From the Director - January 2024

As we move into another new year, I want to personally thank you for your support. I wish that everyone could see the incredible impacts of our work and hear the gratitude directly from our partner communities, but take a second to read these words and take them in for yourself because YOU helped to make this possible:

“As a midwife I can bear witness, all the new babies born in the village are now at least 7-9 pounds. Malnutrition has left this village; nobody is underfed now. We thank the lord, we thank everyone for this.”

— Mboyo Walo garden member

There are too many wonderful updates and stories to share, so here are just a few highlights since our last update.  Mbadhiou Peulh Primary School opened its doors this fall with three beautifully renovated classrooms and brand-new bathroom facilities.  The teachers there told us that this is the first year that classes were able to start on time with a spot for every student who wanted to enroll.

At Mbadhiou Peulh Primary school, students enjoy the renovated classrooms with enough space for everyone.

At Keur Soce High School our first-ever school garden started their first gardening campaign, which will soon support a school canteen to provide healthy meals to students from remote villages who otherwise wouldn’t have anything to eat during the school day.

Students at Keur Soce High School are improving their food security and learning practical science lessons in their new school garden.

Due to our steadfast commitment to improving access to quality education for over a decade, Andando was recently recognized with an award from Senegal’s National Minister of Education!

Andando representatives (left to right: Thiam, Fiona, Boubou, and Kevin) accepting an award from Senegal’s National Minister of Education for our significant contributions in the education sector for more than a decade.

This past fall Andando was also named as a finalist for the .ORG Impact Awards in Washington DC, out of nearly 1,000 candidates from 70 countries. We are so proud of what we have been able to accomplish together with you and our partner communities and are glad that more people are starting to take notice.

Garrison and Crystal represented Andando at the .ORG Impact Awards held in Washington DC. Andando was a finalize out of over 1,000 nonprofits from 70 different countries!

Thank you again for all you have done to support the people of Senegal and we can’t wait to make an even bigger impact in 2024!

Public Interest Registry Names Andando as 2023 .ORG Impact Awards Finalists, Padma Lakshmi to Host

Public Interest Registry (PIR), the people behind .ORG, named the finalists for the 5th annual .ORG Impact Awards and announced that Padma Lakshmi—activist, author, and host/producer of Hulu’s Taste the Nation—will host the awards ceremony where the winners will be revealed on November 16 in Washington, D.C. The program recognizes and rewards outstanding mission-driven individuals and organizations from around the world for their positive contributions to society.

Andando is named as a finalist in the Community Building category for their outstanding work in Senegal aiding rural communities to break intergenerational cycles of poverty and create lasting positive change especially for women and girls. This is the first time that Andando’s achievements are being recognized at the global level which is both an honor and a great opportunity for a larger audience to engage with their work.

Andando’s women’s gardens, health posts, schools, and microloans work together to help communities to lift themselves out of poverty.

Andando’s holistic, community centered approach to poverty reduction has affected over 50,000 people in some of the most remote and underserved villages in Senegal.  Partnerships last a minimum of 5 years and can include interventions in food security, healthcare, school infrastructure and microfinance, all depending on the needs and desires of each community. To date Andando has constructed and supports 40 women’s cooperative gardens, 65 classrooms, 45 latrines and has distributed over 2,000 microloans.

“We are honored to welcome our 2023 .ORG Impact Award Finalists into our growing community of changemakers, who inspire us to make the world a better place. We created the awards to celebrate those within the .ORG Community who work tirelessly to uplift their communities—and this year’s finalists represent hope for a brighter future” said Jon Nevett, President, and CEO of Public Interest Registry.

From food justice to health advocacy, Lakshmi is a passionate and outspoken advocate in the mission-driven community

“We also are thrilled to have Padma Lakshmi join us to celebrate the immense impact of the OIA finalists, winners, and .ORG community at our awards ceremony. A changemaker herself with an inspiring advocacy background, Padma will bring new energy and celebration to this year’s awards.”

Andando’s Executive Director Garrison Harward along with Development Director Crystal Kelley will travel to the .ORG Impact Awards celebration where the winners will be announced. 35 finalists, out of nearly 1,000 candidates, will attend the ceremony where the .ORG of the year winner will receive a donation of $50,000 with the other category winners each receiving $10,000.  

“It’s an honor to be a finalist for such a prestigious global award. If we are lucky enough to win our category or even .ORG of the Year 100% of the funds will go directly into life changing projects for a new rural community in Senegal. Beyond that though we hope that more people will see what we are doing and want to get involved. The impacts we’re achieving are truly incredible.”

- Garrison Harward, Executive Director

Public Interest Registry (PIR) is a nonprofit that operates the .ORG top-level domain—one of the world’s largest generic top-level domains with more than 10.8 million domain names registered worldwide. .ORG is open to everyone, providing a global platform for organizations, associations, clubs, businesses and individuals to bring their ideas to life. PIR has been a champion for a free and open Internet for two decades with a clear mission to be an exemplary domain name registry, provide a trusted digital identity and help educate those who dedicate themselves to improving our world. PIR was founded by the Internet Society (internetsociety.org) in 2002 and is based in Reston, Virginia, USA. Visit www.TheNew.org for more information.

