Education Senegal Project #29284

Secure livelihoods for vulnerable youth in Senegal

by Aspyre Africa

Project Report | Feb 2, 2023
Launch of start-up fund for our graduates

By Savina Geerinckx | Project Leader

Nafi with one of our budding entrepreneurs

In 2022 Aspyre Africa secured funding to set up a start-up fund, and provide our graduates with flexible financial support to start their own income-generating activities.

“Having this amazing opportunity to fund our young people’s projects resolved many of the problems we were facing. Many of our trainees had their projects on paper for a while. While we did all we could to help them secure funding from existing programmes and microfinance institutions, our successes were limited. Even if they manage to secure funding, they still have to face the following challenges: the required guarantees, the high interest rates, the lack of professional support and guidance to minimize their risk of failure.” Nafi, Aspyre Africa Programmes Manager in Saint-Louis

Having control over the funds means we can fund the projects of our most committed trainees, who also have the support of their parents or their Koranic teacher. We know their strengths and weaknesses and can tailor the support to their individual needs. Aspyre Africa’s aim is to provide guidance and close monitoring so that the young person can be successful and repay the funds. She/he can then offer the same opportunity to one of her/his peers.

During our visit last November, we selected the most promising projects, helped our young people refine their business plans and provided them with the financial support they needed to start their activities. Four projects are already up and running: two in chicken-rearing and two in agriculture. By teaming up beneficiaries with more recent trainees, this also created a unique mentoring opportunity!

NEW “Green” jobs

In January a new cohort of 20 Koranic students started their training in solar energy at the Esebat training centre in Saint-Louis. Through this 6-month training they will learn to install and maintain solar panels.

“The Koranic Students have shown a keen interest in the training. During the recent public transport strike, we were worried they would not show up on time. However, they all went the extra mile to get there, including the one who lives 30km away! They are truly aware of the chance they have been given.” Nafi

“When you are in a Koranic School and you are given the chance to learn a trade without it interfering with your Koranic studies, it is all in our best interest!” Hamidou, Koranic student

This is our first cohort whose technical training is funded by the 3FPT, the Senegalese Government Fund for Vocational Training. We are most excited about this collaboration, which paves the way for sustainable solutions. Aspyre Africa continues to provide all the complementary and essential services: identification and selection of participants, breakfast, transport, mediation with their Koranic teachers, as well as individual guidance and support.

"Every beginning is hard, but they must persevere, do their exercises and support each other. This is what will lead them to their success, and the success of Nafi, Thiam and the rest of the Aspyre Africa team. I pray that they may all get along, succeed, get their certificates and work for our country!” Oustaz, Koranic Teacher

“This training will start a new page in the lives of the Koranic students, because they can learn a skill, which they can use anywhere they go, and have a secure livelihood.” Koranic Teacher

We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all the donors who continue to support our work and provide at-risk young people with life-changing opportunities. Thank you for giving these young people the chance to fulfil their aspirations.

As the next training in car mechanics is due to start, we hope you will choose to contribute what you can during our upcoming “Little by Little” campaign in April. Please share this with your contacts and invite them to consider joining you in supporting this project.

With your donations, we hope to create a world where every young person has equal opportunities to access quality vocational training, decent work and make a good life for themselves.

With gratitude,

The Aspyre Africa Team

New training in solar energy

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Oct 4, 2022
Youth empowering alternatives to economic migration

By Savina Geerinckx | Project Leader

Dear Friend,

In this update I wanted to highlight a dilemma many young people in Senegal have to face on a daily basis: “Is it worth risking my life in order to secure a better future?” Every year countless young Senegalese men perish at sea trying to reach Europe. In 2020, 140 migrants died in just one day in a single shipwreck off the coast of Senegal.

Catching up with Abdou, an Aspyre Africa trainee, he reminded me how, in some cases, our work might literally be saving lives: "3 young men from my village died at sea trying to reach Europe... I had the chance to learn a trade here, work, and save money. Today, little by little, I have started building my very own farm!"

Abdou comes from a remote rural village in the north of Senegal. His family are seasonal farmers growing mainly maize and millet. He came to Saint-Louis aged 12 to study with a Koranic teacher. When we first met Abdou (aged 22), he was still studying the Koran, and working as a night guard at the local clinic in exchange for a room. He knew he wanted more out of life but had no clear idea. Numerous members of his family had left the country in search of a better life.

Abdou was selected to be part of our first cohort of Koranic pupils who benefited from a training in horticulture, and loved it! After receiving his certificate, he set up a chicken rearing project together with his classmates, supported by Aspyre Africa. Today Abdou has taken the first steps turning his dream into a reality: to build an integrated farm in his village. Abdou is proud of what he has achieved so far and is determined to succeed.

“Aspyre Africa not only provided me with skills, but also helped me gain experience and maturity. Your team’s presence has been a continuous source of inspiration and motivation.”

33.5% of Senegalese youth aged 15-25 are not in employment, education or training

38.5% of the population of Senegal currently lives below the poverty line

By supporting Aspyre Africa you are not just giving young people access to quality vocational training and decent work, but also empowering them to make life-changing/saving choices!

With gratitude and warm wishes from the Aspyre Africa team

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Jun 7, 2022
Scaling up!

By Savina Geerinckx | Project Leader

Happy beneficiary currently in training

Dear Friend,

Thank you for giving at-risk young people in Senegal a second chance to secure their future!

“Before meeting Nafi (Aspyre Africa) and finding out about this training in horticulture, I was ready to give up on life altogether. I had no hope for my future. But this training gave me back my taste for life. Thank you!!” (young single mum and former detainee)

Thanks to your continued support, we have been able to scale up our work this year, while continuing to focus on the sustainability of everything we develop.

Since our last update we have:

Supported 20 vulnerable young people currently in horticulture training
Developed 2 new partnerships with vocational training centres in Saint-Louis to provide more training options: car mechanics and solar energy
Recruited 40 Koranic pupils to enrol in these training courses
Provided all our beneficiaries with ongoing support and follow-up through the “Follow-up and Integration Office” at the CIPA centre
Expanded our work to Dakar and developed a new partnership with a vocational training centre in Guédiawaye

As we expanded our reach, so did our team! In Saint-Louis, Mr Khalifa Thiam has come to reinforce the team, while in Dakar, Mr Abdou Kebe is our brand new Project Manager. We are very excited to have them on board!

Last but not least, we are delighted to be partnering up with the 3FPT (The Senegalese Government Fund for Vocational Training) for the new cohorts. This has been our goal from the beginning! We look forward to working together to make the vocational education system more accessible and inclusive.

As we scale up our work, so is the need to scale up our budget and our fundraising efforts:

Making a monthly donation is the most effective way to support our work. If you would like to sign up, please click here. All new monthly donations through GlobalGiving can earn a 100% match after 4 months.
In July, we will be participating in the GlobalGiving “Bonus Day” (July 20th), where donations over $100 will be matched.

With gratitude & warm wishes,

Savina & The Aspyre Africa Team

Training at the CIPA centre

On the job: showing off their first produce!

New partnerships & training in Saint-Louis!

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