World Vision UK Blog

We hope you’ve enjoyed the first two posts of our Senegal series. In this last blog, Fiona and Jane share their favourite stories of how World Vision supports the local communities by providing healthcare and income-generating opportunities.

by Fiona Thompson:

The new community ambulance

Imagine being in a complicated advanced labour, squashed in the back of a small car, on a hot day being driven for a hour over bumpy roads to get to hospital surrounded by anxious family battling through traffic with no way of communicating to your fellow road users that you have an emergency on board.

Ambulances are something I am familiar with – usually for positive reasons. I was therefore interested to hear that one of the items asked for by the Area Development Programme (ADP) we were visiting, was an ambulance.

The roads in Senegal aren’t good and it is easy to understand why: you have seven months of dry, followed by five months of near continuous rain. Even the wealthiest of countries would have difficulty maintaining a smooth ride with those conditions.

Add to the road conditions the lack of large vehicles, the shear size of Senegal with the sparsity of main hospitals, and the lack of an NHS, and you start to see why the ADP needed its own ambulance. They had no safe and reliable way of transporting people to a hospital or giving them medical assistance whilst en route.

Thanks to the support of the community’s child sponsors, the ADP now has an ambulance of its own. It was basic but had on-board equipment for emergencies: oxygen, a bed, neck collars, airway support, dressings. It may not have been cutting edge, but for Senegal it was appropriate and what was needed.

Casualties from this ADP will now have a more comfortable ride, safer, with medical support and the assurance that they will no longer have to scrounge a car in an emergency and squash together in the back in 40 degrees. Just the thought makes me cringe…

Market garden

Later, in the middle of a very hot day, we were taken to see a Market Garden project, funded jointly by the EU and World Vision. Vegetable growing is something I am very interested in, particularly as I was acutely aware that all my veg planting at home was on hold due to my trip to Senegal!

During our travels around Senegal, I had noticed that most of the communities had wells – there is water, you just have to dig to find it. I had wondered why, therefore, irrigation wasn’t used more to increase productivity. Even at the end of the dry season you could see water in the well and only needed a bucket to fetch it up.

The Programme Manager explained that water being underground and not in rivers is exactly the problem: people couldn’t irrigate as without wells the water could not be accessed. Irrigation was consequently not a part of Senegalese agriculture.

World Vision was pioneering teaching the community near the project how to use underground water to irrigate plants on a trickle feed system, so that they had fresh vegetables and fruit all year round.

The water has to be used carefully and efficiently but the scheme was clearly working. We saw a variety of plants growing including tomatoes, chillies, hibiscus (used to make a drink), cassava and maize.

Composting and manure was also being used to improve the soil. The income from selling the produce from the garden was split three ways: to those who work the garden, into a bank account for emergencies, and to finance the garden by buying seeds, irrigation equipment, and so on.

The project has been so successful that a further market garden scheme has now been started within the Area Development Programme.

by Jane Slater:

The salt mines

It was towards the end of a long, inspiring and extremely hot last day. We had only one more project to visit and in many ways it was the most unusual one. One wonders what World Vision’s involvement could possibly be in the running of a salt mine! All we knew was that it is a place where women work.

We took a long drive through a very flat, sandy and empty landscape. Our air-conditioned bus protected us from the searing heat that greeted us as we got out.

We were welcomed by an amazing man, dressed like an Afghani horseman with a cloth wound around his head, a long fierce-looking knife and a wonderful smile! We were told that the women who worked there had to leave to go back to look after their families.

The temperature was so extreme that we could feel the heat of the ground through our shoes and had to wear sunglasses against the glare. We were all acutely aware that we were only looking whereas the women had to work in these difficult conditions.

As it was so hot, we were taken by bus a few hundred yards away to where the salt mining was taking place to find out about World Vision’s involvement.

