Education Senegal Project #17197

Build a School in Senegal!

by The Andando Foundation

Project Report | Sep 8, 2015
Thank You!

By Lewis Kiker | Executive Director

Saluting the Flag on the First Day of School

Once again, we are deeply appreciative of your partnership with us in building Mbouma Junior High School in Mbouma, Senegal. We could not have done it without you!

As we previously updated, the school is now finished and the happy students are filling the classrooms. This has not only made a huge impact on the day-to-day operations of the school, but has also made a dramatic impact on the health, pride, and outlook for the school and the community as a whole. This a significant milestone for the community and will serve as a building block for future success. See more pictures and progress on our website.

While we have completed the current phase of building at Mbouma Junior High, there is still much work to be done throughout the rural areas of Mbouma and Keur Soce, the primary location for all the work Andando is doing.

We ask that you continue to partner with us and consider a commitment to contributing the long-term overall health of this community. Setting up a recurring donation with Andando is very simple and will only take a few minutes. Just visit our website to set up your safe and secure donation to our efforts. Your investment in these programs will be felt for generations to come.

Thank you for your partnership and we look forward to all we can do together in the future.

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Jun 5, 2015
Mbouma School Finished!

By Lewis Kiker | Executive Director

Riasing the Flag

March 19, 2015 was a very important day for the town of Mbouma, Senegal, and a very important day for Andando as well. The town of Mbouma officially opened the brand new Mbouma Junior High School and it is now open and filled with happy students!

By partnering with local builders, school administrators, parents, happy students – and all our donors around the world!!! – we are very proud to be a part of this milestone for this rural farming town in southern Senegal. Starting last summer, we asked many of you to join us in building this landmark structure for this community in need, and you responded.

Working hard over the last 8 months, we walked together with the people in Mbouma in creating a safe and healthy learning environment that will be the home to future generations. They previously met in harsh conditions, which prompted some parents to pull their children from school thinking it was just not worth it. Now they have a place they can be proud of and a foundation to use as a building block for future successes.

The town marked the occasion with a big ceremony where everyone was invited. The village chief, the principal, the teachers, parents, and students were all there, as well as some regional dignitaries representing various government ministries. As is the case in Senegal, everyone makes a speech and the event is marked with much fanfare.

They concluded by the first official raising of the Senegalese flag – an important symbol for each school – the singing of the national anthem, and some refreshments for everyone.We were excited to be able to a part of this and we hope you will share in that excitement with us. This is also the first school construction project that Andando has done, and we hope it is just the first of many more to come! Thank you again for helping make this a reality!

Presentation of Certificate of Thanks

The Finished Schoolhouse

The Principal Expressing his Gratitude

The Community Gathering and Celebration

Links:

For more news, visit our blog

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Mar 6, 2015
Nearing Completion!

By Lewis Kiker | Executive Director

Nearing Completion

Dear Friends-

We are so excited to be nearing the completion of the two-room schoolhouse in Mbouma, Senegal that you helped make a reality! In just a few short months, this space has gone from a barren field to a source of pride in the community representing a renewed hope for a better future.

Previously, the students were meeting in makeshift classrooms that are detrimental to the health of the students and regularly burn to the ground. The construction of this school will facilitate the education of generations of students to come and ensure a healthy and safe learning environment.

After signing agreements with the school and the community, we worked hand in hand to gather materials and get water to the site. We worked hard to identify qaulity craftsmen that would work with community members to collectively build this school.

After months of hard work in difficult conditions, we are now approaching the finished product and we could not be happier. The administration is there daily to check on progress and provide insight, members of the PTA are there everyday contributing volunteer labor, and enthusiastic students stop by often to see their new school.

Using locally-sourced materials and Senegalese building techniques, we sought to create a structure in line with community expectations on top of quality that can last for decades. The finished building - while simple and humble - is a landmark achievement in this rural community that represents a true step forward.

Thank you again for your investment in the future of the people of Mbouma, Senegal and the real change that is taking place there. Keep your eyes peeled for future updates as we near completion of the school, and spread the word about the good that is happening that you helped create!

Checking on the work

Excited Kids from the Community

The Previous "Structures"

A Student Checking on the Progress

Almost Ready to Move In!

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