What a Wonderful Start in Senegal

After joining the school a little later this school year, not only was the anticipation all the greater, but I was also presented with a particularly pleasing picture. Above all, I received an extremely warm welcome in the kindergartens, from the teachers as well as from the beaming children. And the play program is starting to become a regular part of the lessons.

In addition, the planning of the final construction work for an office with a storage room and the front of the enclosure has already been completed. In a joint meeting with the kindergarten director of Ecole 2 and the building inspector, we found good solutions for the required quality and use.

What I am also very pleased about is the constructive, open discussion with the new patron of the responsible inspectorate for intensive, regular cooperation in the pedagogical area. The quality of teaching, the interest and the visible enthusiasm of the children in the playgrounds are the areas that are particularly close to my heart. As I always say, the new buildings alone are not enough. They form the basis and opportunity for beneficial teaching, but what happens inside them is just as importantent.

Video "Merci Tada Marielle

After all the Events, intensive preparations are going on for my return to Senegal on January 14, 2024

The event in the Alpinit on Dec. 10, 2023 was this year's last event before my departure. Unfortunately, due to the many pre-Christmas activities all around, the number of visitors was somewhat low. However, the audience was very enthusiastic about the performance by the play back theater group "geh dicht". Framed by the cozy part, it was still a successful event.

Now my focus is exclusively on the planned project work in 2024, accompanied by a growing longing to work in Senegal again. I miss the children very much. The constant contact with the kindergarten directors in Sedhiou and the fact that we have been working together for several years now makes the preparations increasingly easier. I am particularly pleased that I will not be traveling back to Senegal alone this time, but together with two friends who will be accompanying me for three weeks. They also want to get involved in the play program in the kindergartens, which is a welcome support for me. Together with the local teachers, this will form a larger team, which will benefit the children even more, especially as I want to enrich the variety of play opportunities every year.

With this in mind, I look forward to reporting news directly from Senegal again soon.

For now, I wish you a happy and reflective festive season and a light-filled, healthy New Year.

I would like to express my good wishes with an excerpt from a concert I have just attended by Rahel Giger, accompanied by the Senegalese kora player Moussa Cissokho.

Concert-Video

Herzlich, Marielle Furter

Bericht aus dem Senegal Oktober 2023

Die Vorbereitungen für das neue Schuljahr laufen

Die Regenzeit im Senegal geht dem Ende zu, während das neue Schuljahr nach den viermonatigen Ferien anläuft. Im Kontakt mit Lehrpersonen und dem Inspektorat plane ich bereits von hier aus die Weiterführung des Spielprogramms im Unterricht. Während den vergangenen zwei Jahren konnte ich allen Anfragen seitens der 10 Kindergärten in Sedhiou gerecht werden und mein Spielprogramm für eine vielseitige Lernumgebung einführen. Gleichzeitig konzentrierte ich mich die letzten Jahre auf die Realisierung von verschiedenen Kindergarten- Neubauten, um damit allen Kindern in jedem Quartier von Sedhiou dieselben Bedingungen für einen förderlichen Unterricht zu ermöglichen. Dieses Ziel konnte ich mit der Realisierung des diesjährigen Bauprojekts erreichen. (Siehe Bericht vom Mai 23). Zusätzlich freut mich, dass ich mich über die letzten Jahre mehr und mehr in den Kindergärten einbringen kann, um die Kinder und Lehrpersonen bei Spiel und Spass zu begleiten. Es besteht ein wachsendes Interesse und grosser Bedarf für die Gestaltung von Spielplätzen, damit sich die Kinder in verschiedenen Bereichen entwickeln können. Das Einbringen von Spielmaterial weckt grosse Freude bei den Kleinen, sie sind regelrecht «hungrig» auf die verschiedenen Herausforderungen und Tätigkeiten.