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A Ramadan of Good Deeds

Senegal Dakar Yes Alumnae Delivering Donations Collected For Ramadan Drive To Association Les Etudiants Aident Les Necessiteux

By Aita Diakhate, YES 2010-2011, Senegal, hosted by AYUSA in Lowell, MA

Ramadan is a month where people multiply good deeds as it is believed that all rewards of God are multiplied during that holy month. It is in that spirit that service events have become a tradition for many in Senegal. This year, as in previous ones, YES alumni in Senegal celebrated Ramadan by helping bring food and clothing to people in need in Dakar, Thies, St Louis, and Kaolack.

In Dakar and Thies, alumni organized a food and clothing drive to support “Les Etudiants aident les Neccessiteux,” an association of English department students of Cheikh Anta Diop University of Dakar. This association was collecting, for the 18th year in a row, donations for populations in remote areas of Senegal where there is no running water or electricity. Alumni began the drive by each donating clothing or money themselves. They then distributed flyers to family and friends and spread the word through social media. Through these efforts, in just ten days, alumni collected 10 bags of clothing and approximately $98, which was used to buy food staples such as  rice, oil, milk, and sugar. On June 24, Khadidiatou Diedhiou (YES 2010-2011, Senegal, hosted by AYUSA in Green Bay, WI), Seynabou Camara (YES 2011-2012, Senegal, hosted by CCI Greenheart in Augusta, GA), Aita Ndiour Mbaye (YES 2011-2012, Senegal, hosted by AFS in Cleveland Heights, OH), Soukeyna Tall (YES 2012-2013, Senegal, hosted by AYA in Stockton, CA), Aida Fall (YES 2013-2014, Senegal, hosted by AYUSA in Pueblo, CO) and I delivered all collected donations to the coordinator of the association, which will then distribute the items to those in need of them.

Senegal St Louis Mame Yacine Dieng Yes 14 Along With Friends Before Delivering Bought Inkind Donations From Rramadan Drive To A Choranic School

Inspired by the Ramadan Drive in Dakar, Mame Yacine Diop (YES 2013-2014, Senegal, hosted by CIEE in Chattanooga, TN) organized a drive to support people in need in her community, St Louis. Mame enlisted the help of five of her friends, and together they went around the neighborhood and the local market to talk about their initiative and ask for donations. Approximately $109 were collected and used to buy groceries such as onions, sweet potatoes, rice, and oil, which they then donated to a local “Dara” (Koranic school), which houses approximately 500 children.

In Kaolack, Dame Sakho (YES 2014-2015, Senegal, hosted by PAX in Dewar, OK) and Fatoumata Bintou Sylla (YES 2016-2017, Senegal, hosted by YFU in Cheverly, MD) took part in Solidarity Day, an event organized by the English Access Microscholarship Program in Kaolack on June 12 in solidarity with the World Day Against Child Labor. Dame, 15 Access students, seven Access alumni, program staff, and other volunteers collected clothing and raised money to make meals, which they served to more than 50 children who live on the streets.

In total, over 600 individuals benefited from the donation drives alumni held during Ramadan in Senegal and we hope to do more in years to come!


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