We are Celebrating!!! 10 Years of kindergardens4senegal

During the rainy season in Senegal from June to October there is a long vacation, after which a new school year begins. I use these months for a stay in Switzerland, and to take care of the various association activities and various personal charity events.

This year's highlight is our anniversary celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of our association.

Senegal festival on Saturday, November 9, 2024, from 2 pm

Chappelehof, Wohlen AG

• Concert with the Senegalese Moussa Cissokho, (Kora) and band, approx. 8.30 pm
  
• Senegalese food, typical snacks and drinks, coffee and cake
• Crafts, games and fun for children, Senegalese market with typical crafts
• Stories of past projects in Senegal from 2014 to 2024 (approx. 30 min.)

>> Download the program flyer>

I am looking forward to welcoming lots of visitors.

How time flies... The initial plan was to build the first kindergarten in Niaguis and, if it was successful, to accompany it for several years afterwards. In fact, one year after the association was founded, we were able to realize the building in 2015, with three classrooms, a kitchen, toilets and a hall for various purposes. Thanks to the great commitment of the teachers, who had already been trained by a regional organization, the lessons soon became fun and varied. As a result, I was able to reduce my regular visits several days a week after just one year. The children were offered a variety of activities with the games we donated and local materials. After two years, both the organization and financing had settled down well independently of us, and sustainability was assured. All of our kindergartens are “publique”, i.e. not private, so that they ultimately continue to run via the state.

The crucial factor for the construction of the second kindergarten in Goudiabya was the generous donation of CHF 30,000 from NAB (Neue Aargauer Bank) in connection with the annual “Aargauerin / Aargauer des Jahres” event. At this event, three aid organizations were also selected and supported. (Half from the gala guests in attendance, the other half from the bank). Together with other donations that we received, we were able to build the second kindergarten in Goudiabya in 2017.

In the meantime, five kindergartens have been built, each with three classrooms, sanitary facilities and, in some cases, an office and storage room. In addition, we have helped existing kindergartens to get the necessary toilets, which are often missing or in a miserable state.

By accompanying all these kindergartens, my work has now increasingly focused on introducing play-based teaching. Although the buildings provide the basis and good conditions, this alone does not guarantee a beneficial education. Other responsible directors of existing preschools have approached me with the request to support them with my play program as well. As a result, all 10 kindergartens in the medium-sized town of Sedhiou have now been given the opportunity to provide lessons with a wide range of activities that do justice to the great interest and learning abilities of the youngest children.

This is also the goal of the new school system with regard to the kindergartens, which has been difficult to implement for over 10 years, depending on the personal understanding and commitment of the teachers and their management. It is easy to see the enthusiasm and good development of the children, but for parents and teachers who lack the personal experience from their childhood, it takes them time to recognize the importance of actively encouraging the little ones. In the meantime, I have experienced very progressive teachers who, following my further training and regular involvement in the kindergarten, are now independently creating an attractive learning environment for the children.

At the same time, there is a new, more in-depth training concept. It consists of one year of teaching pedagogical knowledge, alternating with several internships in different kindergartens. This increases the chance that child-oriented education will become established and widespread in the foreseeable future. The responsible inspectors who accompany the learners have a progressive background and recognize how much better the children develop in all areas through play and fun. And just as importantly, they point out the importance of responding to individual children and recognizing their individual needs. This means that we are increasingly pulling in the same direction and have the same goal in mind, which makes me very happy and encourages me to continue working together.

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