Afric Involve

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL RELIEF MISSION in SENEGAL..

2011-12-11T18:26:00.001-08:00

From October 28 to November 4, 2011, 24 volunteers of International Medical Relief sejourned in Senegal. They were dentists, nurses, physicians and others healthcare workers for the most part. They held free medical clinics in 5 rural communities and cities.As in 2003, 2005,2006 and 2009, this year's mission impacted thousands of people in the country.

DENVER SENEGAL HUMANITARIAN FOUNDATION-DIORBIVOL 2011

2011-12-10T22:22:00.001-08:00

Denver Senegal Humanitarian Foundation participated on October 25, 2011 in the dedication ceremony and festivities of the middle school of the village of Diorbivol. The group which was composed of the president and treasurer has been supporting education projects since 2005. Its partnership with the association for the development of the village helped build the new school.

2011 AFRICAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION SCHOOL SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTION.

2011-12-10T21:42:00.001-08:00

We did it again! In October and November of this year, the African Heritage Celebration visited 9 elementary schools in Senegal and delivered to 1176 stiudents the supplies they need to have a successful academic year.

2011 AHC DINNER-FUNDRAISER

2011-11-30T12:21:00.001-08:00

The African Heritage Celebration raised 3741 dollars at its fifth annual dinner and silent auction Saturday July 9, 2011.The event was hosted by the Hyatt Regency Denver.

The mighty Ujama drummers of Colorado along with Gambian master kora player Moro Susso entertained the audience. Talented spoken word master Menas added to the enlightenment with his poetry. The event of charity and cultural engagement is held yearly to raise fund for educational projects in Senegal, where AHC distributes supplies to elementary schoolchildren.

In the past, students from Kindergarten to the 6th grade have received Textbooks, slates, notebooks, pens and pencils at reception ceremonies, during which, the importance for children to thrive for a good education was emphasized as parents, teachers and local notorieties expressed gratitude for the much appreciated gifts.

The educational materials add to the children’s motivation to make better lives for themselves. Knowledge can help students transform their lives and improve their living conditions. Education also helps form citizens who will contribute in advancing tolerance, friendship, understanding and peace between people and make the world a better place.

The AHC raised most of the resources through its annual benefit dinner and silent auction, and also a $5,000-challenge-grant from the Mizel Global fund which has been provided since 2008.

"RIEN NE SE CREE SANS PASSION."

