Learning for 100 more adults in Senegal.

This is Babou's story, told by Babou in Wolof then translated into Engish.

Hello, my name is Babou, I am 28 years old. I am originally from the district of Sakal, located in the region of Louga (230 Km from Kaolack). I have 3 sisters and a half-brother. My parents chose to send me to a daara (Koranic school) here in Kaolack from a young age because my father's marabout (religious guide) lived here in Kaolack. I don't remember how old I was. Thank God today I have mastered the Qur'an and now I am learning more religious knowledge in the daara.

Every day I wake up very early, Then I pedal my bike to the market. There I help a few stallholders to get ready, sweep, and display their wares. With the money I earn, I am able to save a little so that when I finish my religious studies, I can use my savings to start doing a little business.

However, being aware that I also need to read, write, speak and understand the minimum in French [our national language] and maybe in English, I started coming to the Diapalante Centre 3 months ago to try to fill this gap in my knowledge so important for my future.

Now I can send and read a message on my phone. I can also do calculations. I'm also starting to understand a lot of French words that people mix with Wolof for example: aujourd'hui, responsable, projet, etc. I have also learned some important short phrases in French and English e.g. come here, come back, go there, go back, what is your name, my name is, thank you, sorry etc.

Beyond my business project, if I can read and write French well, I will be able to apply to some private religious schools as a teacher. But above all, I come to learn for my personal development. When I come to the Centre, I also take the opportunity to chat and socialise with the other learners.

I really thank the Diapalante Centre for giving me the opportunity to catch up because without the Centre it would have been very difficult.

Greetings from Senegal. In this report we would like to share with you the story of Marie. She shows how, even today, many people are completely missing out on a school education in Senegal. She is pleased to get the opportunity to start to learn – it is your donations that provide that opportunity for Marie and many others.

Marie is a young adult, 18 years old. She was born in the village of Ker Ngagne Diop, 35km west of Kaolack. She learnt the Qur’an from the age of eight but she never went to school because the nearest school was 3km away and there was no transport. After her parents separated in 2020 her mother remarried and moved with her two daughters to live with her new husband in Kaolack.

As Marie explains “Today I am an apprentice tailor at the central market in Kaolack. I really like this job although my inability to read and write has caused me many difficulties. When I realised I was having problems I came to the Diapalante Community Education Centre. For eight months I have been coming three times a week learning to read, write and do basic sums. Although there is still a lot for me to learn I feel proud that I can now take and write down the clients measurements. I know how to write my name, I am doing well reading and can do easy calculations (adding and subtracting) and tell the time that is shown on my phone. All this is thanks to the Diapalante Centre. In the future I hope to become a designer, have my own dressmaking business and travel the world.

I am very pleased to be a member of the Diapalante Centre, everyone here is so helpful.”