By El Hadji Faly Seck (YES 2019-2020, Senegal, placed by PAX in Hope, AR) 

Have you ever seen a smile? Well, of course you have, but have you ever seen the smile of young warriors? Have you ever seen the smile of a brave child fighting to survive a disease, like diabetes, that is so hard to manage in a country with limited resources?  

Alumni in Senegal saw 15 of these warriors’ smiles at the end of December when former Alumni Coordinator Aminatou Diop (YES 2016-2017, Senegal, placed by AFS in Cleveland Heights, OH) organized a Christmas event for 15 children at Albert Royer National Children’s Hospital in Dakar. 

Aminatou organized a fundraiser to provide gifts for the children, and I had the opportunity to participate both in the fundraiser and in the event as an alumnus. Four alumni were present at the event: Pape Abdoulaye Diop, Fatoumata Bint Rassoul Thiam, Mamadou Diaoune, and myself. 

We started the event by sharing our Christmas experiences from our time in the United States with the children in the hospital. The kids looked so excited hearing us tell them how big and beautiful the Christmas trees were, how impatient we were to open our gifts under it, how amazing the streets were thanks to all the decorations, and how delicious the food was. 

When I finished talking, I saw the same look on their faces that I used to have when I was daydreaming about life in the U.S. – a look filled with joy, excitement, and reverie. And that is exactly where the importance of sharing resides: Not only do you get to make the one who listens happy, but you remind yourself how lucky you are having lived those moments.  

We continued the event by playing a game called “Jingle Toss.” The kids were divided into two groups: boys versus girls. I loved seeing them be so involved and competitive. 

Then, I dressed as Santa Clause, because what is a Christmas party without Santa? The children welcomed me with laughter and applause, they sang for me, and I danced for them. What a terrible dancer Santa was! Fortunately, my dance moves were bad enough to make them laugh. We then played a game called “Freeze! Santa is here.”  During the game, the children looked happy and were interactive.  

At the end of the event, I had mixed emotions, between joy and gratitude, motivation, and inspiration. I was joyful because, as an alumni team, we succeeded in helping the children have a lot of fun. I gained such a sense of gratitude because of those kids. Despite dealing with diabetes every day, they know how to smile, play, and be positive. What do I have to complain about?  

The outcome of the event and hearing the children's parents express their gratitude to us was incredible. The children do not often get to participate in such entertaining activities, which made me want to do more for them, to positively impact these children’s lives and the community.  

Perhaps you have not seen the smiles of these young warriors, but now, you can imagine it. You can feel it throughout this text and, who knows, one day create your own smiles?  

Pape Abdoulaye Diop (YES 2017-2018, Senegal, placed by AFS in Janesville, WI) 

Fatoumata Bint Rassoul Thiam (YES 2018-2019, Senegal, placed by World Link in Swansea, IL) 

Mamadou Diaoune (YES 2014-2015, Senegal, placed by American Councils in Murrysville, PA)