Neteboulou Project, Senegal

See the progress you helped make happen in your sponsored community

When the project started, local schools lacked well-trained teachers and many parents couldn't afford school costs. Two-thirds of children were not immunised and most pregnant women did not attend antenatal check-ups.

Thanks to your support, your sponsored child and other children in the Neteboulou community have improved access to education and healthcare, they have improved hygiene and are better protected from harm.

Together we've achieved so much

100 percent of children were enrolled in first grade in 2016

This is up from 45 percent in 2013 and it follows awareness raising amongst parents about the importance of education.

  • Vulnerable students were supplied with school materials such as bags, notebooks and pens, in order to lower the number of drop-outs due to a lack of school supplies.
  • Literacy in children increased by 87 percent after 86 teachers were trained in maths, reading and writing tuition skills and underwent increased supervision by education inspectors. Primary schools received learning resources including reading corners, books and stationery.
  • Two community nursery schools were opened to help prepare pre-school-aged children for the first grade.

76 percent of children aged under two are immunised

This is up from 32 percent in 2010 following the immunisation of 1,512 children.

  • A maternal and child health program led to a 64 percent increase in pregnant women attending antenatal health check-ups between 2010 and 2016. The community health post was fitted with essential medical supplies and mosquito nets.
  • A nutrition program targeting children under five monitored child growth, rehabilitated children suffering from acute malnutrition, and educated parents on good nutrition and feeding habits. This reduced cases of malnutrition in children to one percent.
  • Deaths from diarrhoea decreased following 105 community information sessions on basic sanitation and hygiene, including hand-washing to prevent diarrhoea, that reached 2,525 parents and caregivers. 140 households gained water purifiers and 81 were supported to build toilets.

A child protection commission has been set up in the local area

In addition, 11 child protection committees have been set up and members trained how to monitor vulnerable children, raise awareness about child abuse in the community and discourage early marriage.

  • 47 percent of children are participating in children’s clubs that teach them about their rights.
  • Birth registrations increased after 20 education sessions highlighted the importance of children having birth certificates. This will help children to access government services and sit their school exams. Birth certificates also provide them with protection against practices such as child marriage.

"At the beginning, reading was difficult for us, but as soon as we created the reading corners in schools, everybody succeeded in reading."

- El, aged 14, sponsored child