From the Director - October 2023

·       A potential new partner school in the neighboring commune of Ndiedieng, next to Keur Soce.

40 gardens, 14 health posts, 65 classrooms, 45 latrines, and over 2,000 microloans to date.  These numbers are impressive but what is the real limit of what we can do together?  How many more people can we reach?  How can we grow without losing the personal touch and care that has made Andando so uniquely successful?  What is next for Andando? These are questions that I ask myself constantly and with the completion of our 40th garden this feels like an important moment to step back, take stock, and share our vision for the future.  

Some of the amazing Podor team standing in front of our newly completed tree nursery, which will drastically increase the rate at which we can build new gardens.

It is nothing short of miraculous what Andando has been able to achieve over the past 15 years, but there is still so much more work to do. We’ve been in the incubator together, so to speak, building a community of supporters and developing our methods and partnerships.  What we do works, and we have a moral imperative now to reach as many communities in need as we can.

The incredible Keur Soce team after a strategic planning training this past August.

To this end we are investing in our local staff, who have always been key to our success, building their capacity and giving them the tools and training to tackle larger projects in the future.  We are working with regional government leaders to assess our current impacts and develop long-term plans to address the remaining needs in Keur Soce and Podor. And we are looking for Andando’s next region, or regions, to expand into, where our unique and dedicated approach can impact even more remote and neglected communities.  

Podor Tree Program Manager Alassane Ba (Gorgui), taking our new office computer for a test drive.

We are poised and ready to expand and there has never been a better, or a more needed time to support Andando.  Whether through the auction, monthly contributions, volunteering, or spreading the word, your support is not just another drop in the bucket, it directly impacts what we do every day and how big our vision for the future can be.

“Jéréjëf!” – Thank You!

- Garrison Harward, Executive Director

Update from the Field

I have just returned from Senegal and there is far too much good news to wait for the next newsletter!  We were fortunate to have good weather during the trip, not a guarantee in the rainy season, so we were able to see most of the new projects that we’re working on and how they’re coming together.  This is just a quick overview so stay tuned for more in-depth information soon on all of these amazing projects!

Garrison and Gorgui standing with our new deep borehole well in the desert.

In the Keur Soce area work is nearly complete on our first ever school garden at Keur Soce High School.  The fence, basins, and storehouse are done, leaving only the water connection to our nearby Thiako garden whose members are generously contributing their water to the school.  We are so excited that this will be the first high school in all of Senegal with an integrated aquaculture training program!  Work should be completed here by the end of the month, and we will share more pictures when classes start in October and garden activities begin.

The completed garden storehouse stands in front of the beautiful Keur Soce High School classrooms.

A fish basin inside Keur Soce High School Garden with Mandaw, Garden Program Manager.

Watering basins will be connected to the aquaculture system so that nutrient rich fish water can be used to water crops in the garden.

Renovations begin at Mbadhiou Peulh Primary School.

Also in Keur Soce we got to see the beginning of renovations of three classrooms at Mbadhiou Peulh Primary School.  The local municipal government is constructing two new classrooms here this year but didn’t have the means to upgrade the existing classroom building which has a leaking roof and cracked walls. So at the request of the village Andando stepped in to renovate the current classrooms so that all students will have a safe and proper learning environment for years to come.  We will also be adding a new block of latrines hare as well this fall!

Students from Mbadhiou Peulh Primary School in one of the classrooms that is now being renovated.

Adjacent to the existing classrooms is a temporary classroom where some students have to study in difficult conditions.

Due to the collaboration between the community and Andando all students will now study in proper safe and secure classrooms.

Madame Sekk, the head nurse of the regional hospital, facilitates a community meetings in the village of Bida in preparation to start construction on a new health post there.

In Podor we finished the selection process for our next health post which will be built in the rural community of Bida.  This village is dedicated to community health with several healthcare workers already operating a seasonal clinic here out of temporary structures which must be rebuilt each year.  We are proud to be working with such dedicated partners and can’t wait to see the impact that a proper health post will have on their ability to care for their community. We will share more about the incredible story of this village when we start construction here in November.

A boy from Togane stands with the papaya tree he helped plant this spring.

We are also nearly finished with construction on our new tree nursery and agroforestry center in Podor.  Our borehole well drilling was a complete success, and we now have a high output water source with a solar well pump system which will enable us to produce a minimum of 50,000 beneficial native trees here each year.  With these tree we will be able to speed up the implementation of new gardens and provide trees to all of our schools, health posts, and partner communities to bolster their food security, improve quality of life, and help them to restore the ecology of their lands. 

Photo Descriptions: 1) Clean fresh water flows from our new well in the Podor Tree Nursery. 2) Fruit tree seedlings in the Keur Soce Tree Nursery, which has started over 15,000 trees this year! 3) Podor Tree Nursery complete with basins, storehouse, water reservoir, solar panels, and restrooms. 4) A woman from Togane stands proudly with her Moringa trees. This is the first time that this village has ever had access to this miraculous and nutritious tree.

