Leadership in Guinaw Rail

Shortly after we arrived at the school in a poor area of Dakar, Senegal, we met the school director, Diouma (on the right) as well as Masse (on the left). Masse is the director of the Waranka Association, which exists to help improve living conditions in the community (this area of Dakar is called Guinaw Rail). The Waranka Association oversees the school, as well as many other civic projects and services.

To understand how our group-- the Ludlowe Corps -- can best help the community of Guinaw Rail, I first needed to understand this wonderful Waranka Association. Masse told me the Association got its name from a hard-working, civic-minded woman who had done much to help the people of Guinaw Rail. Waranka Ba's photo hangs above the two men in the image above. She had fought to improve living conditions in this area that seemed to have been overlooked. She helped bring electricity, running water, and sanitation to the community. When she died in 2003, the community wanted to continue her work, and formalized it by creating an association named for her.

These days, Masse oversees this group, which focuses on education, health, and the environment. With constant threats of flooding, malaria, diabetes, illiteracy, and other troubles, it's a big job.

Masse inspires me. He works all day -- he is a professional librarian with a college degree from Dakar -- then spends much of his free time after work in the school, the clinic, or working on other civic matters. I would have liked to have met his wife and four children. I asked him how he is able to get so much done, and he just smiled graciously. He seems driven by a need to do what it takes to help his community.

I felt honored that this group would accept our Ludlowe Corps as a partner. Sure, we had all put forth efforts to raise funds for the school, but it pales in comparison to the work Masse, Diouma, and the others we met that day do every day.

Here is the website for the Waranka Association, including pictures from the Ludlowe Corps' visit in early April 2008.

Community Spirit in Dakar

I had been looking forward to Tuesday all week. We headed out to visit a grade school that I'd first heard about last year. This grade school is in a part of Dakar called Guinaw Rail, which is where our friend Abdou (shown above, in front of the school) grew up. Our friend Massamba had lived there as a young man. It's a low-lying area that floods during the rainy season every year; people live there because the conditions make homes affordable to those who have very little. But it's a hard life.
Last year our group of middle-school students, parents and teachers -- the Ludlowe Corps-- filled a crate with school supplies and furniture. We had it shipped to Dakar and gave it to the people of Guinaw Rail as a gift. I knew then that the good people of Guinaw Rail were working hard to make a better life for the community's children. I knew then that they placed great value in education, and sacrificed much to provide it. I knew then that they didn't have a lot to work with. What I didn't know, until I got there on Tuesday, was the great kindness, patience, and wisdom of the community leaders there.

Dakar Hotel

After that 12-hour ride from Podor to Dakar, nothing felt bettter than crashing at our hotel in Dakar. The good night's rest rejuvenated us for a big day on Tuesday. Before we started out for the day, though, we took a few moments to relax on the roof of the hotel.

Here, and above, are a few images of the neighborhood.

St. Louis to Dakar

Monday's trip to Dakar from Podor took 12 hours, door-to-door, and we had to amuse ourselves along the trip. The leg from St. Louis-to-Dakar seemed particularly long.

John wasn't feeling that great, but did manage at some point to regale us with his imitation of Jimmy Stewart.



First one to identify the movie wins bragging rights.

The brooms in the photo above were the first ones we had seen all week that actually had handles. The excitement over that discovery gives you a sense of the overall level of excitement inside the van that day. Here are a few more pictures of the trip scenery.

Fishing Boat in the Water in St. Louis

On our way through St. Louis, Senegal, Massamba suggested we stop by and see the Roger Ludlowe Middle School boat we had seen the previous week (see blog entry here.). By an odd twist of fate, this was the boat that had been painted in honor of my kids' American middle school.

We didn't think we had much chance of seeing it -- it was the middle of the day, and it would likely be out working the coast for fish. But as we drove up along the river, there it was. It was great to see it in the water -- it had made its maiden voyage the day after we visited it.

See more images of the SS RLMS in the water here.

On the Road back to Dakar

When the Baaba Maal concert finished around 6:30 a.m. Monday morning, we hit the road. To get back to Dakar from Podor, Senegal, we needed to retrace our route through St. Louis.

During a quick stop in St. Louis, Massamba directed us to a beautiful beach where we could stretch our legs. It was the kind of place that makes you think about the phrase, "it's not the destination, it's the journey."

See more images of the Podor-St. Louis leg here.

Baaba Maal in Concert

Sunday night showcased the best music of the Blues du Fleuve Festival, including, of course, the festival's host, Baaba Maal. His set kicked off in the wee hours of the morning -- around 5 a.m., if I remember correctly. The crowd had grown ever larger during the night, as people anticipated his set.

Baaba Maal did not disappoint. He brought his full band -- with tama drums, hodu, guitar, keyboards, backup singers, etc. -- as well as his regular two dancers. Special guests included a young local boy, who sang with an amazing degree of stage presence. That child owned the stage during his song. The energy level reached a zenith as Maal called onstage more and more perfomers, including our buddies Tony and John.

See more images of Sunday's Baaba Maal 2008 Blues du Fleuve concert in Podor, Senegal here.
License the above image for editorial use here.

The show wrapped around 6:30 a.m., just before daybreak.