2011-02-06T20:07:00.000-08:00

"RIEN NE SE CREE SANS PASSION."
Le president Leopold Sedar Senghor avait presente au president Lindon B. Johnson et a la premiere dame Americaine une piece d'art antique, en guise de remerciement pour le role que celle-ci avait jouee en tant que presidente d'honneur du comite americain pour la preparation du festival Mondial des Arts Negres . La ceremonie avait eue lieu le 28 Septembre 1966, lors d'une visite officielle du president Senghor a la Maison Blanche. Le cadeau etait une sculpture en bois, celebrant la femme dans la societe Yoruba et etait realisee par le maitre sculpteur Etuobe de Ketu, en Republique du Benin. Cette Oeuvre d'art etait tant appreciee pour sa haute valeur culturelle et poetique qu'elle se trouve exposee dans le musee-bibliotheque presidentiel, que visitent des centaines de milliers de personnes, venues de tous les continents , au mileu d'un tresor d'arts et litterature, representants les diverses cultures du monde.
Ce fait singulier temoigne de l'importance que la culture etait dans la strategie de renaissance du continent pour les intiateurs de ce qui fut le mythique premier festival mondial des arts negres. Le festival a vu une forte participation des milieux intellectuels du monde, en particulier americains, avec des personalites litteraires et artistisques tels que Langston Hughes, Richard Wright, James Baldwin et Josephine Baker, parmi d'autres.
J'ai visite le musee presidentiel durant mon recent sejour au Texas, lorsque l'organisation African Heritage Celebration etait invitee par l'institut Quest de l'universite du Texas, a Austin, a faire une presentation sur son travail humanitaire au Senegal.
En Septembre 1956, Alioune Diop, fondateur de la revue Presence Africaine, rassemblait des intellectuels d'Afrique, d'Amerique et des Caraibes autour d'un projet monumental de l'impulsion d'un mouvement qui avait pour objet, entre autres, de faire contribuer l'art et la culture a la liberation des peuples noirs. La premiere conference des ecrivains et artistes noirs se reunit pendant trois jours, a Paris.
Selon Paulin Joachim, poete Beninois et participant au congres, l'idee de l'organisation du festival mondial des arts negres avait germee dans la tete d' Alioune Diop. Il en avait parle a Senghor qui l'adoptait. La passion intellectuelle de Diop et Senghor avait jouee un role capital dans le choix du site de la rencontre mythique. Sa place dans l'histoire du commerce d'esclaves a fait du Senegal un espace privilegie pour le dialogue des civilisations. Le defi d'organiser un evenement mondial, celebrant les cultures des peuples noirs colonises fut une fascination pour Alioune Diop, autour de qui naissait une Afrique nouvelle, d'apres Paulin Joachim. Il fut le fondateur de la Societe Africaine de Culture ainsi que les editions presence africaine, en 1949. Cette maison d'editions publia les oeuvres d'ecrivains parmi les plus celebres de la litterature africaine.
La serieuse reputation d'hommes de Culture dont Diop, Senghor et autres initiateurs du mouvement de la renaissance africaine jouissaient dans le monde, ainsi que leur competences et passions intellectuelles leurs avaient values le respect et soutien d'hommes comme W.E. Dubois, Andre Malraux et Jean Paul Sartre.
C'est compte tenu de cette histoire prestigieuse, que les milieux artistes et intellectuels ont accueillis avec enthousiasme l a nouvelle de la troisieme edition du festival, en 2004, lorsque le president Abdoulaye Wade l'a annoncee.
En revenant au Senegal, pays de l'hospitalite, aux moeurs politiques et sociales apaises, apres quatres decennies, le festival mondial des arts negres promettait au moins de "recreer" le mythe de 1966.
En Septembre 2006, le colloque international commemorant le cinquennaire du congres des ecrivains et artistes de 1956 etait organise conjointement par la Communaute Africaine de Culture, heritiere de la Societe Africaine de Culture, et I'Institut de Recherche Africaine et Africaine Americaine W.E. Dubois de l'Universite Harvard aux Etats Unis, en collaboration avec l'Unesco. Les organisations dirigees par Wole Soyinka, Prix Nobel de Litterature et l'historien Henry Louis Gates, Jr., avait exprimees soutien pour le Fesman.
L'idee etait que l'organisation du rendez-vous historique, beneficiant d'un environement rendu favorable par le developpement des technologies del' information et de la communication, realiserait un plus grand accomplissement dans sens du projet de dialogues des cultures. La culture reste la force de liberation et de solidarite qu' Alioune Diop avait vue. Dans cette civilization globale, elle a le potentiel de rapprochement, de partage et d'echanges entre les peuples. Les inevitables intereactions des communautes du monde, devenues plus facile a cause des innovations et de l'accessibilite des reseaux de communications et d'informations, sont porteuses de developpement. Les differences culturelles incitent tant maintenant a l'exploration et la decouverte de similarites sur lesquelles peuvent etre forgees des relations de solidarite, pouvant impulser le developpement de perspectives sociales, economiques et politiques. La culture catalyse les energies solidaires.
L'engouement de participer au festival etait manifeste dans les milieux culturelles internationaux au moment ou des personalites tels que Gilberto Gil, Danny Glover, Stevie Wonder exprimaient leur volonte de s' y impliquer.
Les reports successifs de la date du festival, l'instabilte du departement de la culture, combines avec des faits de gestions scandaleuses, ont finis par jeter le doute sur la capacite du president Wade d'organiser le festival.
_Le village festivalier construit, par l'etat, sur son terrain personnel.
_ Sa pretention sur partie des revenus monetaires generes par une statue, erigee sur le territoire national, avec l'argent des contribuables.
_L'accusation qui lui est portee d'avoir plagie l'idee de" l'homme libre" d'Ousmane Sow, pour faire son monument de la renaissance.
Tous ces actes ont contribues au desengagement de la communaute intellectuelle et artistique internationale d'un projet de valeur culturelle douteuse. Ces faits montrent aussi que le president Wade est plus passionne par la recherche d'opportunites pour s'enrichir que par quelque projet de culture.
Le contraste entre le cadeau que le president Senghor avait offert a la premiere dame des Etats Unis d'Amerique, en 1966 et le butin que le President Wade a donne a Alex Segura renseigne sur la difference dans la conception des relations humaines, qu'il ya entre le chef de l'etat et les initiateurs du mouvement de la renaissance africaine.
Il es t dificile d'arguer contre la declaration d' Ousmane Sow, sculpteur de grande renommee et participant au festival de 1966, que le troisieme festival mondial des arts negres n'a etait qu'un pretexte pour depenser de l'argent.

