Why Care & Community in Senegal?

Senegal has deserts, forests, miles of beautiful coastline, a lively Franco-African music scene and plenty to see and do. The most visited country in West Africa, it is a land full of natural beauty and thriving commercial centres. With a cool but tropical climate and a lusher, more fertile land than many of its neighbours, Senegal makes an ideal introduction to this vast continent.

Volunteering in Senegal

Working in a kindergarten in St. Louis with children from the ages of 3 to 6, volunteers help with a variety of activities such as arts, games and songs, and help local staff to develop stimulating new ideas to interest young children in learning. Volunteers also get involved in working with street children, known as talibés, preparing free meals, or taking some of them to the beach for the day, to give them a much needed break their daily routine of begging on the streets.

Why Volunteer in a Care & Community Placement?

Voluntary care work is extremely beneficial to all those involved, whether it is in a developed or a developing country. Throughout the world, there are vast numbers of children who are orphaned or neglected, and in need of love, care and affection. These are things which you do not need to be trained or qualified to give. The only qualities that the volunteer needs to possess are a care for fellow human beings and a desire to improve the lives of those with domestic or physical circumstances less fortunate than their own.

People are often unaware of the impact they can have on another person's life, with even the smallest gesture. Spending as little as one month working in an orphanage, a volunteer can have a hugely significant and positive impact on the lives of underprivileged children.

While the input of the volunteer is beneficial to the placement, in turn the placement proves beneficial to the volunteer. Volunteers are in a privileged position to be able to work in an environment culturally different from their own, where they can have unique experiences and develop a greater understanding of how other groups of people think and live. They go home with more self-confidence and a greater knowledge of the world.