The Tandana Foundation

10/22/2026

Officially less than one month away! 🎉💛

We're getting closer to celebrating 20 years of friendships, partnerships, and communities coming together through The Tandana Foundation!

Join us on November 21 in Bexley, Ohio, for an evening of celebration, connection, and looking back at the people and moments that have shaped Tandana's first 20 years.

Whether you've been part of Tandana's journey for years or are just getting to know us, we'd love to celebrate with you!

🎟️ Save your seat and join us:

Supporting achievement of community goals and addressing global inequalities through caring intercultural relationships

10/21/2026

💛 Monthly gifts can make a lasting impact.

From supporting displaced families and women's literacy programs in Mali to bringing clean water to communities in Ecuador, Tandana's work continues year-round.

Our Sustainers are dedicated supporters who give monthly, providing reliable funding that helps us plan ahead, sustain ongoing programs, and respond when urgent needs arise.

This Saturday, October 24, we're celebrating ✨ Sustainer Saturday ✨ with a special goal of welcoming 20 new Sustainers in honor of Tandana's 20th anniversary! Help us reach this milestone and continue making a difference all year long!

🌎 Want to give us a head start on reaching our goal? Visit the donation link below and select “Recurring Donation” to become a Sustainer today!

💚 Visit: www.tandanafoundation.org/donate-to-the-tandana-foundation

10/20/2026

What does intercultural dialogue look like beyond the classroom and in everyday life?

This Friday, October 23, Tandana's founder, Anna Taft, will join colleagues from Mali, Moussa Tembiné and Housseyni Pamateck, for a special conversation hosted by the Global Studies Center at Whitman College.

Together, they'll share their experiences working across cultural differences, the challenges they've navigated, and what they've learned through years of collaboration.

📅 This Friday, October 23 | Noon
📍 Third Space Center

If you're in the area, we'd love for you to join the conversation!

10/18/2026

The last post in a series by Hank Fincken, a long-time Tandana supporter and Summer School theatre teacher, is now live on The Tandana Foundation Blog. In this post, he catches up with committee members of the Gualapuro water project. Read it now!

This year, Hank Fincken, a long-time supporter of The Tandana Foundation, who usually teaches theater in the organization’s Summer School in Ecuador, had a new assignment: writing stories for The T…

10/16/2026

A little storytelling, music, dance, and a chance to experience Dogon culture from Mali! 🌍

If you're in the Mancos, area, join us on Tuesday, November 3 at 5:30 PM for a special evening celebrating the traditions and stories of Mali, while learning more about Tandana's work with displaced families.

All are welcome! 💛

10/15/2026

November is shaping up to be a busy month for Tandana! 💛

From connecting with our team members from Mali and Ecuador to celebrating 20 years of friendships and community partnerships, we have several opportunities coming up to gather, learn, and celebrate together.

🗓️ Here's what's on the calendar:

📍 November 12 | 5:00 PM
What If? Speaker Series
Ohio University | , OH

📍 November 16 | 2:00 PM
Tandana Overview
Wesley Glen | , OH

📍 November 16 | 4:30 PM
Cultural Activities
Bexley Library | Columbus, OH

🎉 November 21 | 6:30–9:00 PM
Tandana's 20th Anniversary Celebration
St. Charles Preparatory School | Bexley, OH

Whether you've been part of Tandana's journey for years or are just getting to know us, we'd love to see you at one (or more!) of these events.

Mark your calendars and come be part of the celebration!

10/14/2026

What started as learning a new craft is becoming a business of their own. 🧶 The women of Yambiro’s rug-hooking group in Ecuador have been building their skills, learning the ins and outs of running a business, and discovering what they can create together.

With materials and guidance shared by Tandana volunteers and supporters, they’re continuing to grow their craft and are proud of how far they’ve come. 💛

"At my age, there is no work available, but with this, I'm very happy... We're working for a reason—to do our small part, for our children." –Virginia Perugachi, rug hooking group member

Supporting achievement of community goals and addressing global inequalities through caring intercultural relationships

10/13/2026

A Note from Anna Taft, Tandana's Founding Director

"I want to thank you all for following our work, and I especially want to thank everyone who has donated recently to support our partners in Mali who have been displaced by terrorist violence. It is heartbreaking to know that many of our friends have faced attacks and had to leave their villages.

This terrible situation underscores the importance of Tandana's relational approach. Our friendship continues—no matter where our partners end up. Our team has been working to identify who has arrived in Bandiagara after leaving their villages and what their needs are. It is a process that has led to tearful reunions and gratitude for the fact that someone cares and has come to check on those experiencing new hardships.

We are supporting some of the newly displaced people in launching businesses, along with our ongoing program for displaced students. This fall, we are raising funds to provide a food program for a school serving hundreds of displaced children. While many of our partners are facing new challenges in new locations, they have brought with them the skills and confidence they have gained through their partnership with Tandana. I'm grateful to all of you who have made that growth possible and who continue to help us support our partners during this time of unexpected need."

💚 To support our friends in Mali, consider making a donation below:
form-renderer-app.donorperfect.io/give/displaced-families

10/11/2026

This year, longtime Tandana supporter Hank Fincken, who usually teaches theater in our Summer School in Ecuador, had a new assignment: writing stories for The Tandana Foundation Blog. In the following post, he visits a former Tandana scholarship student’s quail business. Read it now!

This year, Hank Fincken, a long-time supporter of The Tandana Foundation, who usually teaches theater in the organization’s Summer School in Ecuador, had a new assignment: writing stories for The T…

10/09/2026

📚 Back to class!

Tandana’s literacy team is getting ready to begin the second session of classes for the year. We’re looking forward to seeing students back in the classroom and continuing their learning journey. 💙