The children of Wouro Kelle verifying the water system. This garden draws water from the local river which turns brown from runoff during the rainy season.

Last but certainly not least we visited the community of Wouro Kelle to see the completion of Andando’s 40th garden!!  We are privileged to have this dedicated and deserving community join Andando at such a wonderful milestone and we can’t wait to share their story with you. Stay tuned for the next newsletter where we will profile Wouro Kelle and tell you more about the impact that this garden will have there. We would never have gotten to this point, or be able to reach such remote villages as this, without the steadfast support of our dedicated community of donors and volunteers over the past 15 years. Our hats off to you!

The women of Wourou Kelle celebrate the completion of their new garden.

It’s hard to believe but it’s already “Auction Season” for Andando, and if any of these projects resonated with you, please consider contributing in some way to help make the auction a success! We always have many more projects up for consideration than we can accomplish each year, and the success of the auction is the deciding factor on much of our yearly programing.  Whether you can help by volunteering, donating auction items, spreading the word to new potential donors, or attending and bidding on some of our amazing auction items, we appreciate your support so that we can continue this vital work in Senegal. 

Please consider contributing through our annual auction fundraiser. Whether you can help by volunteering, donating auction items, spreading the word to new potential donors, or attending and bidding on some of our amazing auction items, we appreciate your support so that we can continue this vital work in Senegal.  More info at www.andando.org/events.

From the Director - July 2023

We are on a roll! It feels appropriate that with the lush growth of another rainy season, so many projects are coming to fruition for Andando. 

The inauguration of Seno Bowal Health Post, Andando’s 14th overall.

Our Seno Bowal health post, Andando’s 14th overall, was officially inaugurated on May 10th, and the first baby was born there less than a month later! This post was entirely funded by generous donations from Hub City Church, and we are so proud to be partnering with them to create life saving access to maternal healthcare in rural communities. 

Midwives and nurses standing outside the newly renovated health post in Thiemene Taba.

We are thrilled to report that the repairs of our first health post, Thiamene Taba, are complete as well! Altrusa International of Albany helped us to realize this rapid response to the damage that occurred here during the last rainy season, ensuring that this post will continue to serve the area for years to come.

Drilling the borehole in Podor for the new native tree nursery.

In Podor we successfully drilled our first borehole well in the desert last month, which is a crucial milestone towards building our new native tree nursery and agroforestry center.  This location will soon produce 50,000 beneficial trees each year thanks to a grant from Rick Steve’s Europe!

Workers frame up the rebar for the concrete aquaculture basin in the Keur Soce High School STEM garden. Construction is nearly complete on our first-ever school garden at Keur Soce High School, which will be the first high school in all of Senegal with an integrated aquaculture training program.

Back in Keur Soce work is nearly finished on our first ever school garden at Andando’s Keur Soce High School, which will be the first high school in all of Senegal with an integrated aquaculture training program.  We are still seeking funding to hopefully build a laboratory, classroom, library, and computer lab to continue to support this amazing school.

Breaking ground at Andando’s 40th(!!) garden located in the extremely isolated community of Wouro Kelle.

And last but not least, in the community of Wouro Kelle we just broke ground on Andando’s 40th garden!  Wow!! We never could have gotten to this point without the generous support of so many amazing people who partner with us year after year to help the people of Senegal. On behalf of all of our staff and partner communities,

Andando Receives Grant from The International Foundation

The International Foundation has awarded a $25,000 grant to Andando! The purpose of this grant is to build an innovative STEM focused school garden at the newly constructed Keur Soce High School, which we finished building earlier this year. The International Foundation funds “US-based non-profit organizations who partner with poor communities in the developing world to improve their health, education and incomes, while strengthening local capacity to sustain their benefits.”

The first photo of the fully complete Keur Soce High School. These 8 classrooms serve over 1,000 students who previously had to travel far distances to continue their education or, more commonly, had to drop out of school due to a lack of resources.

This grant will help to pay for the construction of a substantial one-acre teaching garden that will be used to facilitate practical lessons in biological sciences, mathematics, and business skills while substantially improving the food security of the student population. 

Selecting a site with community leaders for the first-ever teaching garden which will be incorporated into the new Keur Soce High School.

In a first for any high school in Senegal the garden will also incorporate an integrated aquaculture fish farming system.  Fish are a staple of Senegalese cuisine and increased dry land fish farming has the potential to greatly benefit inland economies and food security without contributing to over-fishing of coastal water or polluting watersheds.  

During a hands-on training, participants in our aquaculture project learn how to assess fish for health and growth.

Andando currently operates 38 women’s cooperative gardens in Senegal which produce over 500,000 lbs. of organic produce each year.  As with our other gardens we will provide the school with a trained local garden technician to help to establish the garden and fully integrate it into school curriculum.     

“The International Foundation’s support will help students at Keur Soce High school to gain invaluable practical experience and learn skills that will set them apart as they continue their educational and professional careers.”

— Garrison Harward, Andando Executive Director

Madame Marone and her students in one of the new classrooms at Keur Soce High School. 