Much of the available water in Senegal is salt water which this project is taking advantage of. The women dig large shallow “pans” and carefully flood them with the salt water. It is crucial to introduce the right amount of water; too much would result in it taking too long for the water to evaporate leaving harvestable salt and too little would mean that a great deal of effort was being expended to produce little salt. The area was covered with pans in varying degrees of evaporation as we walked along the narrow walkways between the pans.

The salt dries into large flakes which we tasted; it was very intense. The women harvest it and then it is purified, packed and finally sold on and exported all over West Africa.

Towards the end of our visit, we were all melting in the heat and in awe of the women who work in such a hostile environment. World Vision made it possible for them to earn an income by providing three simple things; boots, gloves and sunglasses.

These inexpensive items made this work bearable and have given these women an opportunity to support their families during the dry season when there are few sources of income. We were so impressed by the courage and effort that the women made to support themselves and so proud that it was World Vision that made it possible for them to do so.

A huge thank you to all of the ambassadors who kindly shared their photos and inspiring stories with us. If you missed them, you can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

We’d love to know what you thought of this week’s posts, so do head over to our Facebook page and leave your comments.

Today’s blog is the second post in our series from our Ambassadors’ visit to Senegal. In this post, Fiona shares the story of meeting her sponsored child for the first time and all of the emotions and reflections it swells inside her. It’s a wonderful post, so we’ll let you get reading:

by Fiona Thompson

I awoke feeling quite anxious in the morning - I was going to finally meet my sponsored child.

When I innocently filled out my direct debit form all those years ago filled only with a sense of “doing something worthwhile” little did I realise that it would eventually lead me to Senegal and meeting my sponsored child personally.

And here I was, checking that I had all that I needed: new school bag, football kit donated by my son Angus’s school, pens, pencils, rubber, some World Vision bits and pieces, pressie for Mum? Check, all there.

Off we went in the van, and drove to Aloyse’s compound. We had already driven a long way off the main road and now we went even further into the scrub. The road by this stage was just a dust track. It would be impassable in the rainy season. There were dusty areas being ploughed in preparation for the rains, numerous Baobab trees, wandering cattle, goats and donkeys.

Finally we turned down an even smaller track and came across and rickety fence: Aloyse’s compound wall. We walked between some huts and came across the centre of the compound: a tree under which sat some women and small children shelling nuts.  They had been expecting us but nuts still had to be shelled.

Meeting Aloyse

The World Vision staff went to Aloyse’s hut but he wasn’t there. We waited for a bit and then he walked over: he had gone to the well to wash and change into his best clothes. Judging by the way the rest of his family were dressed, it seemed they had either bought or borrowed his clothes especially. He had clearly made an effort to look his best.

Needless to say, he was very nervous and shy. He didn’t know what the rules and expectations were of this visit and neither did the adults. He had no agenda.

I just went blank. I hadn’t planned what to do if the expectation lay on me. We stood there, greeted one another, he couldn’t look me in the face. I was flummoxed.

Writing letters a couple of times a year doesn’t build enough of a rapport to meet in person. I was introduced to his parents, brothers and little sister who had been standing at the back watching. Some more women from the community came over too.

Meeting the community

One of the ladies poured the peanuts out of her bowl and into another, turning the empty bowl over and making the inevitable drum. The singing and dancing began. I tried to talk with Aloyse asking him about school, friends, his family, but it was all a bit too much for him. We exchanged presents and his face lit up with a beautiful smile at the sight of the football kit. He loved his pencils and the new bag.

His Mum was cheered by the other ladies as she unwrapped a shawl I had bought in the Gambia. I was presented with a lovely piece of fabric to wear as a skirt. One of the elder ladies in the village thought that she ought to show me how to wear it, miming how to put it on. Okay, I thought, let’s break the ice a bit.

I stood up, handed her the fabric, raised my arms and presented myself to her. She rose to the challenge wrapping the fabric around me and tucking it in much to the delight of the other ladies.

