inland x babaà scholarship program

In 2021 we launched our first Shepherd’s Sale to help raise funds for INLAND’s Escuela de Pastores, in partnership with CEAR (Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado) and we have continued this year, raising many more funds. We are so happy for the important work INLAND does, giving participants the very important chance to connect to the community and the earth while learning the ancient skills of Shepherding.

Mohamed Akhlifa and Serigne Cheikh Ndiaye are the first students to graduate from INLAND’s Shepherds School (Escuela de Pastores 2021) program through scholarships provided by babaà from the funds we raised in 2021.

“Dos de los alumnos becados para Escuela de Pastores 2021, Mohamed Akhlifa y Serigne Cheikh Ndiaye, recién licenciados. Llegaron a la península con muchas dificultades, y no ha estado la cosa mucho más facil ya en nuestro país. Su pasión y buenhacer en el cuidado de los animales les ha llevado a optar por esta formación y profesión a futuro. Alumnos excelentes, seguro que encontraremos un trabajo con algún rebaño pronto para ellos! El campo y la sociedad europea ha de estar abierta y reconocer a personas que como ellos mantendrán pueblos vivos y soberanía alimentaria.” Fernando Garcia Dory, founder of INLAND

Fernando asked Mohamed to tell us a little more about his experiences, you can read some of his answers below (which have been condensed for clarity and translated into English).

-What brought you to sign up for school?

I signed up because I love learning everything about animals and I would love to live in the countryside and be able to work in that environment.

-Did you have previous experience?

Yes, I used to live with my family in Morocco, with my grandparents, and work with goats, sheep and cows.

-What do you think it brings you for the future?

The shepherds school helps me for many reasons mainly because I have learned lots of things like how to lead sheep along fields and in the mountains and how to machine milk. In Morocco with my family we would only milk animals by hand. I have also learned how to look after sheep and to know what to do if an animal gets sick, to be able to give injections in time if needed. For my future the shepherds school helps me a lot as I would love to be able to work in the countryside and have my own goat flock.

-What did you like most in the school and of your current life working in Inland?

I like how INLAND people treat me, they are very nice and good people. I also love being around sheep in the countryside. I am thankful I can learn so much while living outside the city.

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Thank YOU to all who participated in the Shepherds Sale, we are grateful for you and being able to raise funds for the extraordinary work INLAND and CEAR ( Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado) are doing. We are so honored to be able to contribute in this way x