So in the Senegal Project Trust team, there is Precious and I in Kaolack, two girls in Ziguinchor and two more girls in Joal. Having said numerous times that we would visit the girls in Joal, we finally got round to going, and it definitely lived up to its reputation as being one of the prettiest villages in Senegal.
I'll start with the touristy stuff... We spent some time on the beautiful beach, which is lined with brightly painted pirogues (senegalese fishing boats), relaxing and watching the fishermen haul in their boats. We crossed a bridge to visit the famous island of Fadiouth: an island of narrow streets, pigs everywhere lying in the shade, a church standing proud in the centre, traditional african crafts to buy on every street corner, and another bridge leading to the famous cemetery. This cemetery is the only one in Senegal where Christians are buried alongside Muslims and it is by far the most beautiful cemetery I have ever seen: sea shells make up the ground you walk on, baobab and other trees scatter the area and the view from the top is so stunning.
Now, we also got the opportunity to see the girls, Lauren and Marianne, teach in a couple of their projects. The first being a secondary school, which was a nice-sized class, they concentrated well and me and Precious even managed to feature in the lesson, thanks to Lauren! (see the photos!) The other project is one where Lauren and Marianne teach young girls, who don't have the opportunity to go to school, how to write, french and mathematics. It's a great project (called the Fasjom girls) and here is a status from Marianne about the project....
I'll start with the touristy stuff... We spent some time on the beautiful beach, which is lined with brightly painted pirogues (senegalese fishing boats), relaxing and watching the fishermen haul in their boats. We crossed a bridge to visit the famous island of Fadiouth: an island of narrow streets, pigs everywhere lying in the shade, a church standing proud in the centre, traditional african crafts to buy on every street corner, and another bridge leading to the famous cemetery. This cemetery is the only one in Senegal where Christians are buried alongside Muslims and it is by far the most beautiful cemetery I have ever seen: sea shells make up the ground you walk on, baobab and other trees scatter the area and the view from the top is so stunning.
Now, we also got the opportunity to see the girls, Lauren and Marianne, teach in a couple of their projects. The first being a secondary school, which was a nice-sized class, they concentrated well and me and Precious even managed to feature in the lesson, thanks to Lauren! (see the photos!) The other project is one where Lauren and Marianne teach young girls, who don't have the opportunity to go to school, how to write, french and mathematics. It's a great project (called the Fasjom girls) and here is a status from Marianne about the project....
These are our Fasjom girls that Lauren and I teach. They can't go to school for various reasons. They have practically nothing and we often find them fighting in the street or working at the port selling fruit, and yet everytime I leave the house, they run up to me asking when their next lesson is. It makes me so sad, and so humbled. I wish people in Britain appreciated what they had. These girls mean so much, keep them in your thoughts and pray for them that life can offer them even a tiny percentage of all the opportunities that you have had, just handed to you on a plate. I won't ever forget them.
We also managed to go to a choir practise with the girls, which was amaaaazing, and below are some of the videos (im afraid sound only). We were handed out lyrics in Wolof and French and I tried my best to keep up! They really were a great crowd (the choir master was even called Mama Africa!).
So yes, there is Joal in a nutshell, it was a very well spent weekend!
So yes, there is Joal in a nutshell, it was a very well spent weekend!
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