The drumming began again and she danced for me, so naturally, I had to join in. To my surprise, Aloyse did too! A huge beam of joy across his face as we danced with each other. Wonderful.

He then told me that his Dad was building a new house. Could he show me? Of course!

We went through the village and I saw where he lived. His hut was made of rough mud bricks with a thatched roof. The space between the two was filled with old clothes and fabric. We went through the fabric door into their entire house, a room smaller than my son’s bedroom.

Inside was a double bed with a mattress made of, what? Straw? Dried grass? I am not sure but it was hard and lumpy. The mat on the floor next to the bed was where Aloyse slept with his brothers and sister and probably the two small goats that were in there too. There was one chest of drawers. That’s it. I don’t know where they cooked. No bathroom. No toys.

We left after the village elder greeted us and thanked me for helping Aloyse and prayed for my family. I was honoured and humbled to be spoken to with so much respect, to be elevated to a status of benefactor.

Reflections

How do you deal with that change in role? How do you deal with the material differences? How do you go back to “normal life” knowing that normality is so relative?

I am going back to a house which has spare rooms and a garden with so much space for growing crops and still have space for the children to play. We have so much and he has crops his family depend and rely on and four goats meaning that his family are better off than some.

And yet in many ways his community is so much richer than many families in Britain. The children have so many adults who care for them, love them, spend time with them, keep them company, involve them. They aren’t sat in front of a TV for hours and ignored; they aren’t treated as an inconvenience or bought off with material possessions disguising the lack of attention and priority.

They may own little, but I bet they don’t spend evenings or even days feeling alone, bored, and unwanted. Richness comes in more ways than money can buy.

We don’t know about you, but everyone in the office was moved by Fiona’s account of her visit: honest, open and reflective, it feels like we joined her on the journey. How does sponsoring your child feel to you? Let us know by clicking over to our Facebook page now and leaving your thoughts.

And don’t forget to check back on Friday for the last blog installment, as well as keeping an eye on Facebook for an album full of beautiful photos tomorrow.

What can we say about Sue, Trisha, Jane, Liseanne, Dorothy and Fiona? They are six wonderful, passionate supporters who have taken the next step in their World Vision journey and are now our newest Ambassadors. This incredible group of women traveled to Senegal to meet their sponsored children and see for themselves how World Vision works with communities and how their sponsorship helps some of the world’s poorest children.

Over the next week, we’ll have inspiring stories from our new ambassadors and their trip, including remarkable photos, amazing stories and tales that made them them laugh and cry. Everything they experienced has moved them to go out raising awareness of the work of World Vision on their return to the UK, we hope they’ll hit home for you, too.

You can follow all of the week’s updates from their trip on our Facebook Page, or by popping back to the blog on Wednesday and Friday for parts 2 and 3.

Ambassadors with Sharon (in the middle) in new Senegalese outfits

Time to celebrate – the opening of the new school building

by Sue Tinney

When we arrived at the school for the long awaited opening ceremony, the temperature had soared to at least 38^oC and we were all very hot. The villagers and children were sitting under the large awning as the musicians played and the dignitaries patiently waited. A sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air.  We were about to take part in a big celebration the community had been looking forward to for a long time! We were quickly ushered into a side room, where we were each presented with a set of Senegalese national dress, the community’s gift to us. They were beautiful!

We were overwhelmed by the community’s generosity, and dressed in our new outfits, we took our place alongside the dignitaries, including the Head teacher, Village Chief, Elders, the World Vision community manager, construction manager and representatives of the Rural Council.

The event began with the Village Chief expressing his thanks to World Vision for the new classrooms and added that although the community had made a great start, they still had not finished – there was still more work to be done. Their vision is so admirable!

It turned out that the new classrooms and toilet block had been ready for a month prior to our visit, but the community had waited for our visit before the children could use them.  How frustrating this must have been for them, and how humbling for us.

