"Postcards from Timbuktu" was started by some friends in 2016 with a mission to help unemployed tour guides gain an income after tourism ceased due to conflict.
🌍 Send a hand-written postcard from Timbuktu to anywhere in the world!
📮 Postcards start their journey from Timbuktu, then transported to Bamako, where they end up on a flight to France and onwards to their final destination.
✍🏼 In addition to several images of Timbuktu, you can also pick a hand drawn postcard, designed by a student, with additional proceeds going to their classroom.
Learn all about it at www.postcardsfromtimbuktu.com
+ 362 others joined this month
Comments
This is such a cool idea, especially in times when many of us have been isolated. This project has been featured in the media in recent months, so it's also fantastic to see this idea have such longevity.
And of course, people can send postcards to the team in Timbuktu, which are featured on their Instagram: www.instagram.com/postcardsfromtimbuktu/
This looks like a wonderful idea. It should happen in many other places! It's nice to see people sending back postcards to the tour guides in Timbuktu, too.
This is awesome
I received my postcard this week! It was so exciting opening the mailbox and receiving this postcard, sent from so far away! It took a few months to arrive (obviously) so it took a long route... but was well worth the wait.
I have fond memories of visiting Timbuktu a few years ago.
After 12 hours in an overloaded landcruiser I arrived in the magical old town. Once one of the world's largest and most prestigious cities and home to world's largest universities. Even despite the current ISIS war there I still get calls from tour guides in Timbuktu every few months.
The war in the Sahel has disaffected our own tours in neighbouring Niger for now www.tinarawene.com but we hope for a brighter future for all the countries affected in the sahel.
This initiative is such an uplifting approach to a bad situation.
When do you think you'll return to that region?
Sadly it appears to be some time off for most Ian.
The insurgency is destabilizing governments which in turn makes the security situation difficult.
With security attached we're running trips in Niger but Mali, Burkina Faso are pretty much no go areas.
We believe the traditional festivals in Niger will be the main product for the next little while where the amazing experience can justify the added cost.
Cure Salee in the northern summer for instance will be a highpoint.