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.
