Project Launch:

Currently, there are 12,000 people in community of Escall, Senegal, and its residents are primarily involved in farming and livestock rearing. There are five primary schools, one middle school and one high school, and 70% of the community is under the age of 21. Not only does the community lack sports facilities or cultural facilities other than soccer for boys, children are largely unsupervised in their free time and have few activities that develop skills or promote health - particularly for girls. To address this issue, this project seeks to augment and improve a program that is already in its infancy in this community, pairing instruction in karate and gymnastics with social theater. The program focuses on themes such as self-discipline, avoidance of drugs, and the impact of early marriage on young girls. Grant funds will allow program leaders to improve the facility and the quality of equipment, and increase the amount of classes/workshops offered to young people. Long term, the project will establish Geueoul Sport as an important community center for children, adolescents, and adults.