Secure livelihoods for vulnerable youth in Senegal

Dear Friend,

As the days grow shorter and the headlines heavier, I’m delighted to share some uplifting news from Senegal that reminds us what hope and perseverance can achieve.

I’ve just returned from another field visit — a time I always cherish to reconnect with both current and former beneficiaries and see how far they’ve come. Long-term follow-up is key to our approach, helping us understand the lasting challenges our young people face, even after receiving quality training and opportunities.

In Saint-Louis, I met Mansour, one of our very first trainees. Today, he’s been recruited by the government as one of a thousand agricultural “volunteers” — part of Senegal’s 2025 national agricultural programme. His role combines his technical expertise and natural communication skills to support local farmers and promote community development. Though conditions are modest, this is an important stepping stone for his career. When I visited his elderly father, his eyes filled with tears of pride and gratitude: “My son is taking good care of us.”

I also caught up with Ibrahima and Harouna, two talibes trained in electricity who love their craft and are now working alongside a local electrician — reinforcing their skills while earning a living. Their Koranic teacher made the most heartfelt testimony as he told us:

“If the government truly wants to help, they need to do exactly what Aspyre Africa is doing. From the very beginning, you came here, sat on the floor with us, and listened. That’s how you get results.”

Pilot Project – Welding Workshop in Dakar

In Dakar, our first welding training workshop is now fully operational at the Lycée Seydina Limamou Laye. Eight graduates from our previous cohorts were selected to join. The workshop aims to both strengthen their technical skills and create income-generating opportunities by offering welding services and producing goods for sale. The goal is to make the workshop profitable and self-sustaining, providing a springboard to (self) employment for many more vulnerable young people. Two additional workshops are currently being developed.

Building a Stronger Ecosystem

Our teams in Saint-Louis and Guédiawaye have been hard at work conducting baseline surveys — mapping existing services and meeting with the many actors who guide, train, and support vulnerable young people on their path to decent work.

During my visit, we held a collaborative meeting in Dakar to share insights from the Guédiawaye survey. Together, representatives from government services, nonprofits, and training institutes discussed the key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges identified. As we explored practical ways to strengthen the system, one shared priority emerged clearly: the need for a platform that fosters real collaboration and synergy among stakeholders — so that vulnerable young people can access truly sustainable livelihoods.

The conversation was so engaging that no one wanted to leave. It was inspiring to see practitioners on the front lines finally have a space to exchange ideas, reflect together, and build shared solutions.

We look forward to building on these results, bringing key actors together, and continuing to shape a system where every young person has the opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for standing with us — your support is transforming lives, one young person at a time.

With gratitude,

Savina & the Aspyre Africa Team

Dear Friend,

I’m writing to you with exciting news and heartfelt gratitude.

During my most recent visit to Senegal in May, Aspyre Africa signed a landmark partnership agreement with the Ministry of Vocational Training—a true milestone for our organisation and the young people we serve. It was a great honour to meet the new Secretary General in person and formalise this collaboration. With recent changes in government, we’ve been given a unique opportunity for a fresh start—and we couldn’t be more hopeful.

This new partnership goes beyond words on paper. It gives us both the framework and legitimacy to scale up what works, influence policy, and bring about sustainable change at the national level. For the first time, we have a seat at the table where key decisions are made—and that means the voices of vulnerable young people are finally being heard.

A particularly meaningful development is the appointment of Mrs Ndiaye as our official liaison. From day one, she’s shown a genuine commitment to our mission. Her involvement allows her to truly understand our work on the ground—whether she’s participating in coordination meetings or joining us on family follow-up visits. Having someone like her championing our cause from within the Ministry is a game-changer.

In the coming months, our focus is on conducting two in-depth baseline surveys—one in Saint-Louis and one in Guédiawaye (Dakar). These surveys will:

• Map out the existing landscape of services that guide, train, and support young people into decent work or self-employment
• Identify the challenges—both systemic and individual—that hold back youth and service providers alike
• Highlight innovative practices and opportunities for greater collaboration
• Propose practical, evidence-based solutions that can be adopted nationally

We have wanted to carry out this work for years, but, without official support, the time was never quite right. Now, with full Ministry backing and genuine political will, we’ve hit the ground running. The results of these surveys will shape how youth employment services are delivered in Senegal—and ensure that solutions are rooted in real-world needs and lived experiences.

At the same time, our team has been hard at work on the ground in both Saint-Louis and Dakar, providing intensive individual follow-up and support to each young person in our programmes. Their commitment has been nothing short of inspiring—working tirelessly to connect vulnerable young people with real, sustainable livelihood opportunities. I can’t wait to share more updates and powerful personal stories from the field in my next report—so stay tuned!

And before I sign off, a huge thank you to all of you who contributed to our recent Little by Little campaign. Together, we raised $1,635 towards supporting our next cohort of young electricians in Saint-Louis. You are the lifeblood of our mission. Your generosity not only transforms lives today, but also fuels the research and advocacy needed to ensure that one day, our work will no longer be necessary—because the system itself will have changed for good.

With deepest thanks and hope,

Savina Geerinckx
Co-founder & Director, Aspyre Africa