghan Greeley’s Koundian Library
• Donated $300 to Partage Quebec Guinea (PQG)
• Acted as a liaison with PQG to arrange for physics books to be sent to Timbi Touni
• Donated an additional $200 to Guineenews
• Sold the 2005 Peace Corps calendars

• Our “What To Bring” list was mentioned in the December 2003 issue of Real Simple Magazine.
  First Place Website Award from NPCA, 2003.
• Donated $200 to the small site, Guineenews, which provides news and information on Guinea to those living outside its borders
• Sent $510 to Partage Quebec Guinea (PQG), to support their efforts to send books to Guinea. This included $110 from the Guinean disapora in Cincinnati.
• Transported 110 french books (offered by RPCV Sally Decco) to PQG, to be sent to PC Guinea.
• Served as a liaison between PQG and the PCV-sponsored Diountou Library project, resulting in a donation of books to that library.
• Donated $110 to PCV Ann Clayton’s Basic Hospital Materials Project, to purchase items such as a stethoscope and baby scale.
• Donated $150 to Carrie Mitchell’s Landouma Public Health Translation Project, to translate health information into local language and bring the information to villagers.
• Created French version of website (partial) and membership sign-up form.
• Served as a clearinghouse for over $700 in donations to Hawa Barry’s family, a Guinean woman living in Boston who was shot in the abdomen while pregnant.
• $4950 in FOG account, plus $2500 set aside for 2005 Girls Conferences. Yearly expenses are $1500.
• Created a graphic logo for website, newsletter, and stationary, with the help of RPCV Mara Hayes.
• Advocated against the closure of the regional PCV houses, and gathered information so as to inform the FOG community.
• Sold 2004 Peace Corps calendars

• Donated $200 to the small site, Guineenews, which provides news and information on Guinea to those living outside its borders
• Helped fundraise $10,000 for the 2003 Girls Conferences
• Started the Guinea Parent Support (GPS) groups, providing support and liaisons for new Parents of Guinea volunteers.
• Total income of $4,643.39 (Membership $3,379). Total expenses of $663.54
• Doubled membership to 120 members
• Established an arrangment with Guineenews such that we may use their news releases on our listservs and newsletter.
• Established strong contact with Peace Corps Guinea, including sharing of newsletters
• Established strong contact with the Guinea Country Desk in Washington DC, to inform prospective PCVs and their parents about FOG.
• Sold 2003 Peace Corps calendars ($1,120 revenue)

• FOG officially launched in Feruary 2001
• Helped fundraise $7,000 for the 2002 Girls Conferences
• Acquired the domain name, friendsofguinea.org, and moved the page to a permanent server at klatha.com
• Re-vamped the online RPCV directory, including adding searching functions.
• Created the online membership signup form
• Sold 2002 Peace Corps calendars

• Created the online RPCV directory
• Incorporated in the state of North Carolina
• Affiliated with the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) as an affiliate group
• Sold 2001 Peace Corps calendars
• Created a board of directors and job descriptions for board members

• FOG organization was created