COLORADO-SENEGAL:The Humanitarian Tradition Continues.

2010-07-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

As published in "Denver Urban Spectrum Newspaper."

By Mohamadou Cisse

Last year, Colorado organizations helped more than 1,000 elementary school students with the supplies they needed for a successful academic year, in addition to helping to build classrooms for a Middle school. The summer and fall trips, sponsored by Denver Senegal Humanitarian Foundation (DSHF) and the African Heritage Celebration (AHC), were the latest actions that perpetuated a 12 year old humanitarian tradition between Colorado and Senegal.
In six schools, students from Kindergarten to the 8th grade received Textbooks, slates, notebooks, pens and pencils at reception ceremonies. During the events the importance for children to thrive for education was emphasized as parents, teachers and local notorieties expressed gratitude for the much appreciated gifts.
The supply of gifts will add to the students’ motivation to make better lives for themselves. Knowledge can help students transform their lives and improve their living conditions. Education also helps form citizens who will contribute in advancing tolerance, friendship, understanding and peace between people and make the world a better place. The textbooks will be property of the schools and will be reused as long as possible by upcoming students.
The AHC raised most of the resources through its annual benefit dinner and silent auction, and also a $5,000-challenge-grant from the Mizel Global fund which has been provided since 2008.
The intervention of AHC and DSHF, combined with the financial support of the Mizel Global Fund have helped deliver school supplies to more than 3,000 students and assisted many more over the past three years.

During its fourth trip since 2003, a team of 12 Denver Senegal Humanitarian Foundation volunteers sojourned in the village of Diorbivol and contributed in the realization of an educational project important to the village. Members of the Denver delegation supplied cements, water and bricks to construction workers as they tried to get the Diorbivol Middle school ready to open its for the upcoming season.
The opening of Diorbivol Middle School allows students to continue their education beyond the first six years of elementary education, and is an important factor in the effort to curb drop out rates. In 2009-2010 academic season, the school will accommodate 62 seven and eight graders, from Diorbivol and its surrounding areas.
During the visit, the Colorado humanitarians participated in many interactive cultural exchanges, aimed at learning and sharing life experience. Drummers, dancers and singers performed exhibitions on every evening to entertain the village guests.

Since 1998, more than 100 Americans have enjoyed working in rural communities of Senegal. Denver-based organizations such as Project Cure and International medical relief have sent there equipment, supplies and groups of health care professionals to assist the villagers.The experiences of the stays have profoundly enriched them.
These visits always provide opportunities for the Coloradans and Senegalese to celebrate life through work, food, music, dance and songs.

AFRICAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION 2010

2010-07-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

AFRICAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION 2010.

2010-07-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

AFRICAN HERITAGE CELEBRATION 2010

2010-07-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

2010 Mizel Museum Annual Dinner.

2010-07-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

2010-04-02T22:26:00.000-07:00

2010-04-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Facing History and Ourselves with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

2010-02-27T22:18:00.000-08:00

THE 2009 MIZEL MUSEUM ANNUAL DINNER.

2010-02-14T22:03:00.000-08:00

Goree Diaspora Festival, A Taste of Fesman 2009

2009-04-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

As published in the "Denver Urban Spectrum Newspaper."

With rich varieties of colors, abundance of musical performances and visual arts exhibitions, The Goree Diaspora Festival, held from Nov. 13-16, 2008 on this West African Island, provided a glimpse of what visitors can expect when they travel to Senegal this year for the World Festival of Black Arts.

