By Savina Geerinckx | Project Leader
Dear Friend,
As the days grow shorter and the headlines heavier, I’m delighted to share some uplifting news from Senegal that reminds us what hope and perseverance can achieve.
I’ve just returned from another field visit — a time I always cherish to reconnect with both current and former beneficiaries and see how far they’ve come. Long-term follow-up is key to our approach, helping us understand the lasting challenges our young people face, even after receiving quality training and opportunities.
In Saint-Louis, I met Mansour, one of our very first trainees. Today, he’s been recruited by the government as one of a thousand agricultural “volunteers” — part of Senegal’s 2025 national agricultural programme. His role combines his technical expertise and natural communication skills to support local farmers and promote community development. Though conditions are modest, this is an important stepping stone for his career. When I visited his elderly father, his eyes filled with tears of pride and gratitude: “My son is taking good care of us.”
I also caught up with Ibrahima and Harouna, two talibes trained in electricity who love their craft and are now working alongside a local electrician — reinforcing their skills while earning a living. Their Koranic teacher made the most heartfelt testimony as he told us:
“If the government truly wants to help, they need to do exactly what Aspyre Africa is doing. From the very beginning, you came here, sat on the floor with us, and listened. That’s how you get results.”
Pilot Project – Welding Workshop in Dakar
In Dakar, our first welding training workshop is now fully operational at the Lycée Seydina Limamou Laye. Eight graduates from our previous cohorts were selected to join. The workshop aims to both strengthen their technical skills and create income-generating opportunities by offering welding services and producing goods for sale. The goal is to make the workshop profitable and self-sustaining, providing a springboard to (self) employment for many more vulnerable young people. Two additional workshops are currently being developed.
Building a Stronger Ecosystem
Our teams in Saint-Louis and Guédiawaye have been hard at work conducting baseline surveys — mapping existing services and meeting with the many actors who guide, train, and support vulnerable young people on their path to decent work.
During my visit, we held a collaborative meeting in Dakar to share insights from the Guédiawaye survey. Together, representatives from government services, nonprofits, and training institutes discussed the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges identified. As we explored practical ways to strengthen the system, one shared priority emerged clearly: the need for a platform that fosters real collaboration and synergy among stakeholders — so that vulnerable young people can access truly sustainable livelihoods.
The conversation was so engaging that no one wanted to leave. It was inspiring to see practitioners on the front lines finally have a space to exchange ideas, reflect together, and build shared solutions.
We look forward to building on these results, bringing key actors together, and continuing to shape a system where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.
Thank you for standing with us — your support is transforming lives, one young person at a time.
With gratitude,
Savina & the Aspyre Africa Team
By Savina Geerinckx | Project Leader
By Savina Geerinckx | Project Leader
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