These young women have one thing in common: they are left behind by society. Some have motor or visual disabilities, while others suffer from extreme economic precarity. All of them are vulnerable, and several of them have been victims of sexual violence. "Instead of staying at home doing nothing, we give them the opportunity to learn a trade and integrate into society," explains Fatou Ciss, president of the center. It's a second chance for these women who have been battered by life.
Milestones of Economic Emancipation
Hawa M'Bengue, 17 years old, joined the center since its creation in 2019. Coming from a low-income family, she decided to join the center to learn a trade. In the small kitchen with faded walls, this quiet young woman learns to transform mango, a fruit that grows abundantly in the Mont-Rolland region, into jam. The jars will then be sold on the village marketplaces and in neighboring towns. The money generated will be put toward maintaining the center. "I didn't know the manufacturing process. I had to learn the basics of cooking mango and at what temperature to cook it. It's not that complicated; I quickly got the hang of it," she says.
Hawa and her classmates are not only trained in fruit processing. In the next room, some make soaps from local essences while others learn to sew on machines. A little further on, in the nursery, apprentices are trained in the basics of farming. "This way, they will know how to create and grow a vegetable garden at home and that way feed their family," one of the trainers explains.
Over the course of the three-year apprenticeship, the students learn the basics of several trades. "I have learned a lot since I came here and in many different fields. When I heard about the center, I immediately wanted to join. It was a chance for me to earn a living," says Hawa M'Bengue. Upon graduation, thanks to their versatility, they can develop income-generating activities or continue their studies in a specialized school.
"I have many ambitions for these young women. With the training they have received, they can eventually work in the village and help their parents and relatives meet their needs."
Fatou Ciss, President of the Anne Marie Ngone Faye Center for the Promotion of Persons Living with Disabilities
Regaining Self-Confidence
By empowering these young women with a job, the center also helps them regain their self-confidence. For all of them, this school represents a fresh start, a second chance in life. Whether they are facing disabilities, economic hardship, or mental health issues, they must face daily prejudices and the scrutiny of others. "Before coming here, I didn't feel like I could play a role in my community. Today, that has changed significantly. I think we also have our place, and I feel useful," says one young student.
Given the center's success, it is a model to be replicated in other villages in Senegal, a country lacking specialized infrastructure for supporting people with disabilities or vulnerable people. François Samb, a community volunteer for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which provides financial and technical support to the center for its development, opines. "If we want to prevent rural exodus, begging, and sexual exploitation and allow women to be autonomous, we must create inclusive models like this one that takes into account vulnerable people and give them a chance. We must not leave these people behind," he argues.
Doing Better than Their Parents
Since its creation, more than forty young women have been trained at the "Centre de promotion des personnes vivant avec un handicap - Anne Marie Ngone Faye." This has transformed many lives. "Despite their challenges, I am sure that these young women will do better than their parents," says President Fatou Ciss with a smile.
Young Hawa N'Diaye would certainly agree. In the years to come, she sees herself pursuing a career in sewing and, who knows, perhaps opening a small workshop in Mont-Rolland one day. "Young people have the power to change the narrative. We must believe in them," she concludes.
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