In 2005, Drew High School sent a small group of students and faculty to Senegal for an educational travel program. The experience exposed them to a new world of art, culture, music, religion, and daily Senegalese life. An integral part of this trip was the week students spent as guests in family homes of the rural village of Keur Sadaro, located 3 hours from the capital, Dakar. From this initial experience came the idea of enhancing the program through service learning and developing a partnership with the people of Keur Sadaro.
During the summer of 2007, a group of faculty from Drew High School and Lick-Wilmerding High School traveled together to Keur Sadaro to assess the needs that could be realistically accomplished in the village. Led by Drew’s Dean of Faculty Jacques Cusin, this team met with various constituencies members of the community including elders, women and school authorities to determine what projects would be pursued. The result is a 3-year service learning and cultural exchange commitment by Drew School, Lick- Wilmerding High School and the village of Keur Sadaro
YEAR 1: In the summer of 2008, students and faculty worked with the people of Keur Sadaro on the following projects:
• Setting up Irrigation of a garden for the benefit of the school
• Restoration of a former Peace Corps building: The building was restored, cleaned and painted for use as a clinic. They also installed solar LED based light
• Solar lighting for some public spaces in Keur Sadaro
• Collaborated with Bruce Baikie of "Green WiFi" to train students and teachers to use the "One Laptop Per Child" laptops
• Repairing the leaking school roof
• Repairing all school desks
• Collecting data about the health needs of the village |
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YEAR 2: In the summer of 2009, students and faculty worked with the people of Keur Sadaro on the following projects:
• The school garden: Over 40 trees planted, 70 tomatoes planted, wall constructed, stone path lined path created, chicken coup, fertilization, garden education.
• School repairs: New roof on the director's office, 25+ student and teacher desks repaired, class windows repaired, secure computer charging station created.
• School solar installation: 200 watts of solar panels and maintenance free batteries installed foe running fluorescent lights and charging up to 18 computers.
• Computer Training: In depth OLPC computer training sessions offered to students and teachers.
• Collaborated with Bruce Baikie to help bring wireless internet to the school.
• Community health counseling and medication distribution.
• Vision Testing
• For the benefit of the school, local contractors employed to build a garden wall, school courtyard canopy, and chicken coup.
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The next phase of this project is taking place in June of 2010.
If you would like to donate to the Keur Sadaro project please download the flyer below or email me : femur@extrasleepy.com
Gratitude to the adults that have organized this project and/or helped to made it happen: Jacques Cusin, Katarina Cusin, Daouda Camara, David Clifford, Mariel Triggs, Kate Boyd, Johanna Cusin, Erika Solis, Thelonious Johnson, Jenny Nauss, Tom Wadbrook, Bruce Balkie, Sam Cuddeback and Dr. Al Adams.
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