Ossian Hall Park shows are overseen by Annandale activist Lassine Doumbia
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| Lassine Doumbia serves as the MC at Indonesian Cultural Night July 6. |
If you’ve been to a cultural heritage performance at Ossian
Hall Park in Annandale in the past few years, you might have noticed a tall guy
setting up the equipment, introducing the artists, and generally overseeing the
show.
Hall Park in Annandale in the past few years, you might have noticed a tall guy
setting up the equipment, introducing the artists, and generally overseeing the
show.
That’s Lassine Doumbia, a nearby resident who’s been
involved with the Friends of Mason District Park for years and has been helping
put on the summer concerts at Ossian Hall Park since 2007, when the series was
called Braddock Nights and held in the parking lot. He got involved because, “I
wanted to make an impact on my own community.”
involved with the Friends of Mason District Park for years and has been helping
put on the summer concerts at Ossian Hall Park since 2007, when the series was
called Braddock Nights and held in the parking lot. He got involved because, “I
wanted to make an impact on my own community.”
When the park was renovated in 2010, a small concert plaza
was built, and when the park was shifted from the Braddock District to Mason,
the Ossian shows were incorporated into the Spotlight by Starlight series.
Doumbia helps the Fairfax County Park Authority plan the summer
concerts at Ossian, which generally showcase the music of a particular culture, helps
with fundraising, and provides suggestions for musical groups. He also serves
as all-around caretaker at the park, reporting fallen trees and picking up stray
branches.
concerts at Ossian, which generally showcase the music of a particular culture, helps
with fundraising, and provides suggestions for musical groups. He also serves
as all-around caretaker at the park, reporting fallen trees and picking up stray
branches.
“For me, happiness is coming here, seeing people getting up
and dancing to the music,” Doumbia says. “These are the kinds of things that
bring me joy.”
and dancing to the music,” Doumbia says. “These are the kinds of things that
bring me joy.”
Doumbia’s sense of community spirit goes back to his youth
in a small farming village in the North African nation of Mali. It was a
16-mile bike ride to the nearest school, with two of his sisters on board, too, but
it was well worth the journey. Many of the villagers couldn’t read or write, so
they began asking Doumbia to read documents for them. “Right away I saw the
benefit of going to school. I felt I could do more,” he recalls.
in a small farming village in the North African nation of Mali. It was a
16-mile bike ride to the nearest school, with two of his sisters on board, too, but
it was well worth the journey. Many of the villagers couldn’t read or write, so
they began asking Doumbia to read documents for them. “Right away I saw the
benefit of going to school. I felt I could do more,” he recalls.
In rural Mali, the oldest son is usually expected to quit
school after the fifth-grade to work on the family’s farm. Doumbia persuaded
his father to let him continue his education in Mali’s capital, Bamako, where
he got a job as a dispatcher at the U.S. embassy and then worked for USAID while completing a degree in accounting.
school after the fifth-grade to work on the family’s farm. Doumbia persuaded
his father to let him continue his education in Mali’s capital, Bamako, where
he got a job as a dispatcher at the U.S. embassy and then worked for USAID while completing a degree in accounting.
Doumbia immigrated to the United States in 1981 and became a
U.S. citizen in 1986. Although he now works as a financial analyst for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, he has remained committed to community involvement—with
regard to his current home and his roots in Mali.
U.S. citizen in 1986. Although he now works as a financial analyst for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture, he has remained committed to community involvement—with
regard to his current home and his roots in Mali.
Soon after immigrating, he co-founded a nonprofit organization
called Jah Kente International, which brings African art, performances, and
education programs to schools and churches in Washington D.C.
called Jah Kente International, which brings African art, performances, and
education programs to schools and churches in Washington D.C.
And remembering the long trip to his school every day, he
began a project to build a school in his home village of Koungodjah. It started
with three mud-brick classrooms and has since grown to six classrooms built of
concrete, serving about 125 boys and girls ages 5 to 12.
began a project to build a school in his home village of Koungodjah. It started
with three mud-brick classrooms and has since grown to six classrooms built of
concrete, serving about 125 boys and girls ages 5 to 12.
His next project was building the Sibiry Doumbia Community Memorial Health Center in Koungodjah, and he’s now starting a micro-financing
program to help villagers get loans to start small businesses.
program to help villagers get loans to start small businesses.
“Going to an office and making money isn’t enough,” Doumbia
says. “I want more than that. I want to do more for the community.”
says. “I want more than that. I want to do more for the community.”
The free shows at Ossian Hall Park are every Saturday at 7:30
through Aug. 31. Next week’s show is Russian Cultural Heritage Night, and the
July 27 show features the culture of Bolivia. Bring a chair or a blanket and
enjoy the region’s artistic diversity.
through Aug. 31. Next week’s show is Russian Cultural Heritage Night, and the
July 27 show features the culture of Bolivia. Bring a chair or a blanket and
enjoy the region’s artistic diversity.
2 responses to “Ossian Hall Park shows are overseen by Annandale activist Lassine Doumbia”
Leave a reply
What a fabulous example of giving back to the community! Thank you, Lassine!
Current Projects
MALI
Mali is a large landlocked Sahelian country with a per capita income of about $850 and a population of 11.6 million, Mali's economy is based on activities linked to agriculture (cotton, livestock, and cereals) and mining (gold). About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Less than 4% of Mali's land area is arable; its arid northern half is largely unproductive Saharan desert. The Niger and Senegal river basins in the eastern and western portions of the country, respectively, support a variety of cash and subsistence crops. Large, vibrant, informal trading and commercial sectors characterize the few urban centers. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along with gold. Mali's chief development challenges are: a high growth rate (3.1% per year), a young, poorly educated population (66% illiterate); a largely subsistence level of agricultural production with limited infrastructure; an agriculture economy dependent on rain fall, and an inadequate health care delivery system (one doctor per 20,000). Child mortality and morbidity have reached crisis proportions.
Health
DIHS was established out of passion: The "Sibiry Doumbia Memorial Health Center" is in the Commune of Moutougoula in the Village of Kougodjan. The outpatient clinic is the site where DIHS's clinical personnel, health agents and traditional birth attendants are based administratively. The services provided by the clinic include an expanded program of immunization of children less than 5 years of age to protect them against diseases, pre and post natal health care for women of reproductive age, family planning services and counseling, and nutritional recuperation for severely malnourished children. Soon we will incorporate micro-nutrient supplements, HIV/AIDS and STD education, prevention, counseling and testing. In addition to one Medical Doctors who oversee the clinic, the clinic has a staff of two nurses, a nurse's aide and two traditional birth attendants, access to a laboratory technician, and a pharmacist. In coming months we expect to train 20-40 health agents and traditional birth attendants.
Many of the health issues faced by the Malian population can be ameliorated through changes in behavior. DIHS recognizes that an essential element to changing behavior is to apply a variety of techniques to make the general population aware of health risks. Special focus has been, therefore, given to children, young adults and women in the communities served. In December 2004, DIHS organized a workshop for the inhabitants of Koungodjan and neighboring villages to address the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, the importance of breast feeding, and the promotion of family planning. DIHS has commenced preventive care activities in the area of HIV/AIDS with youth retreats and follow-up sessions with youth clubs. In addition to promoting HIV/AIDS awareness, our clinic soon will begin testing individuals and provide counseling for those who are infected and affected by the deadly disease.
DIHS promotes Safe Drinking Water. As part of the program in Mali, a village mobilization component is being implemented to promote community dialogue and collective action around safe water and water treatment. DIHS is leading the implementation of this component. A major activity of this component includes community and household monitoring for water treatment behaviors and practices.