World Aid Initiative
Abenity is committed to serving those living in extreme poverty. In 2009 Abenity partnered with World Vision to sponsor children in Senegal. Today, more than one billion of the world’s children live in poverty on less than $1 per day. Their poverty has robbed them of hope and threatens to steal their future.
Our partnership with World Vision allows us to make a difference in the lives of these children!
- View videos and photos of the children in Senegal
- Read community stories and progress reports
- Learn more about our sponsorship project
About Niakhar, Senegal
Niakhar is located about 100 miles east of Senegal’s largest city, Dakar. The Niakhar community has a population of approximately 25,000 inhabitants—of these, more than 14,000 are children. The Serer ethnic group comprises 95 percent of the population. The religion of the population is predominately Muslim. The major language is Serer, but many people speak Wolof.
The climate is characteristic of the Sudan-Sahel region of West Africa—hot and dry. Average temperatures range from 75° F in December and January to 86° F in May and June, although it is not unusual for the thermometer to exceed 100° F. The region has suffered from drought for many years.
The area is rural but larger communities like Niakhar are more "urbanized" with health facilities, a weekly market, and several shops. People in Niakhar traditionally live on food crops such as millet, and are fond of couscous, a meal prepared with millet flour. Cattle raising and cash crops of groundnuts provide income for some families. Traditional houses are huts, and a residential compound consists of one or more households together.
Children we sponsor:
Name: Maguette
Gender: boy
Birthday: Oct 13th, 2001
Maguette lives with his parents, 4 brothers and 2 sisters. His parents struggle to provide for the family. His father is an agriculture worker and his mother is a housewife. Despite their efforts, it is difficult to meet the family's needs.
Maguette is growing up in a poor community in Senegal, West Africa. Families live in round mud huts with either a thatch or tin roof. They survive on a stew made with chicken and rice or couscous. When available, vegetables such as onion, eggplant and carrots are added. The terrain is a beautiful African savannah with grasses and acacia and baobab thorn trees. Temperatures vary from hot to moderate.
Maguette is not in school at this time. He likes to play soccer. He helps at home by running errands. He is in satisfactory health.