Fimela Project, Senegal

See the progress you helped make happen in your sponsored community

When the project started, malaria and child malnutrition were common and health centres were ill-equipped. 48 percent of children were not enrolled in school and farmers were struggling to produce enough food and earn income.

Thanks to your support, your sponsored child and other children in the Fimela community have improved access to education, healthcare and nutritious food and their families have new opportunities to earn income.

Together we've achieved so much

95 percent of children were enrolled in primary school by 2015

This is up from 52 percent in 2003.

  • The rate of children going to secondary school has nearly doubled after schools were upgraded, teachers trained, and parents were made aware of the importance of education, especially for girls.
  • 12 schools were upgraded with equipment and furniture, improving the learning environment for more than 2,000 children. The improvements included new classrooms, walls and fencing, toilet blocks, tables, chairs, books and toys.
  • Over 75 teachers and principals in 18 schools were trained in improved teaching techniques.

93 percent of families were sleeping under insecticide-treated mosquito nets by 2015

This is up from 45 percent in 2003, and it is helping to prevent malaria.

  • The rate of malnutrition in children aged below five dropped to less than one percent in 2016, down from 16 percent in 2003, following a nutrition program that included the monitoring of over 6,000 children and treatment of children who were malnourished.
  • 90 percent of children were vaccinated by 2015, up from 72 percent in 2003, as part of a health program that helped 10 health centres deliver quality healthcare. One health centre was upgraded, two maternity wards were built, and all health centres received essential medicine and equipment.
  • Over 8,800 women accessed healthcare including immunisation, antenatal care, nutrition information and family planning. 100 percent of pregnant women are delivering their babies with medical assistance.

Over 900 households have increased their incomes

Farmers learned how to improve the soil and were supplied with seeds and tools to establish vegetable gardens and fruit orchards and set up irrigation systems.

  • 68 percent of households had a second income source in 2016, up from 33 percent in 2015, thanks to agricultural and business training and increased access to small loans to help people start or expand businesses, such as fruit processing and preserving.
  • 23 savings groups have been set up to help community members save money, learn about business and marketing and access small loans.

"My business has grown in a short time and I decided to diversify my activities. Today I can claim to be the greatest vegetable wholesaler in the region. "

- Fatou, farmer and mother of three