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Project Requirements
A good level of spoken and written French and some previous experience in your chosen field on some particular projects. Some previous experience of Africa is advised.
The Volunteer Project
There is a wide range of project work available in Senegal, dependent on your skills, to suit your interests and background. These projects are based in the busy and bustling capital city of Dakar, or the quiet and relatively small town of St Louis, which is located on the coastline north of Dakar. To help us arrange the most suitable volunteer project for you we will need to know which project options most interest you, what experience you have working in these areas, where you would like to work and what you are hoping to get out of your project. The project areas are listed as follows:
Teaching Placements - These projects are great for volunteers as they offer a good structure and do not require any specific qualifications. With these placements, you have the choice of working in a primary (5-13yrs), junior secondary (13-16) or secondary school (16-18) within Dakar. St Louis offers some great Secondary School placements for you. Your first week will usually be spent observing the Senegalese teachers before you start teaching in the second week. Maths and English are the two most popular subjects volunteers like to support and teach, although it is open to whatever you like – science, drama, art, music, geography etc.
As a volunteer, it is important that you bring something different to the classroom, that without you, they would miss. This could include sexual education, HIV and AIDS awareness workshops, human rights classes or vocational skills for the future, just to name a few. At pre-schools you will be teaching young children the basics such as numeracy, songs, the alphabet etc. Primary schools generally require a little extra patience, as the children are always very excited to see volunteers. Classes 4-6 pupils are generally calmer and ready to learn.
Please note:
- If you teach in the kindergartens, then it is possible to work for just 4 weeks.
- Primary Schools require volunteers to work for at least 8 weeks.
- Secondary Schools require volunteers to work for at least 12 weeks.
Summer Schools - During the school vacations in Senegal you may volunteer at organised summer schools, where children from local towns who need help assemble into one school. This has been very effective so far and headmasters and children have found the programmes very useful. During this time, you can coach sports, teach art and music and simply spend your time enjoying your interaction with the children. Though the time will not be ‘structured’, you can be very creative and bring lots of ideas with you to the classroom each day, thus forming your own daily structure.
Projects For Vulnerable Groups – We have a number of projects helping local communities in Senegal. These vary but include:
- Mental disability projects working with children of different ages to provide care, comfort and support. You will also help to develop children’s skills in education and activities such as sports, gardening, music and games etc. You will need some previous experience in this field and a stay of three months or longer.
- Childcare projects where women often send their children onto the streets for help. You will identify these children, provide education and awareness to them, provide love and support but also venture into speaking to the mothers and trying to educate them towards alternative methods of social welfare.
- Reduction of illiteracy through associations which target children most in need and provide education and practical activities, as well as health care needs.
- Vocational centres for women where you can teach these women the vocational skills needed to provide themselves with further job opportunities in the future. Previous volunteers have taught skills such as waitressing, dressmaking, English and Maths, health and nutrition, reading, writing and fun activities such as drama, art and sports.
Street Children Projects – These projects cater for young individuals from very difficult backgrounds, such as domestic abuse, homelessness or addiction. Your help will assist them in escaping their hardships, educating them and receiving much-needed emotional support. We have a number of Street children projects in Senegal. These vary but include:
- Street Children Centres where children come voluntarily to receive shelter, education and emotional support. At present, there are between 10 – 35 children at the centres at any one time, with mornings being the busiest period and afternoons very quiet. Therefore we advise you to remain flexible, as at lunchtime you will often be able to invite the children back in the afternoon to continue to either teach or play.
- Associations aimed at identifying street children and trying to reunite them with their families and help them integrate back into society. You may also teach these children basic subjects together with useful vocational skills for their future.
- General child care projects which involve you taking care of neglected children, providing love and support, education, sex and drug education, cleaning and mending their clothes and general awareness of their environment.
Health Care Work and Medical Clinics - Please note that you will need qualifications and experience in this field of work. You will have the opportunity to work in the larger hospitals in Dakar, which have a number of large wards and departments for you to become involved in or you will work on community medical schemes. Your activities will include helping in the consulting rooms, shadowing fellow doctors in routine observations and medical practices, helping in the dispensary, in the operating theatre and outpatient department, treatment of uncomplicated diseases, fresh cuts and old wounds and assisting in the family planning services and maternal wards, to name but a few.
HIV and AIDS projects - These projects are vital to the education of children and adults about the threat and risks of HIV and AIDS in Africa. During the project, you will be focused on moving from school to school, working alongside the children on this education scheme, through the use of visual aids and workshops. Please note that you will need qualifications and experience in this field of work.
Your activities will include:
- Home base visitation and counselling for HIV and Aids affected families
- Facilitating public and peer education, through use of posters, videos, talks etc
- Designing educational materials with the children and forming clubs within the communities, to carry on your valuable work, once you leave
Construction Projects - These projects are not for the unfit! You will be working hard on building sites mainly in urban areas with a number of fellow local teammates from Senegal helping to erect a number of buildings. These may include domestic houses, offices, schools and orphanages. Working hours are usually from about 8am – 4pm. Please note that you will need experience in this field of work. Your activities will include mixing concrete, helping carry materials, roofing, bricklaying, painting, electrics and plumbing.
Orphanage Projects - The orphanages usually have about 20-30 children, from the ages of 0 – 3 years and some older children who suffer from mental disabilities. This is a wonderful opportunity to provide vital love and support to young children who have lost their families, either through death, abuse or abandonment and with your care, you can really enhance their lives. You will provide general care and welfare to the children and any extra activities to develop physical and mental education.
There are few registered orphanages and therefore spaces for volunteers are limited to just 2 weeks at a time. Depending on the number of volunteers at the time, longer placements may be arranged – please speak to the Africa team and be prepared to volunteer on another programme for the remainder of your stay.
Please note: Senegal is a great country for experiencing a diverse culture but please be prepared to experience a little culture shock at first. If you have previous experience of Africa, this will better equip you for the differences you will experience. Please also note that whilst French is considered the main language, local people will tend to converse in Wolof, so it will help to learn some of this in country.
Project Orientation
Upon your arrival into Dakar, Senegal, you will be met by a representative and transferred to your host family in Dakar, or a hostel in town if you are volunteering outside of Dakar city centre. In the hostel, you will be in a single or twin room. Breakfast each day and dinner on your first night is included, though you will have to buy your own lunch and dinner for the orientation days.
The orientation starts on Monday and lasts until Thursday. The orientation is designed to help you settle as quickly as possible into your placement and Senegalese life and generally make you feel comfortable during your time in Africa. On the Wednesday, you will be transferred to your programme area and meet the staff on your specific volunteer programme.
During the orientation, you will be taught all of the essential information needed for your stay in Senegal. Some of the topics covered include:
- An introduction to Senegalese culture and values and workplace ethics
- Introductory local language lessons in the native language of Wolof
- Health and safety, money and transportation whilst in Senegal
- A tour of Dakar. You will also be taken on a day trip to either the Pink Lake or Goree Island
Project Support
Throughout your stay in Senegal you will have the support and guidance of the project leaders and team. They will provide you with competent field support and assistance and help you with any questions or support you may need during your stay. A meeting will also be scheduled for you early on in your placement to give you an extra opportunity to network and socialise with the other volunteers and students in Senegal. In addition, we will provide you with a 24 hour emergency contact number before you depart, so that you can contact one of our UK staff at any time should you need to.
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