Samba Mbaye - farmer, father, and city councilor in Keur Socé.
It’s been over a year since the pandemic started, and thanks to our team on the ground in Senegal we were able to quickly identify and meet the emergent needs of the communities we serve.
While things may not be back to “normal” soon, we remain committed to walking alongside the people of Senegal just as we have for nearly 15 years.
We met with one of the city councilors in Keur Socé and he shared with us his thoughts on the last year:
My name is Samba Mbaye, I would like to take the opportunity to testify about Andando and the acts of kindness they have done during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Andando is the only NGO that did what others couldn’t do during Covid -19...they had the courage to come as a backup and to our bedside.”
I testify knowingly, what Andando did during the pandemic. I saw the devastation of the pandemic with my own eyes, therefore, I wish the virus would go away forever. Andando has done a lot for the community by providing emergency supplies such as rice, oil, soap, milk, sugar, and masks. Andando did this THIS year, they contribute to the development of the municipality and surrounding areas.
Andando staff working with local leadership to coordinate a distribution of food, soap, and masks to rural communities.
Once supplies reach rural villages, they are distributed among families, with special care given to those most in need.
Beyond Covid relief they are building classrooms, installing gardens for the benefit of women and families, and providing small loans for farmers. In short, Andando is doing everything possible to help the development sectors of our community.
Thousands of masks have been given out to garden participants so they can safely keep providing food for their families.
Andando is an essential partner who invests in the community; they have done a lot of things here. Since the beginning they respect our local leadership, honor our memorandum of understanding, and participate in our budget orientation meetings.
Corn growing in one of the community gardens.
Andando intervenes within the framework of State policy, it is an important NGO that works to help populations and has an inclusive and participatory vision. Andando is the only NGO in our town that works for the well-being of the populations. On the other hand, there are other NGOs that distribute T-shirts and not important actions. Andando is the only NGO that did what others couldn't do during Covid -19 where everyone was staying at home, activities were down, people were not working and making no money, it is Andando who had the courage to come as a backup and to our bedside.
An elementary school under construction.
I have hope because Andando teaches us with a development method - they start with someone who has nothing at all, and they train and encourage us so we can come out of idleness and poverty.
Andando is leading us on a good trajectory, showing us the way and giving us ideas.