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Make a real difference...
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to communities across Africa.
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Share skills and knowledge...
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and sponsor children...
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to develop a better future
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...and change lives forever!
Although a poor nation, ranked in 168th place out of 189 countries and territories in 2019 when ranked in terms of life expectancy, literacy, access to knowledge and the living standards of a country, Senegal is widely seen as model of
stability in a region of Africa often ravaged by conflict. The
country is home to just over six million children who can
expect to live until they are around 67.94 years old (2019). Many children
in Senegal live within polygamous families sharing their father with two or
more wives and living within a rural compound that's home to around ten
people. Most children have around five siblings however not all will survive
birth or even reach their fifth birthday with 45.3 deaths per 1,000 live births (2019), although this has dropped significantly from 1970 when the number was 287.9.
Traditional village homes are made from mud bricks with wooden roofs
entwined with millet stalks and are often decorated with numerous family
photographs with the father spending time with each wife and children and
household tasks being rotated amongst the women. Each day life for most Senegal children starts with breakfast of baguettes then
chores including collecting water
from nearby wells. Then it's off to school for those who attend
where reading, writing and arithmetic form the basis of study.
Although education is free in Senegal and compulsory up to the
age of sixteen, there are simply not enough school places and
it is estimated that of children between the ages of five and
fourteen enrollment was just 46.56 % in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators with the figure
dropping even further for older children and thsoe in rural areas.
Fewer
girls go to school in Senegal than boys, mainly due to
poverty, and in secondary school the attendance rate for girls
is just 15%. This is reflected in literacy rates for Senegal
children, currently standing at 51.1% for boys but just 29.2%
for girls, although both thes efigures are improving year on year. After school, its more chores, then of course, play, with
football being a firm favourite, not just for boys, but girls
as well. In fact, football for girls is widely promoted in
schools as its seen as away of keeping them in education who
may otherwise drop out believing that studying has no part of
their future. Many
children in Senegal are concerned about this future in their
country, facing a seemingly never ending cycle of poverty.
High unemployment rates encourage many older children to seek
greener pastures in Europe, although entry is normal illegal
and fraught with dangers, but, as one Senegal would be migrant
stated "All the youth here have one common goal. Leaving the
country." The video (below) provides some insight
into the lives of children in Senegal. Also below is a directory of some projects and programs working in Senegal with children who are looking for your support.
Children in Senegal: Senegalese Childrens Aid Group
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Children in Senegal: The Hunger Project
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Children in Senegal: SOS Children's Villages
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Children in Senegal: Jokalante
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Children in Senegal: Sponsor Children In Senegal
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Children in Senegal: Senegal Street Children
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Children in Senegal: Volunteer in Senegal
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Children in Senegal: Senegal Country Profile
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Details of current volunteer work
opportunities in each of the
countries of Africa.
Find how to sponsor a child in Africa
with our list of organisations,
charities, programs and projects.
Discover all about Africa, its tourist
attractions, history, people, culture
and daily life there.