The fourth edition of the festival drew thousands of visitors from Europe, the United States, South America, Asia and other nations on the African continent. The festival was a tribute to World renowned Martinique-born writer Aime Cesaire (1913-2008) and was co-sponsored by Ethiopia and Venezuela.

Fashion shows, dance, music concerts and speeches, before an audience composed of Cultural authorities from local, regional, national and international agencies, marked the opening ceremony on Nov. 13. The festival presented an opportunity for the city of Goree, under the leadership of Mayor Augustin Senghor, an Attorney, to showcase the rich cultures and traditions of Senegal and remember the past of this Island redeveloped in 1978 as a world historical site by the United Nations Education Science and Culture Organization.

For three centuries, the Island of Goree was a holding dock from where millions of Africans kidnapped by Europeans were forced onto slave ships bound for Europe and the Americas. It is located at about two miles off the coast of Senegal’s capital City, Dakar and is known for the infamous “DOOR OF NO RETURN”, which was a gate in one of the numerous compounds used to house the captives. Slaves had to go through the “DOOR OF NO RETURN” in order to board the slave ships. Going through that door meant never to return.

One of the Goree Diaspora Festival’s objectives is to keep “The door of return” open for the descendants of those who did not have a chance to comeback, and also to remind Humanity never to forget.

In the early 50s, Aime Cesaire and a group of young Black intellectuals started a movement to celebrate blackness. They were mainly concerned with exposing the falsehood of racist ideologies in the academia and contributing to the uplifting of the Africans on the continent and in Diaspora.

In September 1956, Alioune Diop, then editor of the magazine, Presence Africaine, and chief organizer, convened the First international Congress of Black Writers and Artists in Paris. In addition to Cesaire and Diop, participants included Leopold Sedar Senghor, Frantz Fanon, Josephine Baker, Richard Wright and James Baldwin. The congress institutionalized the world Festival of Black Arts, as part of the African Renaissance effort. Senghor, Senegal’s first president, and also a poet, convened the first edition in the spring of 1966.

Considered the largest celebration of African Heritage and Culture, the World Festival of Black Arts is scheduled to be held from December 1 to 14, for the third time in 43 years.

Delegations from 80 countries are expected to compete in disciplines, ranging from Architecture to Music, including dance, ancient and contemporary arts, cinema, urban Culture, literature and fashions. Internationally acclaimed performers, politicians, writers, musicians, comedians and sculptors will be among the participants. The festival will celebrate black Arts and its impact in the development of Humanity.

For two weeks, visitors will live the legendary hospitality of Senegal and its neighbors who will host some of the festival events, and also to connect with the ancestral homeland.

CBS News Story Commemorating the 10-year Anniversary of the murder of Omar Dia.

2008-02-23T20:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=38818@kcnc.dayport.com
http://www.cbs4denver.com/video/?id=38833@kcnc.dayport.com

Colorado Senegal, 10 years later.

2008-01-04T21:23:00.000-08:00

Good actions continue years after tragedy.

Colorado residents recently visited the West African village of Diorbivol on the 10-year anniversary of Oumar Dia’s death and perpetuated a tradition of solidarity between the communities.

Dia, a Senegalese immigrant, was murdered by a self-proclaimed skinhead in Denver. He died on the night of November 17, 1997, while waiting for his bus to get home, after a long day at work.

The trip was co-sponsored by the African Heritage Celebration and the Denver Senegal Humanitarian Foundation; two Colorado based not for-profit organizations that promote education and friendship between Africans and Americans.

Myriah and Anthony LaChance, Eric and Kevin Miller and Theresa Neuroth of DSHF and I arrived at the village on the night of Nov. 3rd, after a 9-hour ride from Dakar, Senegal’s capital. The village had a big welcome ceremony to honor its guests. Elders, men, women and children all came out to celebrate the visit.

During the four day stay the group held meetings to assess the village needs and distributed school supplies to the 5th and 6th graders of the local elementary school. We also distributed hats in conjunction with the Eagle Scout project of Michael Linville, a Littleton Boy Scout. We toured the fields where villagers grow various crops, visited the site of a planned middle school building, and viewed major water well, storage tank and distribution project that is underway in conjunction with a United Nations sponsored humanitarian aid program.

