Field Visits and Local Actors in Senegal

Stories

Aminata Traoré : Retraining our View of Africa

Denise Proulx, LEAD Canada
In the 1980’s, when the World Bank encouraged the sabotage of local initiatives led by young educated women trying to clean up public finances, Aminata Traoré understood that democracy was ill.

Dakar Youth

Citizen Involvement

Éric Stephenson, Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne (FESFO)
“The political involvement of citizens as a lever to put ourselves in better standing . . .” this is the main message as spoken by Aminata Traoré, a Malian community leader from Bamako.

ACAPES: a Vehicle for Social Solidarity
Adam McIsacc, Penetanguishene, Ontario
Maija Lewis, Kamloops, Colombie-Britannique, Canada
Much of the youth are overlooked, disregarded or excluded from the formal school system, creating a need for alternative forms of education.

Visiting ENDA - From the Airport to the Shantytown
Martin-Charles St-Pierre, Bucafin coordinator and promoter, Social economy organization, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada

Stories
Ma Yoye Si Sénégal ! (Welcome to Senegal!)
Félix Bussières, Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens, Canada
Hospitality is certainly one of the best characteristics of the Senegalese. As a developing country that is one of the poorest in the world with an unemployment rate of nearly 40%, Senegal still remains among the most stable democratic countries in Africa.

An important time: sharing first impressions
Martine Thevéniault, French observer, EURONET, Alet-les-Bains, France

Field Visits

Nyayes with Hope and Pride

Shauna MacKinnon, Canadian centre for policy alternatives, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Uniterra delegates were fortunate to visit the Nyayes region to experience the social economy in action. What was most striking about this experience was the contrast with the business model most commonly seen in Dakar.

Stories

Social Inclusion and Solar Energy

Valérie Roy, Réseau d’entreprises d’économie sociale et solidaire, Montréal, Québec

How can social inclusion and solar energy be combined to work as one? Godisa Technologies has succeeded in rising to the challenge! This little NGO from Botswana has only been around for two years but its products have had an impact!

Strong and proud women

Gérald Tremblay, CODERR Group, Alma, Québec

In Africa, an old adage says that the women hold the weight of the continent on their shoulders. This is certainly true in Senegal, where the women are not only very beautiful, but extremely industrious.