A country in western Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. It became independent of France on April 4, 1960. It is one of the most politically stable countries in Africa. Nevertheless, it remains among the countries with the lowest level of social development. Almost half of the country’s area is farmland, but agriculture is becoming increasingly difficult due to frequent climate shocks. The highest temperature of 48.8 °C has been recorded in Matam.
21.08.2025
“Mademoiselle, vous êtes capable de tout”—these words sound like a foreign melody in the ears of many girls from Senegal. No one had ever told them before that they were capable of everything.
They are 17–23 years old. Some come from small villages near Joal, others from poor neighborhoods of Dakar. When they finished primary school, their parents often said, “This is the end of your education, daughter. Now it’s time for a husband and children.” But they dreamed of something more. They wanted starting a family to be a choice, not a necessity.
Today they are finishing courses at the Assunta Center in Joal. They are learning to cook and bake pastries that smell like the finest patisseries in Dakar. At the school kiosk, they sell their baked goods, and visitors come back for more. Most importantly, for the first time in their lives, they believe they can decide their own future.
In November, when representatives of the Polish government visited, we showed them the school, which, thanks to the “Polish Help” program, had been renovated, equipped, and updated with a modern curriculum. But we knew we couldn’t stop there. We wanted the girls to gain more—real skills that would help them launch into adulthood. That’s how the idea of a kiosk in front of the school was born, soon followed by additional courses in dyeing, sewing, and confectionery.
Today we see the results. The kiosk stands along the road traveled daily by tourists heading to the shell-covered island of Fadiouth. Third-year pastry students are already running their own business—selling baked goods to tourists and locals. Three of them have started their own ventures, while others are preparing to do the same. Sewing and dyeing students continue to come to the Assunta Center for practical training to refine their skills.
We show these young women that it is not their place of birth, but determination and hard work that shape their future. Every penny you give turns into something beautiful—knowledge and skills that stay with them forever. Thank you, everybodyi!
12.03.2024
[…] Dakar is, of course, famous for its Car Rapide. They are colorful buses, lacking windows and comforts, looking as if they’ve just fallen from the sky. Their presence on the streets of Dakar is a tale of how they survived that fall. They are an important symbol, coughing black fumes into the soul of […]
10.03.2024
Marie-Odile has a charming smile. It’s delicate, subtle, and very feminine. She usually sits on a bench in the park in front of the Franciscan Sisters’ school in Dakar. Marie-Odile’s shyness and her smile show her gentleness. Among her friends, she feels at ease. She treats new people with a slight hint of mistrust. With […]
08.01.2024
The New Year is a time that is conducive to welcoming the new and leaving behind what no longer serves us. In this spirit, we invite you to produce good together and make space for what really makes you happy. Literally! Through Clothes to Give you can donate clothes that no longer serve you. Every […]