Indeed, due to Andando’s continued investment in this school the Education Ministry has decided to designate Keur Soce High School as a science academy that will feed directly into a new Agricultural University in the regional capital Kaolack.  Andando is proud to be partnering with such prestigious institutions to substantially increase the quality of science education in the region for years to come.  

Andando is a US-based non-profit organization that works to alleviate poverty through community development in rural Senegal. Learn more about Andando at www.andando.org.

About The International Foundation:
The International Foundation was created in 1948. Like other early foundations, our purpose was “to promote, foster, encourage and further non-profit, non-sectarian and non-political educational, medical, philanthropic, humanitarian, scientific and literary enterprises of all kinds.”

In its many years of grant making, the International Foundation has worked with thousands of US-based 501(c)3 organizations to bring knowledge, resources and compassion to individuals and communities around the world. Our strategic mission has evolved in concert with the exponential growth in the United States non-profit sector and rapid evolution of the discipline of international development.

“At the core of our mission is the concept that charity alone isn’t enough. We must take charity to a level that delivers measurable and sustainable change that is “owned” by the project participants and that leaves broad, lasting benefits. We prioritize the principles of self-determination, local engagement, and sustainability, both as means to and ends of our philanthropic goals. More and more, this requires grant-maker and grantee to share a common view of the challenges, optimal solutions, and ultimate objectives of our partnering efforts.”

From the Director - On the Ground in Senegal - January 2023

Enjoying the company of some of our Keur Soce based staff. We have a great team on the ground in Senegal who are incredibly knowledgeable and fun to be around.

Thanks to the incredible generosity that our community showed last year at our fall gala fundraiser and through our year-end giving campaign, we are able to hit the ground running in 2023! I am currently in Senegal working with the team to finalize plans for our yearly projects which will include at least four new gardens, a health post, and two new schools.

Seynabou, one of our technicians, will manage our new STEM focused teaching garden at Keur Soce High School.

At the request of Keur Soce High School, we are also building our first ever school garden this year. The administration wanted to improve their science curriculum, and together we decided that a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) focused teaching garden, with an integrated aquaculture system, would help to give students valuable skills for their educational and professional careers.

Gorgui, a technician in Podor, is our new regional Tree Program Manager and will oversee the construction of a new permanent tree nursery and training center in Podor.

Seynabou Ndao, one of our phenomenal technicians who we profiled last year, will manage the project and help teachers to develop a new garden-centered STEM curriculum. Seynabou has a degree in physics and chemistry from the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, and we are so excited to see the positive impact she will have as a resource and role model for students.

In Podor another one of our technicians Alassane Ba, who goes by Gorgui, is stepping up as our new regional Tree Program Manager. This year we are constructing a permanent tree nursery and training center in Podor in order to combat severe deforestation and desertification in the region. Our tree nursery and Gorgui’s work will help to strengthen our gardens and the ecology of our partner communities against the effects of climate change.

It’s a joy to be able to share not only our exciting projects for the coming year, but also how our staff is growing as they take the lead to improve our programs in Senegal. We are so proud of them! Your continued support makes this, and everything Andando does, possible. Jerejef - thank you!

A Tale of Toilets and Triumphs: Improving Education in Rural Senegal

The final two classrooms nearly complete at Keur Soce High School.

December in Senegal marks the start of the cool dry season.  The hard work of harvesting rainy season crops is finished, families are starting their seasonal vegetable gardens, and kids are settled into the rhythms of a new school year.  It’s a steady time of year, with lots of work to be sure, but more measured with less heat and a definite air of abundance from the harvest.  This is also the time of year when a lot of Andando’s yearly projects come to fruition, especially in our education sector.  We are thrilled to share that in Podor our new classrooms at Ndiawara Middle School, and Donaye Teredji High School are finished and classes have already started in these beautiful new buildings.   This is our second year partnering with both of these schools and we are already seeing incredible benefits from the improving conditions.  After building the first set of classrooms last year we visited and discussed with the administrations to evaluate the needs of each school.  Both reported increased enrollment and we decided that rather than moving on to another location we would stick with these schools to finish another set of classrooms to meet the full needs at each location. 

Students gather outside their classrooms at Donaye Teredji High School, where 100% of the students who took the advanced S2 science course, held in the new classrooms we constructed last year, passed their exams!

When talking with the principal of Donaye Teredji High School we also learned that 100% of the students who took the advanced S2 science course, held in the new classrooms we constructed last year, passed their exams!  Because of this tremendous success the administration has decided to offer the highest high school level science course, S1, this year.  This is the first time this course has been offered in the region outside of Saint Louis, which is over 120 miles away!  Very few families have the means to send their children away for school, especially to large cities, so when courses aren’t offered locally that usually means the end of a student’s education in that subject.  We are thrilled for these students’ accomplishments and are so happy that the classrooms we were able to construct are helping them to continue their education. 

The last two (of eight) classrooms in the final stages of construction at Keur Soce High School.

