We’re excited to welcome Ndiakhaté as Andando’s newest partner community, where we are beginning our work together by constructing two new classrooms at the village elementary school. We recently sat down with fifth-grade student Aïssatou Ndiaye to learn more about the conditions students face today and what these new classrooms could mean for children like her.
“There are kids who want to study, but when they arrive, the class is already full.”
Aïssatou Ndiaye, is one of the top students in Ndiakhaté and has big dreams for her future despite the difficult conditions at her school.
Aïssatou’s words perfectly illustrate the core problem facing this large rural community. More than 500 children in Ndiakhaté are old enough to attend school, but the elementary school currently enrolls only about 200 students, leaving more than 300 children without a place. For those who are enrolled, classrooms are crowded, and students sometimes share a single table with five or six classmates.
“That’s not good because you won’t feel comfortable to sit normally to write and do other things,” Aïssatou explained.
This small school has just four undersized and aging classrooms for 200 students, with more than 300 additional children waiting to enroll.
Despite these challenges, there is a strong desire for education in Ndiakhaté. Parents continue bringing their children to the school hoping to enroll them, and students like Aïssatou have big ambitions for what an education can make possible.
“About studies, I’d like to become a doctor; that’s what I want. Because when I see doctors, I feel really proud. That’s why I want to become one; it’s my dream.”
Construction is underway on two new classrooms and should be completed by the end of September, in time for the new school year.
Construction of Ndiakhaté’s two new classrooms is now underway. By the start of the coming school year, they will create space for at least 100 additional students to enroll while also reducing overcrowding for Aïssatou and her peers, giving them a better chance to continue on to junior high and high school.
Aïssatou already knows what that difference could mean.
“Of course it will be different since the fifth-grade class is large, but we can split it into two classes. It will be much more comfortable to sit and write there. It will be for sure!”
The need in Ndiakhaté is much larger than two classrooms, and this is only the first step in our partnership. But it is an important one toward ensuring that every child in the community has the opportunity to attend school, learn in better conditions, and pursue dreams like Aïssatou’s.
Help us make room for more children like Aïssatou to learn. Your support allows Andando to build classrooms, expand access to education, and continue working with communities like Ndiakhaté to ensure that every child has the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
