We were told by our guide at Mare Lodj that it’s not uncommon for pierogies with one to 200 people to make it safely to Spain in six days and nights if they keep two motors running alternately. It’s important to have the right amount of petrol and food and weight.

Toutie Sambou

Papaya

Papaya

Well

3 Wells, pumps and solar panel funded by the association of San Malo

Used to protect from heat and mosquitoes

This basin is connected to the well for easier retrieval of water for irrigation

Onions cultivated by Adama

Cassava

Adama’s son and she shared the same name

Senegalese hibiscus BISSAP

Banana plant fertilized directly with cow dung

This fencing was financed by the friends of thionc Essyl (ADT)

These pictures show hibiscus being dried and the seeds \240recuperated for replanting

The well, the solar panels and the piping donated byADT

This device drains roof water and redirect it to a centrally located well

Electric hi current wires

Hospital

This is for the new technical school. They’re using a thatched roof. Bonis had it at his place and finds it very pretty but easily destroyed by termites and expensive to replace from Ziguinchor

Sony is Bonis’s younger brother who also works at the encampment. The other fellow is a volunteer from Spain. We were given a tour by a young woman who came with him from Spain. They were on three month rotations. They were surprised that it was less expensive to hire more people than to rent or buy equipment to make the construction go at a normal place. Consequently, everything took extremely long to complete. We for example, witnessed a bucket brigade to hand materials to people up on scaffolding.

Local construction worker designer? The main Carpenter. He frequently has to travel to the car to get new supplies.

There was an imperative to make the structure look authentic, and the original architect from Spain insisted on cement that didn’t hold up to Senegal’s rain storms. The Spanish architect tried to incorporate traditional Senegale \240construction techniques that are quite artisanal. In particular, he tried to use the building cement mix with little seashells. In design he didn’t count for the severity of the annual rainy season. Unfortunately, his first attempt collapsed at great expense. One of the problems is that in order to get funding they propose beautiful, extravagant ideas, but leave the locals to fund the maintenance which is extreme, particularly in these disastrous situations.

They make mango and papaya, jam, and dried fruit, \240syrups and powdered drink

Drying cabinet

Cystern and well.

The three most important things are a new surface court for the football and basketball courts for the boys and girls. Also a new teachers bullpen. And mainly the new wall around the perimeter of the campus.

Les trois éléments les plus importants sont un nouveau terrain de football et un terrain de basket pour les garçons et les filles. Un nouvel enclos pour les enseignants. Et surtout le nouveau mur autour du périmètre du campus.

The three most important things are a new surface court for the football and basketball courts for the boys and girls. Also a new teachers bullpen. And mainly the new wall around the perimeter of the campus.

This library is a recent addition and filled with books donated by Des Amis de Thionk Essyl

Principal of school /ibou coly

Much of the newly constructed schools created with support from Spain have a common motif using fragmented white tiles

The border of the campus is open hence the need for a wall

This is some of the same tile work that we’ve seen at the other school construction sites funded by Spain

There’s a need for a court that has been destroyed since the 1985 original construction because of construction trucks recently as well as rain. Also, the animals wander freely and take refuge in the school during the rainy season. It’s unfortunate now that now there is no place for girls to play basketball and girls to play football.

The adjacent sports field has fallen into dissolution and become unusable. It’s become a resting place for neighboring cows as there is no wall to keep them out.

Damage done by trucks

The principal was a student when they first opened and remembers how important sports were for all the students

Rain and trucks have laid waste. Desperate need for surface for children him to play soccer and basketball.

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This is the state high school where the principal worked and currently volunteers at this private school for Tionk Essyli. The English teacher attended the state high school as a student before now he’s an instructor at this private school. The students at the private school funded by Des Amis de Thionk Essyl are special needs in that they had to repeat more than two years and weren’t allowed to continue at the state school. Reasons could be economic or distance from the school that made it impossible for them to keep up. This gives the students another chance. Some students are able to re-integrate into the public schools after attending the school. Last year they were able to send 20 students onto university. Over the years they’ve been able to send 200.

Abdoulaye Sambou the Principal

Aliou Niassy the English instructor