🌍 A Taste of Two Cultures: How Dots for Experiences Benin and Senegal Through Food and Community 🌍
At Dots for, we are not only committed to bringing technology and opportunity to rural communities—we are also immersed in the rich cultures of the places we serve. And what better way to experience culture than through food? Two dishes that have become familiar to us are Benin’s pounded yam, known locally as Agoun, and Senegal’s Mafe with Foutou banane. On the surface, these dishes may look similar—both comforting plates of mashed ingredients accompanied by savory sauces. But once you taste them, you realize the beauty of their differences. The Beninese pounded yam (“igname pilée” or “Agoun”) is smooth and neutral, perfectly paired with bold, spicy peanut soup, while the “foutou banane” has a unique sweetness, matched with the richness of Senegalese’s Mafe—a peanut-based sauce. These dishes reflect more than just culinary tradition. To us, they hold a deeper analogy. In rural communities, things might seem similar at first glance, but it’s only when you dive deeper—when you listen, observe, and experience—that you understand the uniqueness of each place. And that’s how we approach our work. We don’t just deliver services; we adapt and tailor our approach to truly address the needs of each community, understanding their culture, values, and dreams. For every team member, each minute and second at Dots for is spent experiencing, learning, and adapting. Much like savoring the distinct flavors of Benin and Senegal’s dishes, we immerse ourselves in each community to make sure we address their true needs. At Dots for, it’s not just about connectivity and technology—it’s also about shared experiences, understanding, and cultural exchange.
#CulturalExchange#FoodAndCommunity#BeninAndSenegal#TechnologyWithHeartRelated Articles
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When you say 1, you say 2, 3… and now 4. Four years of believing in the potential of rural Africa. Four years of action, growth, and transformation. A few days ago Dots for celebrated one more year of impact. This anniversary is a celebration of every partnership formed, every team member who joined the journey, and every village where our work is making a difference. This past year was especially meaningful. We expanded our reach, welcomed new teammates, and forged new partnerships with people and organizations that believe in what we do. More and more voices are joining us to say: the potential of rural Africa is really untapped. At Dots for, we’re proud to be among the pioneers proving that change is possible—when vision meets commitment, and when communities are at the center of innovation. What makes our story special is all the people who come together around a single mission. From field agents to tech experts, from village elders to first-time users, our strength lies in how we connect people and build bridges. Dots for is about unity, purpose, and people working as one. We’ve come a long way—but as usual, the best is yet to come. Here’s to continuing the mission: unlocking the constraints of rural Africa, and creating opportunities where they’re needed most. This month, we celebrate 4 years of progress—thanks to everyone who’s walking this path with us. 🚀 Let’s keep going—together.
September 26, 2025
Behind every smooth service, there’s a team making thoughtful choices—often right on the ground. At Dots for, one of our key performance practices in rural areas is the field plenary session. After a day of activity, our teams often come together—sitting down as a unit—to reflect on their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), discuss challenges, and adjust plans for the next steps. These moments serve to motivate each other and adjust our strategy in real time. From improving how we serve each customer, to finding better ways to respond to a community’s needs, these sessions ensure that nothing is left to chance. This simple but powerful habit helps us stay efficient, agile, and deeply connected to our mission of unlocking opportunities for rural communities. Dots for believes that progress often starts with a group of committed people sharing insights. And our particularity is that we share insights in the field as well. Let’s keep showing up, checking in, and growing together.
August 29, 2025
It feels like just yesterday that our team had the honor of attending TICAD 9, Japan’s largest international conference focused on African development. It was a powerful and inspiring event that brought together innovators, decision-makers, and visionaries from across the globe all in one place. At our booth, we had the chance to receive distinguished members of Japanese government and other stakeholders and share the work Dots for is doing in rural areas of Benin, Senegal and beyond. What impacted us most was their genuine interest, shared by companies and other organizations, in what we’ve accomplished. Many recognized in our work a true opportunity both for partnership and for meaningful impact. But beyond new collaborations, TICAD 9 reminded us of something even deeper: the value of the work we do every day in rural communities. Sometimes, when you’re in the field—navigating challenges, solving problems, close to the clients—it’s easy to get caught up in the routine of the work and overlook the scale of change we’re making. The praise that we received at TICAD is a testament to the profound transformation we are driving in rural Africa, with impact reaching far beyond, across the world. Being there reaffirmed that what we are building is not just useful—it’s essential. The world is watching, and rural Africa is full of untapped potential. Dots for is making sure to unveil that, and we’re just getting started.