In Keur Soce we are putting the finishing touches on the last two classrooms of Keur Soce High School.   This new two story 8 classroom block is being praised by everyone from students and parents to educators and even the Education Ministry for the quality, and speed of the construction.  Taking on an infrastructure project this large was a new and daunting task for Andando but with diligent planning and management from our staff and partners we got it done and the results are amazing! Here’s what one of teachers, Mr. Touré, had to say about it:

Mr Touré, Life & Earth Science and Math teacher in Keur Soce Schools since 2005

“We started the school with two classes and I was fortunate to be there when it started… If today we have a high school, it’s thanks to Andando. And we’re very thankful to you who provided us with classrooms the way they should be with floors and walls well made. Before, the classes we had were shelters with lots of dust. The effects of the dust on the kids and their clothes was so bad. Now that we have the clean floors, that we can work without getting dirty, we say bravo to Andando.”

— Mr. Touré, Teacher at Keur Soce High School

BEFORE:

Temporary classrooms constructed on dirt floors left teachers and students exposed to the elements.

AFTER:

New classrooms are elevated above the dirt with concrete floors & walls, and a durable metal roof - protecting students and classroom furnishing from the elements.

Mr. Touré went on to tell us that because of the increased enrollment at the high school and the excellent conditions of the new classrooms, the Education Ministry has decided that this high school should become a regional science academy that will feed into a new university in the regional capital of Kaolack.  This is huge news for the students of this region and will provide many more options and resources for them to continue their education.  With this news in mind we have decided to continue our commitment to this school and next year we will construct our first school science garden here with an incorporated aquaculture training program.  The garden will be used to facilitate practical lessons in science, statistics, and business and will be a source of extra income for school programs and will increase nutritional options for students and their families.  This will be the first high school in all of Senegal with an aquaculture program, giving students here a huge leg up in their educational and professional careers after graduation. 

Access to sanitary bathrooms has a huge impact on the quality of life of students and can help to increase student attendance and enrollment, especially for girls.  UNESCO estimates that 1 in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their menstrual cycle due to lack of facilities or sanitary products. [Photos: Latrines under construction, and completed —shiny, and new, and ready to use.]

The last thing we want to talk about is a little less romantic, but no less important.  Classrooms and gardens are great but one of the most important things that students need to get through a successful day at school is a bathroom.  Access to sanitary bathrooms has a huge impact on the quality of life of students and can help to increase student attendance and enrollment, especially for girls.  UNESCO estimates that 1 in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their menstrual cycle due to lack of facilities or sanitary products. 

UNESCO estimates that 1 in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their menstrual cycle due to lack of facilities or sanitary products. 

This is hugely detrimental to their education and increases the chance that they will drop out of school prematurely.  Installing sanitary bathroom facilities with running water at our partner schools is an essential element of Andando’s education sector.  Keur Soce High School currently has only 4 toilets for the entire school with an enrollment now of over 1,000 students.  We are in the process this year of building an additional two blocks of toilets, 4 for girls and 4 for boys, helping all the students there to have the facilities they need to continue their education. 

Students in one of the newly constructed classrooms at Donaye Teredji High School.

Donaye Teredji High School has an even larger enrollment this year of over 1,300 students and are in desperate need of more bathroom facilities.  This was a project that we had planned to start next year in 2023, but because of the tremendous success of our yearly Auction Gala we are able to begin construction immediately.  We are very often operating at the limits of our capacity and your support truly makes a difference in what we are able to do with our partner communities. Thank you so much for helping to provide the facilities these students deserve so they can thrive and gain the education they need to help lift themselves and their communities out of poverty. 

From the Team - July 2022

A rare moment when three of our US-based staff (Lewis, Garrison, and Crystal) are in Senegal at the same time.

We had the rare pleasure of having three of our US-based staff in Senegal at the same time! This allowed us to dive deep with our team on the ground there and make BIG plans for the future.

We were honored to help cut the ribbon at the official opening ceremony for Keur Soce High School!

Keur Soce High School is finishing up its first year of classes, and with enrollment increasing we finalized plans with the administration to construct an additional two classrooms to meet their current need. We also discussed the possibility of adding a school garden in the future with an attached science classroom to help boost their science curriculum.

After only six months since launching the aquaculture program, the fish are big enough to harvest. Each of the pilot gardens received advanced training, which will help them move towards self-sufficiency and reap the maximum benefits from the project.

In the gardens, we got to witness the first fish harvest from our pilot aquaculture program! The women and technicians have worked so hard to learn this new skill, and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate their success with them.

Fresh fish is hard to come by in these arid regions of Senegal. But now garden participants enjoy the nutritional benefits of fresh fish while also seeing their gardens bursting through the use of water from the fish ponds for their plants.

In Podor we met with local leaders to plan a permanent tree nursery which will allow us to grow thousands of beneficial trees where they are desperately needed.

These trees will become live fencing that will protect gardens from animals and wind. Over time metal fencing deteriorates, but live fencing is sustainable and provides long-term protection while helping to improve the soil.

These are just a few examples of the amazing things our team is working on, and we are so excited to see these programs continue to grow and thrive.

From all of us, “Jéréjëf!” – Thank You!

From the Director - April 2022

During a break between classes, students wave from the second story of Keur Soce High School where six classrooms are completed and fully furnished.

