The English Eye in Senegal

I recently moved to Senegal where i am working with Action Aid International. Basically, my job is to work in collaboration with a partner organisation, in my case it is COCOGEP (Comité de Coordination, et de Gestion du Partenariat) situated in an area called Diossong.

                        My first, 2 Community meetings on the 29 of July 2013 in Niassene, Senegal

One month now, I have been visiting and seeing what the organisation works on, which is Poverty Reduction, Agriculture, Women’s & Children’s Right, Governance and Education. I must say, Senegal has so far been such an eye opener for me. This is my first time travelling to West Africa and I am so blessed to land in this particular country. In many cases I am always travelling and collaborating in other continents, working in my African continent is so humbling. I am so excited as this part of the world is different from

what i am used to. Being Zimbabwean means, thinking that the rest of the world speaks English and that the Queens language is the best of them all. Wait till you are dropped in West Africa, you will wish you had learnt your French during school or before you even thought of going anywhere Francophonie. I was fortunate enough to have learnt French before and had the necessary vocabulary to carry me through. 

What excites me the most is not only the fact that i am staying in another country, but it's the realisation that is coming daily and is being dished out to me like Zimbabwean Electricity cuts. Oh, by the way, they are electricity cuts here too, but not as bad as in Zimbabwe. I love my country, don't get it twisted.

In Clock-Wise - 20/08/2013: The water system created by Action Aid Senegal & COCOGEP for the agricultural project for the Women of Lerane Sambou (Systeme Gautte a Gautte), That is ME, as wet as a rained chicken, the field and plants & The President of COCOGEP - Babacar Thiam in a yellow rain attire.

The project Systeme Gautte a Gautte steamed in 2011 as to help the women realise that they can sustain themselves and also be responsible for the reduction of Poverty in the country of Senegal. I like the idea that women are being given this opportunity, so far i have realised that many projects in Senegal work with women and it has proven that they can be the change they want to see. In the coming weeks, i will be working more with the communities of Diossong, Niassene & Diagane, excited.

She hopes for a better Senegal, will you be part of the movement that will eliminate all obstacles?

I personally think that some issues that we deal with as a global community are within our mindsets. For example, poverty is a state of mind and it is until the individual within that environment is mentally challenged and educated, then we will be able to work towards eliminating Poverty. Educate one to enable them to educate themselves! Sustainable development is the key!

Till next time, Follow me on my Twitter, Blog, Facebook, Instagram & About Me. < Gilmore Tee>