We learned that the projects to build the middle school and water facility are currently the most important undertakings in the village. The school project, just initiated by the villagers, aims at curbing the drop out rate among students who make it to the 7th grade. The difficulty to continue education beyond the 6th grade resides in the fact that Diorbivol only has classrooms for 1st through 6th grades, and most parents can’t afford to send their children to others villages for further education. The water project will help establish a relatively clean water source to the village, which relies primarily on a couple of existing small wells and the highly-polluted Senegal River.

We left the village on the morning of Thursday Nov. 7 after a short but very successful interchange regarding future ways that DSHF and AHC can provide humanitarian support to the people of Diorbivol.

Since 1999 Denver-based organizations such as Project Cure and International medical relief have sent equipment, supplies and groups of health care professionals to assist in Senegal. More than 70 Americans have visited Senegal and have been impacted by the experience of their stays. These visits always provide opportunities for the Coloradans and Senegalese to celebrate life through work, food, music, dance and song.

Mohamadou Lamine Cisse

Colorado Senegal, 10 years later.

2008-01-04T21:01:00.000-08:00

Denver Group Donates School Supplies in Senegal.

From October 20th to November 7th the African Heritage Celebration distributed school supplies to 180 students in Senegal. Six graders in three schools received the gifts that will help them prepare for the exams they face at the end of the academic year 2007- 2008.

The donations were composed of Literature and Math books, notebooks, pens, pencils, compasses, squares, erasers, etc…; all that is required for the classe. The supplies were purchased in Senegal and amounted to $30.88 per student.

AHC targeted the 6th grade because of its importance in the student’s academic journey. Succeeding at the exams will grant passage to the 7th grade, which correspond to the beginning of the secondary school in Senegal.

AHC believes that education is a way to help improve one’s living conditions.
AHC visited schools in the communities of Bargny, Keur Samba and Diorbivol, Senegal. Ceremonies of presentation were held in the presence of parents, teachers, students and local authorities.

The students were proud to receive the gifts that will add to their motivation. The parents and the school principals expressed thanks and gratitude to AHC for the important gifts, which surely made a difference in the children’s education but also eased a financial burden on those who would otherwise have to pay for the supplies. So they thanked all who helped the fundraising effort.

The African Heritage Celebration a Colorado based not-for-profit organization which promotes education and friendship between Africans and Americans raised the funds during its annual dinner on June 9th 2007, in Denver.

AHC plans to provide supplies for more students next school year.

Mohamadou Lamine Cisse

The Cisses with Hon. Webb, Hickenlooper and Larry Mizel.

2007-10-17T22:08:00.000-07:00

With Governor Bill Ritter

2007-08-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

Dinner Fundraiser.

2007-07-27T04:01:00.000-07:00

"The Revolution will not be televised"