Before World Vision embarked on this project, the children had lessons in classrooms made of stick-type fencing with grass frond leaves and open to all the elements. The floor was dusty and sandy and the blackboard somehow fixed to the fence.

The condition of the classrooms was far from ideal; snakes and scorpions would find their way in and bite the children, rain would come through the roof during the wet season and the Harmattan wind would blow through the rooms in the hot dry seasons.

The children suffered from sickness, which had a tremendous effect on their ability to attend school and learn. It was heartbreaking to hear, but wonderful to be at the ceremony that was going to change all this.

As the ceremony continued there were many speeches and lively music, and then came the symbolic act of the ‘formal carrying’ of the children’s desks across to their new classrooms. The children were so calm and dignified as they made their way across the compound with their desks although I’m sure they must have been bursting with excitement!

A little time later the children were happily seated in their beautiful new classrooms and it was such a joy for us to have been part of this.  It’s amazing to experience, first-hand, some of the fruits of the work that World Vision undertakes, in partnership with the local communities.  Sponsorship money and the dedicated work of World Vision staff ensure the delivery of this and many other such projects.  The long term benefits will be immeasurable.

In addition to the new classroom, a freshly painted new toilet block has also been built for the children which they were very pleased to start using!

As the event drew to a close, we explained, through an interpreter, how seeing our contribution come to fruition has been a tremendous experience.  We thanked everyone for the wonderful welcome given to us and for our gifts, which will be a lasting memory of our special visit.

Official Opening of Loul Pre-School

by Trisha McGee

As we climbed out of the minibus – our heads and senses already reeling from the heat, scenery, colour and life in all its aspects that is rural Senegal – we were greeted by the welcoming timbre of drums, women singing and dancing, and general joy, enthusiasm and excitement.

Never in my life had I seen such an amazing sight nor heard such extraordinary sounds. My throat constricted and my eyes filled up as we walked towards and through the gate.

A large group of children of varying heights and ages, all sporting cross body sashes in the green, yellow and red of the Senegalese flag lined our route. They gave us huge beaming smiles and shook hands. This was the School council!

We were paraded in and the singing reached an almost deafening crescendo. There was a large marquee full of women with the musicians; we stopped to watch the dancing for a while.

Beautifully dressed ladies dancing around Sharon

Inside the preschool all the small children were sitting perfectly in rows. What a delightful and engaging sight! The youngest children all wore blue smocks over their clothes and older children (I thought about reception age) wore pale green. The Nursery children and their wonderful young teacher sang for us, mainly as a group but also as individuals. They were alert, confident and not at all fazed by all the attention, waving at us while keeping one eye firmly on their teacher.

It was so humbling to realise that a small amount of money we pay each month helped to create this, life changing chances at education for so many small children.

Next we were treated to a clever little scenario performed by the Reception class. This involved two girls and two boys. The two boys sat at desks, ‘writing’ and looking very official! The girls were acting the parts of mother and daughter. The daughter desperately wanted to go to school but mother kept saying, ‘No, girls don’t need to go to school. Go to Dakar, be a maid and earn some money.’

Eventually, however, the mother gives in and takes her daughter to enroll in school. But unfortunately it’s not that simple for the little girl as she wasn’t registered at birth. So mother has to go to the Rural Council to register her daughter before she can go to school. The messages from this performance were very clear!

After these wonderful performances we went to see the new classroom. No benches or tables yet but plenty of space to put them in. The room was high, cool and spacious. The windows glassless but finished with louvered shutters appropriate to the climate.

Thanks to Sue and Trisha for sharing their stories. You can read more ambassador blogs later this week and don’t forget to check out our Facebook page this week for all the latest from World Vision as well as the photo album from the Senegal trip.

Two wonderful stories of great changes implemented thanks to your support. And how remarkable that our Ambassadors got to experience the joy and the excitement of the opening of these new buildings and rooms, too. Let us know what you’d love to see in person over on our Facebook page here.