Senegal

ChildFund Senegal promotes children's health through child-centered programs that focus on disease prevention and the promotion of essential family and community health practices. For the youngest children, we provide comprehensive services addressing maternal and child health, malnutrition and caregiver support. For older children and youth, we support health by improving menstrual hygiene management in schools — building hygiene facilities, supplying menstrual pain relief, and advocating for access to sanitary products. Additionally, we establish “teen corners” in schools and communities, offering safe spaces for peer-led discussions on youth health.

ChildFund Senegal supports children's education by promoting equitable access to quality learning through a community- and partnership-based approach. We focus on strengthening children's reading and problem-solving skills while fostering safe, supportive family and school environments. Working closely with local partners and communities, ChildFund Senegal uses a participatory method to identify educational challenges, propose solutions and assess the resources needed, aligning efforts with national education policies. We collaborate with stakeholders at all levels — from the Ministry of Education to local authorities, school management bodies, parents and children themselves — to improve both formal and non-formal education systems.

We help children and youth gain essential life skills by supporting early childhood development and foundational education. For children aged 0–3, we have established 29 playgroups and reached more than 14,000 caregivers through the Responsive & Protective Parenting Program (RPP), playgroups and the Read@Home initiative — focusing on education, health, nutrition and protection. For the 3–5 age group, ChildFund Senegal supports 26 Integrated Early Childhood Development Centers by training teachers, assisting management committees and funding nutritious meals. Additionally, we build child-friendly learning environments, including play areas. Last year, ChildFund Senegal trained 484 elementary teachers in innovative reading and math methods, reaching more than 13,700 pupils, as well as provided remedial classes for nearly 2,000 students with low literacy and numeracy levels.

ChildFund Senegal works to keep children safe by strengthening child protection systems at all levels — policy, community and family. Through advocacy, we promote the implementation of laws on child marriage, adoption of a children's code, and online safety, while also pushing for child protection-sensitive budgeting and revitalizing children's participation in decision-making through platforms like the children’s parliament.

ChildFund Senegal is an active member of several national coalitions to amplify our impact. We support the functionality of child protection mechanisms, including online safety, by helping establish and operate neighborhood protection committees and supporting departmental and communal child protection structures. For children aged 0–5, we focus on promoting awareness of birth registration and creating safe, nurturing environments. For ages 6–14, we promote protective family and school settings that encourage participation and problem-solving. And for youth aged 15–24, ChildFund strengthens their capacity to lead positive change in their communities, reinforcing a culture of protection and advocacy.