2007-07-27T03:54:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 11, 2007

The Revolution will not be televised.
“The Revolution will not be televised” as a phrase has been used widely, and in many occasions it is about the stark revelation that technological change is coming to our door steps. It has also been used as titles in poems and films dating back to the 1960's and 70's. Most recently political analysts have coined the phrase to fit the silent revolution going on in Venezuela after Hugo Chavez outlawed Radio Caracas television which had been critical to his leftist government. When radio Caracas was banned, little did the Venezuelan goverment know that the same TV station would soon re-emerge and start broadcasting on YouTube. Remember Joe Trippi who was the internet guru for Haward Dean during his 2004 run for US president? Mr. Trippi later wrote a book called ‘The Revolution will not be televised: Democracy, the internet and the overthrow of everything.” The book came out in the wake of what is now an internet revolution and the world of information technology we all live in. The real substance of the revolution will not be televised means that a lot of things are taking place in our day and age and which have significant impact on our lives but which, for good or for bad, are not being reported or shown on what we used to call TV. We’ll, one such event happened on Saturday June 9th, 2007, albeit silently, at the Central Presbyterian Church in Denver. A group of Africans calling itself African Heritage Foundation, led by Mohamadou Cisee, a native of Senegal came together for a fund raising dinner that would benefit school children in the Senegalese communities of Bargny, Diorbivol and Keur Samba Kar. It was a scanty 75 to 100 people that showed up for the event. However, the memories and stories narrated date back almost 10 years when tradegy struck the African community in Denver. Beginning with Stephanie Riggs, former News Anchor for CBS4 Denver to Mohamadou Cisee and to Dr. Jim Jackson of Project CURE, everyone heard recollections of the “senseless murder” of Oumar Dia at a Denver bus stop in November 1997. What Stephanie recalled was not just the brutal act of murder of a young man but what is now a legacy of gifting by the people of Denver to Senegal. The death of Oumar Dia, a house keeper at the Denver Hyatt Regency downtown at the time, has since turned into opportunities where top leaders in Denver, where Oumar Dia lived, have all poured out their hearts and souls to help those he loved back in his native Senegal. The pouring out of support for Oumar’s community has included trips and donations to Senegal ranging from donations of medical supplies by Project CURE, and the construction of water facilities to help the people of Senegala and visits by a delagation of Denver city officials to Senegal. “You can’t stop spreading the word about what needs to happen in Africa”, "There is nothing as a hopeless situation” Stephanie Riggs said at the June 9th occasion, after noting the joyous celebrations and greetings that she received when she visted Senegal a few years ago. To recognize the work that Mohamadou Cisse has done for Senegal and rural communities where Omar Dia came from, he was awarded a honorary doctorate of humanities by the Denver Institute of Urban Studies. Representing the institute was Dr. H. Malcolm Newton of who presented the certificate to Mohamadou Cisee.The event wrapped up at about 8 PM MST.
Written by George Bamu at Monday, June 11, 2007 1 comments Links to this post

Visit Bambey Regional Hospital

2007-07-27T03:46:00.000-07:00

WPF TEAMS UP WITH IMR TO HELP IMPROVE VILLAGERS’ LIVES

2007-07-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

From September 30th to October 16th, 2005, Working Partners Foundation and International Medical Relief brought groups of volunteers who worked in three Senegalese villages and provided free health care to thousand of people in the regions of Dakar, Kaolack and Matam. Mr. Mamadou Deme, Minister- Counselor at the Senegal Embassy in Washington D.C. helped plan for the trip.
The first group headed by Mr. Yale King, President of WPF, arrived in Dakar Monday October 3rd. It also comprised Ms. Kelly Carter and Mr. Ed Luminati, both from WPF.
They were joined by Dr. Khalifa Aboubacar Cisse, Djiby Gaye and Mohamadou L. Cisse. Djiby Gaye is Mamadou Gaye’s younger brother and served as the chauffeur.
WPF has initiated many projects in Senegal, and has relied on the professional expertise of Khalifa A. Cisse, a physician who practices occupational Health in Dakar and the generosity of Mamadou Gaye, who tirelessly helps accommodate Colorado groups. Mr Gaye is a cousin of Oumar Dia, a Senegalese immigrant who was slain in Denver eight years ago. Mr. Gaye lives in Dakar, where he owns retail and real estate businesses.

The second group was composed of International Medical Relief’s volunteers. They were medical practitioners, dentists, and nurses among others.
International Medical Relief is a Denver-based humanitarian organization. It frequently sends medical supplies and aid workers to developing countries. Its president, Mme Shauna Vollmer King led in March 2001 a medical team to Senegal and sent another one in June 2003.
IMR medical team landed at Leopold Sedar Senghor International Airport early Thursday October 6th. After clearing custom, it boarded a bus hired for in –country transportation and headed to Saint –Louis. This would allow cutting into the 10-hour travel time and being closer to the village of Diorbivol

