Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Dakar (Agenzia Fides) – Since their arrival in Senegal in 1980, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, in addition to their pastoral work in the parishes, have dedicated their lives to improving the living conditions for women. In the district of Salemata, since 1981, the women of Bassari and Peulh ethnic origin, as well as from other groups, have been able to attend three-year-long courses in French, Mathematics, and Cooking (including knitting and embroidery) and participate in training programs on home economics and household hygiene.
The main goal in this project is that of educating women who will be able to later pass on their knowledge to the rest of the village, and thus, contribute to the economic improvement of the entire area. The sisters carefully oversee their formation and try to arrange the activities in such a way so that they can reach the greatest possible number of women. Since 1992, many of the formation courses have been directly organized by the villages themselves, in an effort to stop the mass exodus of people from rural areas. Through this formation, the women and girls have learned to care for their lands and livestock.
Today, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary are present in nearly 20 towns, offering their micro-economic development programs. Since 1992, the Technological Formation Center in Salemata has been operating as a night school for the young women of neighboring villages. Its great success in the past three years has led the sisters to open another school in Providence, offering room and board for 30 female students. The Diocese of Tambacounda has organized seminars since 2006, also at the service of women’s promotion. (AM) (Agenzia Fides 4/9/2008)
