Tantoh Nforba SEE Fund

Bryan von Lossberg • Jennifer Smith • Rachel Sigman (TBI ’01) • Kathleen Collier • Adam Webster (TBI ’07) • Thomas Mertens • Silke Rover (TBI ’96) • Genevieve Marsh • Margaret McDonald • Julia Jessop • Elizabeth Huston • Karen Hurd • Helen Pickering • Charlotte Brandt • Carrie Seltzer (TBI ’04) • Winnie Bell • Betsy Kulle • Jon Grossman • Susan & Vincent Lordi • Bill Bertino • Deanna Bowers • Carl Hill • Julia Glackman • Megan Kelly (TBI ’04) • Randy Brown (TBI ’98) • Patricia Scruggs • Clara Long (TBI ’03) • Kathy Schulz (TBI ’99) • Christina Yin • Sarah Kliegman (TBI ’04) • Anemone & Tom Tiglon • Andrew Sharp • Claude Glover • Sameer Shamsuddin • Greta Gilbert (’93) • Kyung Namkoong & Craig Hunter • Dennis Hunter • Janna Fakier • Bud Sheble • Richard & Karen von Lossberg • Eileen Huston • Rebecca Brier-Rosenfield • Jesse Foote • Scott von Lossberg • Jonah Misterka • The Zausmer Foundation • Bruce Ledesma & Cheryl Sendaydiego • John Gussman • Paul Carrillo • Pete & Karen Fink (TBI ’95) • Nick Harris (TBI ’05) • Wes Steele (TBI ’06) • Amie & Peter Gillcrist • Bill & Carole Morgan • Nancy & Dr. Charles Goldman • Maria Mircheva (TBI ’06) • Dr. Sudeep Chandra (TBI ’97) • Mary Wernette • Jeremy Sokulsky (TBI ’95) • Mary Ford (TBI ’95) • Kathy Schulz (TBI ’99) • Ed Vance • Jon Green • Renny Glover

Success! Just a quick update to let you all know that Farmer Tantoh arrived in San Francisco on Sunday, June 17th. Warren and Deanna Bowers and family graciously treated us to lunch, and then Tantoh and I made our way to Tahoe. He's getting settled at TBI's base of operations at Fallen Leaf Lake and is thrilled to start the program.

Thanks so much to all of you!
-Bryan von Lossberg

"I am thanking all of you who have supported me to take part in this summer programme organised by TBI. I really appreciate your efforts and I hope this will open many doors not only for me, my family, but Africa at large. I promise to always "see far" into the future.

Thank you very much,
Farmer Tantoh, Cameroon"

We're excited to share the news that- despite long odds- Farmer Tantoh received his U.S. visa on June 7. TBI has booked his flight to the U.S. He'll be leaving Yaounde, Cameroon on Saturday, June 16 arriving in San Francisco on Sunday, June 17. The SEE program begins on June 18.

To read more about Farmer Tantoh's Save Your Future Association (SYFA) in Nkambe, click HERE.

“Farmer” Tantoh is from Nkambe, Cameroon. He studied at the Regional College of Agriculture, in Bambili, Cameroon, where his field of study was Agriculture and Rural Development. He specialized in spring water catchment protection using sustainable agro-forestry practices. Tantoh has worked with local youths and low-income farmers, introducing lawn creation and flower gardening and also organic farming techniques adaptable to the tropics thereby protecting the local environment. Currently Tantoh is self-employed as the Program Coordinator for the Save Your Future Association (SYFA) in Cameroon. He is simultaneously establishing a botanical garden in his village called Chua-Chua Botanical Garden-Nkambe and sensitizing the local population about spring catchment protection. He describes himself as “a comedian,” who loves to mimic endangered species and to entertain children. He also enjoys dancing to and playing traditional African music.

TBI is raising money in a special effort to fund Tantoh’s airfare and program costs. We need to get Tantoh from Cameroon in Africa to Lake Tahoe in the U.S. to Lake Baikal in Russia and back home to Cameroon, as well as cover his program expenses. Due to Tantoh’s limited financial resources, TBI is leading this special effort. Please help!

Every summer since 1991, TBI has hosted this 10-week watershed education program for up to 20 North American, Russian, Mongolian and other international undergraduates, graduates, and young professionals. Participants spend five weeks at Lake Baikal (southern Siberia, Russia) and five weeks at Lake Tahoe (California and Nevada) in an experiential, place-based curriculum that emphasizes the connections among healthy watersheds; vibrant, sustainable communities; and cultural understanding. Participants meet with top scientists, environmental policy-makers, and NGO and business leaders; conduct restoration and research projects; and-most importantly-learn from one another.

Please visit us at www.tahoebaikal.org