Starting on Tuesday October 4th the delegation met with various government authorities. The visits, arranged by Minister Deme provided an opportunity for Mr. King to explain WPF’s vision and purpose in Senegal and the continent of Africa.
The Minister of Social Development, Family and Women visited with the group for ninety minutes. She expressed gratefulness and thanked Working partners Foundation for its work in Senegal. She assured WPF that her department would facilitate the humanitarian actions aimed at helping the populations of Senegal.
Mr. King also accepted an invitation to visit the city of Bambey, hometown of the Minister, in the central region of Senegal. He intends to send in volunteers soon.
The group met with Mr. Boubacar Ba on October 5th. Mr. Ba is a senior advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He promised to report to the Minister about the activities of WPF.
On October 6th the group visited Mrs. Joseph Pierre Ndiaye Cabinet Director of the Minister of Education and Ousmane Senghor, International cooperation specialist at the Ministry of Health.
Mr. Ndiaye explained some of the education programs that need philanthropic intervention and asked WPF to determine the forms of its assistance.
Mr. Senghor has been a major support for Colorado teams of volunteers, since 1999. He expressed words of thank and exhorted WPF to continue the good work it is doing in Senegal.
It was on the way back to the Hotel that something important happened:
Mr. King had spotted a youngster walking toward an alley, with great difficulty. He yelled at the driver to stop the vehicle and turn back. Mr. King jumped out of the moving truck and begun a chase after the boy. The incident led WPF to finding the Centre de l’abri. The Centre is located off route de Ouakam, near the French High School, lycee Jean Mermoz. It is home to handicapped children from disabled families.
Mme Rose Diouf who manages the establishment explained the vital services the Centre provides for these children. Mr. King committed to assist her in helping the youngsters. The WFP donated money and toys amounting to seven hundred dollars.
Mr. King later sent new crutches to the Centre. They will help the mobility of young Joseph Ndiaye who is paralyzed, from the waist down. He is a 12-year-old orphan.
On October 9th, Working Partners foundation held a dinner at the hotel Meridien President and took the opportunity to honor the authorities and its partners in Senegal.

Over the course of ten days the medical team worked in the villages of Diorbivol, Wacka and Keur Samba Ka and at the Centre de l’abri. Hundreds of patients were seen. Thousands of pounds of medical supplies were distributed, as well as books, toys and school supplies.
In the afternoon of October 9th, Mr. King and his associates took a 2-hour flight from Dakar airport to the landing strip of Ourossogui. They met up with IMR medical team and rode back together to the village.
The rainy season had isolated the area and Diorbivol became an island, accessible only by waterways.
It was after a 90-minute boat ride, under the moonlight, that the humanitarians reached the village of Diorbivol. Yet, there seemed no soul asleep. People were singing and dancing on the riverbank and in the main alley. There was the sea of people.
The volunteers were escorted to the compound of Oumar Dia’s family. The welcome ceremony started.
Mattress was set aside for the group’s accommodation. The music was louder, the dancing more frantic. The party was on. The group enjoyed very much the shows.
After a while, one man stood up from among the elders and commanded the crowd’s attention. The drumming and singing stopped. The crowd got quiet. The man, who seemed to be village chief, greeted the Coloradoans and welcomed them in the village. He recalled the previous stays of Americans in the village. He expressed the village’s honor to have such distinguished guests. After the chief’s speech, women and youth representatives greeted and welcomed the group.
Mr. Yale King expressed words of gratefulness and thanks. He said that the main purpose of the trip was to continue developing the friendship existing between Colorado and Senegal. He explained the various humanitarian actions that would take place in the days ahead. Sileye Gaye helped facilitate the communication.
Soon after the speechs, the crowd dispersed. Two subgroups were formed, for better accommodation. Some went to the compound of Mamadou Gaye’s family and some stayed at the Dia’s.
The next morning after breakfast, the group met with the elders of the villages. The group was introduced to the elders who greeted them and welcomed them. The group saluted the elders and discussed the program. In a village like Diorbivol, the society of the elders plays an important role in people’s life. One has to be introduced to and approved by the elders in order to be accepted by all.
The rest of the day and the following one were spent setting up clinic and examining patients.
On October 10th the medical team departed from Diorbivol.
The next destination was Wacka Ngouna and Keur Samba Ka (9 Km. Southeast of Wacka.) Clinics were held in these villages on October 12 and 13.
On October 14th, the medical team visited the children of the Centre de l’abri.
The group went to Goree Island on October 15th and had dinner at Mamadou Gaye’s house.
The group left Senegal early in the morning of October 16th to come back home to the US.
Some were already planning to return.Mohamadou L. Cisse