We had a visit from Karen Slowe the wife of the founder of Projects Abroad and her friend Sheila Luke this month! They made a tour of the Care Projects, as well as some Daaras to see the current situation in which the Talibés live and see what it takes to improve their living conditions. They also visited the Microfinance office and met Omar, a beneficiary of a micro financing loan for his Boutique Project.

They donated balloons, pens, soccer jerseys, clothes and several footballs to our Talibes centres. They also gave a lot of toothbrushes to Omar so that he can sell them in his boutique.

We took advantage of the fact that they arrived on a Friday to organise couple of visits for them around the country. On Saturday we took them to the Pink Lake and on Sunday to the Bird Park (djoudj)!

It was really a great pleasure to have them in Senegal.

Goodbye Karen and Sheila, hopefully see you soon!

One love from Senegal! :)

At HLM Talibes center with Moctar Ba, our country Director and Lamine Tall coordinator of the center

Talibes and their toothbrushes

Omar

Jazz first became popular here in the 1930s when records produced in Cuba were aired on the radio in St. Louis. After WWII, visiting U.S. soldiers popularized jazz bands, and by the 1950s jazz took root, and St. Louis has been enjoying jazz ever since.  In St. Louis, traditional music instruments like Koras and African drums are mixed with modern instruments for an incredible sweet jazzy symbiosis. The festival is also an excellent platform for new jazz groups.

The festival is starting today at Place Faidherbe and will end on Sunday 19th. Baba Maal, a great singer and guitarist from Podor ( Senegal ) , the most famous musician after Youssou N'Dour is going to start it :)! Among the list we have Afrikiyo, Shula, Wato, Edith Lettner, African jazz Spirit, Bujazzo Big Band, Frank SALIS H30, Ray LEMA. Howard University Jazz ensemble, Dhafer YOUSSEF.

During the time of the Festival there will be concerts every single night in all the biggest places on the Island such as Hotel de la Residence, Flamingo, Quai des arts, Nulle part ailleurs, Embuscade but also at Sor like at Racing Club. Cheikh is now in charge of the posters delivery as you can see in the picture above haha ! Joking 

Want to know what it's like to volunteer in our Microfinance office, have a look at the photo album : http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.539716172738507&type=1

 The Microfinance project in Senegal is a Projects Abroad initiative aiming to help the Talibé children secure a sustainable future for themselves through small scale entrepreneurship. These young boys and teenagers known locally as Talibés, are sent by impoverished and rural villagers to religious boarding schools where they receive no formal education and are forced to spend much of their time begging for scraps of food and small change. This initiative will help them acquire a socio-economical autonomy which will inevitably broaden the scope their life opportunities.

More about this great project on :http://www.projects-abroad.co.uk/volunteer-destinations/senegal/micro-finance/

Omar Balde, a Talibé who benefited a loan from our Microfinance office here in Saint Louis, Senegal. This allowed him to get a big shop! Before, He had a table to display his items! More about Omar, where he comes from, how he started his business and everything very soon!

One love!

Marie-Pierre Péladeau est une bénévole dans notre projet de soins ici à St. Louis. Elle est infirmière de profession et est originaire du Canada, plus précisément dans la ville d'Outremont (Québec).

Marie Pierre travaille matin et apres midi au centre. Elle a beaucoup contribué dans le traitement des plaies et coupures des Talibés (enfants de la rue) au centre mais aussi au Daaras (Maison des enfants de la rue).

Jeudi dernier, Marie Pierre a fait une grande donation de 300.000 CFA au centre ASF pour acheter des vêtements et les distribuer aux Talibes. J'ai été vraiment touché par le fait que beaucoup de Talibés n'ont pas de bons vêtements. C'était donc pour moi nécessaire de faire quelque chose, nous confie-elle!

Au total, 3 grands sacs de vêtements ont été achetés avec cette somme. Chaque sac contenait des T-shirts et des pantalons. Plus de 200 talibés ont été habillés et à la fin, le personnel, les bénévoles, mais aussi Talibés ont tenu à lui remercier très chaleureusement pour son tres noble action.

Merci encore Marie Pierre! :)

Lena Guignier and Laura Stocker busy busy giving Math courses to the Talibés (street children). Afterward, Talibés will have a short test followed by an interview, in order to see which Talibés are eligible to be financed!

Video interview with lena, Laura relative to their Microfinance Project very soon! Stay tuned Yoo :)

One Love!

Take a little break! Grab a good cup of coffee with some milk or a little bit of sugar, and sit in a good armchair, not just a normal chair, because I want you to feel really comfy, and then enjoy reading our Newsletter from March! You won't regret it! I promise! lool :)))

http://www.projects-abroad.co.uk/_downloads/destinations/newsletters/senegal/march-2013.pdf

Projects Abroad volunteer Yucca Leonard  on his Care Project in Senegal!

Axelle Dubois parle de son experience au centre ASF( Aider sans Frontiere) qui un centre d'accueil et de soins pour les Talibes!