Youth workers from the Italian organization PRISM – Promozione Internazionale Sicilia-Mondo and the Greek organization Inter Alia, have been hosted from 20 to 28 April 2015 in Ziguinchor, Senegal, by the local NGO “Federation Dimbaya Kagnalen”, in the frame of the job shadowing activity foreseen in the project “The Young side of the Moon”, funded with the support of the ERASMUS+ programme, Key Action 2: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices – Capacity Building in the field of youth.
The job shadowing offered an outstanding and marvelous opportunity for reciprocal learning, intercultural dialogue, and exchange of experiences in the field of community development, by gaining insight into day-to-day activities of the hosting organization “Federation Dimbaya Kagnalen” and its amazing commitment for education and community development in Casamance.
The Federation Dimbaya is located in Ziguinchor, in the south part of Senegal, a unique melting-pot promoting coexistence between different ethnic groups, religions and beliefs. Local partner of ChildFund, the Federation Dimbaya is a civil society organization with over 7-year experience in community development and child protection, gathering youth and adults community based associations bringing appropriate response to vulnerable children and young people’s needs in terms of child protection, healthcare, early childhood care and development, nutrition, child participation, life skills, youth & economic empowerment, parental education.
Activities included visit to local community projects, schools and kindergartens in Ziguinchor and neighbouring villages (ECD, Djiringho, Katy Kane, youth club of Boutoute, Childfriendly, Nyassia school, ASSOREP Yamatogne), including cultural exchanges with children, young people and community members of the big Dimbaya family, visit to local authorities, cultural tours in the region, as well as specific sessions dedicated to explore reciprocal opportunities for synergies and development of follow-up international cooperation projects in the youth field between the partner organizations involved.
Reporting what one the participant Boyka Boneva (Inter Alia) said: “Senegal, but above all the people in Ziguinchor took a very special place in my heart. Thank you for being as you are, thank you for making us so happy! We expect a detailed report on what we did, saw and loved!”
A special thanks to Haby Diallo, Baye Mor Talla Ndiaye, Adoulaye Diouf, Salif Kanoute, the president Moussa Ndir Samb and all Dimbaya community members and friends for welcoming us as friends and sharing their professional experience.
Last but not least, we would also like to extend our deepest gratitude to all “Sagna” family members for hosting us as part of the whole family.
Stay tuned for upcoming events of the project, and follow us on our Facebook page!
Click below to visit a selection of pictures from the Job shadowing in Senegal.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.386189974902490.1073741854.326682454186576&type=3
