Project Launch:

The Velinngara Youth Empowerment Camp will invite 22 middle school students from the Velingara Department in the Kolda region of Senegal to participate in a youth development camp, focused on health, life skills development, leadership and future planning. In Velingara, school dropout rates are extremely high, and there are very few affordable and constructive outlets for young people that keep them engaged and safe. Local Principals, teachers and youth group leaders regularly stress the need for a forum for students to continue learning life skills outside of the classroom. This project aims to do just that. Local teachers and community leaders will be involved in every aspect of the camp, from planning to implementation to evaluation, establishing themselves as steady mentors for the young participants.

 

Project Update

Project was a huge success. Since it was the first year that the region organized a youth camp, there was a lot of planning and preparing, but it all ran smoothly. The kids were engaged and motivated throughout the camp, and four students will be returning to next year’s camp as Counselors in Training, helping to empower them as young leaders.

 

Testimonials

"During the youth camp I saw the girls become less shy to speak out in front of the group, they slowly started to see that they too could be leaders like the men. All of the children were very understanding and seemed to grasp all of the information with unexpected quickness.” – Courtney, Peace Corps Volunteer

 

"Thanks for inviting me to the camp. I learned a lot and was very happy to come home and show my family all that I learned." - Aissatou Balde, 13 year-old Camp Participant

 

"My favorite part of the camp was the game about money. I have never thought about planning out what you spend daily at your house; it is not something we practice often. It was a lot of fun and made me see something new."- Dila Niaga, 15 year-old Camp Participant