New Classrooms and School Support
A typical temporary classroom constructed by the community and staffed by the Education Ministry.
Many rural communities in Senegal are growing faster than their education infrastructure can handle and as a result schools lack the classrooms and resources necessary for students to complete their education. Like anywhere else in the world these communities want the best for their children and often construct temporary classrooms with whatever means they have available. Conditions in these structures are poor though and in the harsh climate of the Sahel they are not conducive to student success. Andando works with our partner communities to identify unmet student needs and collaborates with the Education Ministry to build infrastructure and provide the support needed for students to succeed. This can mean repairing older buildings, constructing new classrooms, providing desks, books, healthy meals, or supplies, and even building entire new schools!
Andando’s newly constructed Keur Soce High School which serves nearly 1,000 students from dozens of surrounding villages.
Middle school students from villages around Keur Soce took extra summer classes to prepare them to enroll at the new high school. Most would not have had the means to continue their education elsewhere.
When there isn’t a middle or high school close enough to rural communities students are often forced to drop out of school. Sending a child away for school can be prohibitively expensive and is emotionally draining for students and families. At Andando we strive to remove any obstacle that prevents students from fulfilling their educational ambitions and we believe that no matter where a student is located, they should have access to quality facilities at every grade level.
Access to bathroom facilities has a huge impact on student success as well, which is why Andando is dedicated to installing sufficient sanitation infrastructure at all our partner schools. UNESCO estimates that 1 in 10 girls in Sub-Saharan Africa miss school during their menstrual cycle due to lack of facilities or sanitary products. This is hugely detrimental to their education and increases the chance that they will drop out of school prematurely. Installing sanitary bathroom facilities with clean running water at our partner schools is an essential component of supporting gender equality and helping all students to realize their full potential.
New toilets under construction at the combined Donaye Teredji Middle/ High School.
Students from the highest level science class at Donaye Teredji High School.
All of our education projects are conducted in coordination with the Education Ministry to ensure that new infrastructure has the necessary government support to be fully utilized and maintained without additional funds from Andando. We keep in contact with all of our partner schools and over the past decade they have provided significant data showing the incredible impact that these interventions have had on student success. These programs have translated into increased enrollment and attendance, higher test scores, a jump in community and parental involvement, and other immeasurable advancements in local pride in the school along with stronger hope for the future.
We are continually working to improve our programs and find innovative ways to support students. With this in mind we are working with our garden technicians to help to plant beneficial native trees at all our partner schools for beautification, to increase student nutrition, and help to shield the school from ever-harsher climate conditions. We are also starting a pilot school garden program to help support practical STEM education, provide extra income for school programs, and fight hunger and malnutrition amongst students and their families. Read more about our latest education initiatives here!