We are so encouraged by the community’s response to Keur Soce High School and look forward to another year of investment in this program. Over the past year and a half, we have completed six full classrooms, brought in desks and other equipment, and seen the building fill up with new teachers and eager students.

Madame Marone and her students in one of the new classrooms at Keur Soce High School.  She teaches Geography and French to the freshman and sophomore classes.

The school has gone from non-existent in 2020 to an enrollment of nearly 400 students, with many more coming in the next year as we continue to expand the school. There has long been a large demand for this increased access to education, and we are excited to be partnering to make it happen.

Exterior of Keur Soce High School - six classrooms are completed with over 400 students enrolled and many more coming in the next school year.

This has the potential to be an absolute game-changer not only for students in the Keur Soce area, but also for families moving forward who will see their children go on to bigger and better things with this huge step up in opportunity. The school will continue to grow and will be more and more supported by the State, and we really look forward to seeing the generational change this institution will make. “Jerejef!” – Thank you!

Lewis Kiker, Executive Director

Advancing Education = a Better Future [Video]

When we first started construction on the Keur Soce High School we spoke with incoming freshman, Fatimata, about what this means for her.. Click here to watch the full video.

“When I heard that they were building classes here, specifically for high school, I was so happy. I didn’t want to leave my village [to attend school], I wanted to stay here, I wanted to learn here and succeed here. I love science subjects... I would like to be in a health center like a doctor.
I want to help people, to cure people.
”

— Fatimata Ba, Freshman Keur Soce High School

Fueling Future Leaders - Interview with Mbaye Ndiaye

This year was an unusual school year for students all over the world, and our partner schools in Senegal were no exception.  Students in rural Senegal faced even more food insecurity this year due to Covid. 

Students enjoying their breakfast outside of their classroom with Andando Project Manager, Camara (pictured in green shirt and green mask).

“We believe that to truly learn children must have proper nutrition to fuel their bodies and their brains. If they are hungry it’s very difficult for them to concentrate and learn.”

— Linda Tedisch - Altrusa Albany, International Chair

Thanks to a special grant from Altrusa International, Altrusa Albany, and additional support by Vibrant Village, over 1,500 students could count on getting a free, nutritious breakfast at school so they could focus on their studies.

“Altrusa International of Albany's main focus is the support of literacy and one of the ways to support literacy is to make sure the children's basic needs are met. We believe that to truly learn children must have proper nutrition to fuel their bodies and their brains. If they are hungry it's very difficult for them to concentrate and learn; helping support a nutrition program helps to meet that goal.

Being able to do that in another country helps us to extend help to the International Community . We feel honored to be able to partner with Andando in this mission.”

-Linda Tedisch, International Chair Altrusa Albany

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We sat down with school PTA leader, Mbaye Ndiaye, to get his take on how the nutritional program impacts students in his community.

My name is Mbaye Ndiaye, I am the deputy of the Association of Parents of Pupils in the community of Mbouma. I am a married farmer with a wife and I have eight children.

Following a fire which destroyed the temporary straw classrooms, Andando built us new brick and mortar classrooms in Mbouma. Since then, the school has experienced a great leap forward, a considerable advancement.

Exterior of a block of classrooms.

Andando has supported the school system in Mbouma by building these two new classrooms and adding a nutritional program since the resumption of school following the lifting of restrictions with the pandemic of Covid-19.

During the resumption of classes, Andando brought breakfast to all the students until the day of their final exams, including the teachers and examiners – everyone was well taken care of.

What Andando has done is enormous!

Before when we did not have the schools, gardens, and health posts, we lived in difficulty, poverty, and precariousness. Students had to travel far to neighboring villages to attend school. As soon as Andando built classrooms, our children were excited to stay in our village and complete their schooling, Andando made this possible.

Schools provide hope for a brighter future for the students attending them as well as the larger community.

It is good to have these basic social infrastructures because it improves the living conditions of everyone in the community. Since Andando came to our village, we have witnessed a lot of positive change: education and teaching have improved, fruits and vegetables are no longer difficult to access, and health care is closer to the people.

Gardens increase food security for hundreds of families by providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, year round.

Everything that was difficult before is easy to have now.

My family personally has benefited because we can enroll our children in school. I have a lot of hope because having a school allows my children to learn in very favorable conditions. For my community, the health post helps us to have good health and better access to care. When we have good health, we have time to work and go to school.

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Thank you for making this possible for Mbaye and his community. There are many other parents like him, who want to provide their children with quality education for their future. You can join with them to make this happen, consider making a donation today! “Jerejef!” from us and from the people of Senegal!

From the Director - April 2021

Our work has continued to expand and impact more people despite the challenges of the past year. One new project that we are particularly excited about is the launch of the Keur Socé High School.

Visiting with students who will benefit from the first high school in Keur Socé .

Prior to this year, students who completed middle school were forced to travel and board up to 20km (approximately 12 miles) away, or abandon their studies altogether. Unfortunately, this was the case with far too many promising young students.

Students at the local middle school will be among the first to attend the Keur Socé High School. This will reduce barriers to success for students from Keur Socé and surrounding villages.

