EDUCATION
''Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the World'', said Nelson Mandela. Victor Hugo once said, “He who opens a school door, closes a prison”.
Public school in Senegal officially begins at age 7, however, kindergartens are not available in all rural villages.
Currently, there is one kindergarten accommodating over 120 students. There are no chairs or tables for the students nor even one playground to recess. Additionally, due to the lack of resources, the school does not offer meals or drinking water to its students.
Many of the Elementary classrooms are unsafe and unbearable for both students and teachers. Most of the time, temperatures exceed ninety (90) degrees. There are many elementary classrooms that do not have roofs or floor slabs for safe and comfortable education. As unprecedented rains flooded parts of Senegal, many of these schools were inundated. Many parents in the region cannot afford to pay their scholars’ tuition and school expenses, which is one of the main reasons for the high public school dropout rate.
Lastly, there are about 2,000 students attending the public high school. Many students walk at least 5 miles a day to go school. There is no safe transportation such as a school bus or car to transport them. Although many students walk miles a day to go to school in 90-degree heat, there are no fans, air conditioners or drinking fountains to cool them. Unfortunately, this is the education system in the Djoloff.
The Djoloff Humanity Foundation education program supports and improves education outcomes in Djoloff. The foundation looks to improve infrastructure, equipment supplies, scholarship, elementary and junior high schools, high school and professional training. As outlined below:INFRASTRUCTURE:
- Construction and rehabilitation of classrooms
- Construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of school toilettes
- Rehabbing and painting classrooms and chalk boards
- Rehabbing and painting school façades
- Installing concrete floor slabs and tile in classrooms
- Installing fans in the classrooms
- Installing drinking fountains in the schools
- Constructing a playground at the Kindergarten
EQUIPMENT SUPPLIES:
- Providing computer hardware (computers, printers, scanners)
- Providing education materials (backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils)
- Providing students tables
- Providing rugs and toys to the Kindergarten
SCHOLARSHIP:Scholarships are crucial for brilliant young students who don’t have the means to pay for school. They spell the difference between staying at home and being given access to quality education that leads to improved circumstances and future success.Scholarships are funding opportunities for students that meet the specified criteria below. It includes meeting academic standards, acceptable behavior in school, and ongoing family engagement to ensure a student’s best possible results.
- ELEMENTARY & JUNIOR SCHOOLS
Our primary scholarships are for students in 1st grade though 8th grade who would not be able to attend school without financial support.
- HIGH SCHOOL
Our secondary scholarships are for students in high school (grades 9 through 12). These are merit-based scholarships. Students must maintain “A” level grades every semester.
- PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
The foundation offers scholarships to students who have graduated from high school but cannot enroll in college or have given up on their education after high school graduation. This is at the sole discretion of the board directors. The Djoloff Humanity Foundation assists in covering all costs associated with school fees which can include but are not limited to food, school materials, uniforms, personal items and transportation.FINANCIAL SUPPORT:One of the requirements to enroll a scholar in public school is to submit a birth certificate. However, many parents in the region cannot afford to pay the birth certificate fee ($12). Hence, many parents do not enroll their children in public school.The Foundation obtains a birth certificate on behalf of these families and enrolls their scholars in public school while fully taking care of all of the school related expenses including tuition.