DAKAR
THIES
Kedougou
Dindefelo
KOLDA
Toubab Dialaw
Program Overview
OVER THE PAST DECADE, SENEGAL’S YOUTH HAVE TAKEN CENTER STAGE IN MERGING THE PAST INTO THE FUTURE.
Through immersive community travel and local mentorship, we come to understand the ways that youth leaders are creating change for their country – and draw inspiration for the ways we might do so in our own communities.
Program Highlights
- Learn about the history of the Atlantic slave trade firsthand at the Island of Goree, and engage with local youth activists and artists who are creatively wresting with complex histories of slavery and colonialism and fighting for greater global justice.
- Visit an artisanal gold mine in Kedougou and study how the hunt for precious metals and resources impacts the environment and draws migrants from across West…
Through immersive community travel and local mentorship, we come to understand the ways that youth leaders are creating change for their country – and draw inspiration for the ways we might do so in our own communities.
Program Highlights
- Learn about the history of the Atlantic slave trade firsthand at the Island of Goree, and engage with local youth activists and artists who are creatively wresting with complex histories of slavery and colonialism and fighting for greater global justice.
- Visit an artisanal gold mine in Kedougou and study how the hunt for precious metals and resources impacts the environment and draws migrants from across West Africa to these risky industries.
- Trek across lush rolling hills in southern Senegal and visit indigenous communities fighting for cultural survival and for the preservation of their languages and traditions.
- Immerse yourself in multiple homestays from rural villages to more urban settings. Tend to animals, participate and contribute to the community garden, shop in bustling markets, and learn about the lives and livelihoods from your new family members.
- Study Wolof, Pulaar, and French, and put your new language skills into practice with new friends and community members throughout your travels.
From the fast-paced capital of Dakar to the lush villages of Kolda, we have the opportunity to learn about the ways that young leaders are innovating while still preserving their heritage. We study alongside musicians, dancers, tailors, and artisans who embody a thriving culture. With a focus on language acquisition and practice, we study local languages and French while putting our skills to use with many new friends. We begin near Dakar with a focus on understanding the historical contexts of slavery and colonialism. From Dakar, we move south towards Kedougou, where we trek through rolling hillsides, stay with indigenous communities, and learn about environmental issues from the activists who are working to defend their communities and create change. We then immerse ourselves in a rural homestay where we harvest vegetables, care for animals, take grains to the local mill, and collect water from the well. Throughout our time, we dive into the arts by studying under master artisans and musicians, or exploring other topics under the mentorship of community leaders.
Our journey concludes in an artist enclave near the sea, where we reflect on the ways that we, as young leaders, can draw inspiration from the incredible people and places we’ve met. As we reflect on the rhythms of Senegalese life, we see that the tradition of teranga—the culture of giving and hospitality—offers us many lessons about community and the web of connections we all share.