In partnership with the Ministry of Education, we are building classrooms that will be used to educate the future leaders of the area for generations to come. We have already seen an overwhelming response with well over 100 students signed up for the first incoming class. With the increased demand, we are already expanding the project to accommodate all those who want to learn.

Construction is underway on the building that will serve as freshmen classrooms in the Keur Socé High School. This collaboration is over a decade in the making and will educate future leaders for generations to come.

“This is a great initiative for the future of sustainable education for the students of today and tomorrow in the municipality of Keur Socé. They no longer have to abandon their studies for lack of host families in distant high schools.”

— Mamadou Camara, Andando Keur Socé Program Coordinator

We are thrilled to get this underway, and really excited for what this means for the future of the region. It’s not too late to help with this effort—your gift today will make a big difference.

“Jéréjëf!” – Thank You!
Lewis Kiker, Executive Director

Project Updates & Meeting the President of Senegal

Senegal has opened its borders for travel once again! One of our founders, Fiona, was able to make our first country visit since the start of the pandemic. (International travel is currently permitted so long as the traveler produced a negative Covid-19 test.)

Visiting the school in Agnam (in the Podor region), a potential site for future development.

As soon as the regional lock down on travel was lifted, our team sprung into action. Three of four new gardens have been completed since June, one more is halfway done, two classroom projects and a health post have been started, all while maintaining the ongoing work. Fiona says, “Our staff are superstars!”

Visiting with the midwives and medical staff of the health post in Biddy.

In addition to spending some quality time with our team, Fiona also toured some new sites for future development in both the Podor and Keur Soce regions. Both regions were lush and green from the recent rains.

Members of the Keur Ngor community using sandbags to protect their garden from run off and flooding caused by excessive rains.

Some parts of Senegal have received as much as 8 inches of rain overnight which resulted in some localized flooding. Fortunately, our areas were not significantly impacted and communities have used sandbags to protect gardens and other areas from flooding.

Inside an elementary school classroom under construction in Donaye Tarédj.

The most unexpected thing that happened during the trip was a surprise visit from the President of Senegal, Macky Sall. The Mayor of Keur Soce was informed that the President would be stopping by Keur Soce on his way to see a government-financed rice project just outside of town. Mayor Malick Ndiegane said he could choose four people to meet the President and two should be from Andando!

We had the honor of meeting President Macky Sall in his recent visit to a government-financed rice project near our base in Keur Soce. One of our founders, Fiona, is pictured here with President Sall.

Boubou Sy (Andando Country Director) and Fiona represented Andando. President Sall asked about what we did, how often we were in Senegal, how long we had been there, etc. He spoke with us for quite some time and we were able to congratulated him on his government’s steps toward development. It was a huge honor to meet the President, a very successful trip.

Fiona and some of our staff demonstrating the variety of trees we are growing as part of our reforestation project.

Your support enables our staff to continue to build these strong connections in the community. Thank you for investing in their future!

Back to School!

Senegalese students will be returning to their classes soon; for those in Daga Sambu and Fas Toucouleur, this will mean new classrooms and latrines! Over the summer a block of three new classrooms were constructed in Fas Toucouleur, doubling the current capacity of the school.

Excited students outside the nearly completed classrooms in Fas Toucouleur.

Last year 125 students at this school were meeting in temporary classrooms constructed of thatch and millet reeds. This year they will be able to attend class indoors.

Volunteers use cook stoves like these to prepare breakfast for students each day.

Outside of the classrooms, two new latrines were constructed, which will improve sanitation conditions and decrease absences due to illness. School administrators tell us that they anticipate an increase in enrollment, attendance, and test scores because of these upgrades.

Two new cook stoves have been installed for the nutritional programs at other Andando partner schools. With the promise of a full belly, young learners are encouraged to attend school and can focus on their studies.

Community volunteers building walls for teacher housing adjacent to the school.

We are excited to see community involvement increase. On a recent visit to the school in Fas Toucouleur, we met with several volunteers, teachers, parents, and administrators. They are collaborating to make their own improvements by constructing teacher housing adjacent to the school yard. They told us of their increased pride in the school and their hope for a stronger future.

This summer, students visited the National Assembly as well as several other culturally significant sites.

Thank you for empowering individuals and communities to make sustainable, long-term investments in future generations. Your continued contributions make this possible!

Of course, we are not done yet. We continually receive requests from community leaders and school officials to partner with them. Each community is filled with gifted, young students who are eager to contribute to a brighter future for their families and neighbors.

We need your help to make this a reality. Will you join us by becoming a monthly donor? A donation of $5 can provide one student with all the school supplies they need for the upcoming year. There are over 3,000 students in our current partner schools and we hope to add 500 or more in the coming year.

Join our circle of Monthly Donors. Click here for more information. 

Construction Update: Fas Toucouleur Primary School

Several months in and the construction at Fas Toucouleur Primary School is nearing completion! Because of your support (and a matching grant from One Days Wages) three new classrooms are being built. This will double the capacity of the school. Students will no longer be studying in temporary thatch buildings. Latrines are also under construction, which will improve sanitation conditions and decrease absences due to illness.

