Child sponsorship update from Louga, Senegal

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Louga, Senegal from November 2008.

Our SOS Children Village, the third in Senegal, celebrated its 18 years of good and faithful services in favour of the childhood in May 14th 2008.

Hundred children, 59 boys and 41 girls between 11 months to 14 years old benefit from the domestic long term care after the exit of 05 young having returned to their biologic families by the framing of the young.

With the difficult economic situation of the country, the demand becomes very strong in our infirmary where cares are free.

The three children newly admitted to the Village who are twin (a boy and a girl) are orphans of father. They integrated quickly the family with the support of the educational team, the SOS mother but especially a good welcome within the domestic house.

The setting up of a coordination of the SOS units of Louga (Village, School, the Training Centre, the Nursery School and Family Strengthening Programme) facilitated the hold in charge of cultural, sportive and socio educative activities called ASECS.

The diversification of activities with the support of external partners allowed every child to lead an extra scholar activity.

The major innovation is the introduction of French language in the theatre that allowed the troop to talk about actualities as the clandestine immigration, the AIDS etc.

In addition to this activity the karate, the hook and the embroidery became addition activities shared with other children within the village. More of about thirty children participated in activities of vacations as holiday camps organised by the private or state-controlled structures.

The support of the SOS School, making the pride of the region with its good results, allowed the village to get 75% to the entry in 6th form (entry to the college) and to the Certificate of Elementary Study End.

Most the youth who have already departed from the village spend most part of their school vacations in the village or return to visit their SOS mothers during. What explains the good relationships between the young children and their brothers and sisters. Their training camp, organised by SOS Children’s Villages permit them to take knowledge with the state-controlled structures of youth but also to have an orientation according to activities.

In addition to the 150 children coming from the surrounding community of the nusery school welcomed 26 children of the village until the end of the school year in July, presently 20 children frequent it for the school year 2008/2009.

Beyond the educational activities, others are developed at the level of the school: exits, visits and discoveries. The organisation of the carnival was the main activity in the nursery school. It permits the mixture of our children with those of the surrounding districts: the most important aspect being the educational one. While playing, the child observes, imitate gestures and try to win especially. They learn rules of the game and accept them.

We take this opportunity to reiterate our deep gratitude and send you our best wishes for the year 2009.

Thank you for all you do for the children of SOS Children's Village.

Mr Abdoulaye SARR,
Director of the Village