We are excited to share with you the progress of the construction so far. Click here to see previous posts about this project.

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Pre-Construction - Students inside one of the existing classrooms (left). Exterior of one of the existing classrooms with the temporary thatch classroom attached (right).

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February 2019

We met with the community leaders and school administrators to finalize the terms of who was responsible for which aspects of the project and established a timeline for the work.

We then surveyed the ground to determine the best location for the rooms, keeping in mind elements such as wind, hot afternoon sun, as well as proximity to water and latrines.

Once the location for the classrooms was established, excavation and construction could begin. In the photo above, the green lines indicate where the new block of classrooms will be constructed. You can see an abandoned hut in the middle of the proposed site. This will be removed.

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The abandoned hut, which will be removed to make way for new classrooms (left).

Materials were delivered on-site in mid-February. Local contractors along with residents set to making the bricks needed for construction.

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March 2019 - The footing and walls start to take shape and the roof to the hut has been removed.

May 2019 - Workers seal the concrete walls.

The new block of classrooms (left) and new latrine (right) will be ready for classes this fall.

Amath Diop School Director

The community has continually emphasized what this project will mean for them.

"It will boost enrollment, increase attendance, bolster test scores, and set this community on the path towards a brighter future."

As the classrooms are nearing completion, they will be ready to be filled with eager students when classes resume this fall. Thank you for making this possible

Construction Underway at Fas Toucouleur Primary School!

Last fall we reached out to you and asked for your help to build a school.

Thanks to  the support of our community, and with a matching grant from One Days Wages, we met our goal and construction is actively underway at Fas Toucouleur Primary School.

Improvements at the school include the addition of three classrooms, a block of latrines and classroom libraries. We recently met with all of the stakeholders in the program, and spoke with some students.

Existing classroom (pictured on left) with temporary thatch classroom attached (pictured right). New construction will replace the thatch classrooms.

Everyone involved is very eager to utilize the new upgrades at the school.

The community has continually emphasized what this project will mean for them. "It will boost enrollment, increase attendance, bolster test scores, and set this community on the path towards a brighter future."

On the latest visit, we finalized the terms of who was responsible for which aspects of the project and established a timeline for the work.

We surveyed the ground to determine the best location for the rooms, keeping in mind elements such as wind, hot afternoon sun, as well as proximity to water and latrines.

Local community leaders blessed the project and renewed their commitment to do all they can to make the process as smooth as possible. Construction is already underway!

Materials have been delivered and local workers are making bricks that will be used for the foundation and walls of the new buildings.

Workers excavating the ground and laying the foundation and the exterior walls.

After the foundation has been laid, the walls start to go up!

The students are excited to have new, permanent classrooms such as the one pictured here. Our existing similar programs have resulted in higher test scores, as well as an increase in student enrollment.

Your investment in this project, and others like it, provide a brighter future for young students which will be felt throughout the community for generations.

Check back for more updates as construction continues.

Student Field Trip!

Students from three partner schools in Keur Soce enjoying the Dakar Zoo on the annual Student Field Trip.

One exciting activity we sponsor is an annual field trip for students at our partner schools. Students jump on a couple buses to spend two days in Dakar visiting various sites of interest like Goree Island, the Dakar zoo, National Parliament, and the African Renaissance Statue.

For many, this may be their first time seeing the ocean, the animals in the zoo, and perhaps even their first time out of the community. This low-cost program can really open the eyes of many of these students, and is a fun activity to look forward to and motivating factor for those graduating out of primary school.

Tour guide at Goree Island sharing the history and significance of the site.

This year's trip is coming up in just a few months, when more than 100 new students will get to experience many of these things for the first time!

This is only possible because of your support - thank you for broadening horizons for these students. 

Mbouma School Finished!

Hoisting the Flag

Presentation

Today is a very important day for the town of Mbouma, Senegal, and a very important day for Andando as well. The town of Mbouma officially opened the brand new Mbouma Junior High School and it is now open and filled with happy students!

By partnering with local builders, school administrators, parents, happy students - and all our donors around the world!!! - we are very proud to be a part of this milestone for this rural farming town in southern Senegal. Starting last summer, we asked many of you to join us in building this landmark structure for this community in need, and you responded.

Finished schoolhouse.

Working hard over the last 8 months, we walked together with the people in Mbouma in creating a safe and healthy learning environment that will be the home to future generations. They previously met in harsh conditions, which prompted some parents to pull their children from school thinking it was just not worth it. Now they have a place they can be proud of and a foundation to use as a building block for future successes.

The Principal Expressing his Gratitude

The town marked the occasion with a big ceremony where everyone was invited. The village chief, the principal, the teachers, parents, and students were all there, as well as some regional dignitaries representing various government ministries. As is the case in Senegal, everyone makes a speech and the event is marked with much fanfare. They concluded by the first official raising of the Senegalese flag - an important symbol for each school - the singing of the national anthem, and some refreshments for everyone.

The Community Gathering and Celebration

We were excited to be able to a part of this and we hope you will share in that excitement with us. This is also the first school construction project that Andando has done, and we hope it is just the first of many more to come! Thank you again for all who helped make this a reality!