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Friends of Gue'oul

Promoting educational projects in Senegal



For years, Starcon and StarFest raised money and donated tickets to help the Diana Price-Fish Foundation. They were like a Make-A-Wish organization for adults. Unfortunately, they fell victim to the lagging economy and closed their doors last year. That's when we started looking for another charity to promote and assist. Clare Donnelly (yes, a family relative) stepped forward. Clare and Jim, who can be found in the Dealer's Room every year at StarFest, together with Clare's friend Judy Beggs, brought an incredible project to our attention, Friends of Gue'oul.

Gue'oul is one of those scrappy little Senegalese villages, perched out there on the edge of the Sahara Desert, hanging on for dear life. The Wolof people are survivors. They are energetic, bright, and community minded. These vivid people make it on sheer stubborn determination, Friends of Gue'oul is an organization that works hard at promoting educational projects for the children in this small community.

Friends of Gue’oul is narrow in focus and has reasonable goals. We believe that is the best way to accomplish profound and lasting humanitarian works. There is no global aim to this project, it's just a village. This project, out there at the edge of life-diminishing poverty, is having an immediate and positive effect because of the support of people like you!

The onsite administrator - The key to the program’s success - is Mbaye Samb. He is a native Senegalese. He was born and lives Gue’oul. He acts as the project's oversight, liaison to us and is the financial manager. In consultation with village elders and school administrators, he identifies candidates, monitors their progress, oversees disbursement of funds, provides periodic audit reports on disbursements, and reports on the academic progress of the students. Mbaye works strictly on a volunteer basis, as does the Board and staff of the project.

The Friends of Gue'oul is a program to love and believe in - Research shows that the education of girls is the key to a nation’s economic success. Educated girls have better health, they are less likely to marry and start a family too young, and have a better chance of protecting themselves from violence and abuse. This program is capturing the hearts of contributors because they personally know and track each girl’s progress. Each girl is visited, in their homes and at school. Their grades are tracked and the program provides tutoring assistance.

So how can we help?

What is needed most are classroom supplies like pens, pencils, erasers, backpacks or book bags that are not see through or clear (it's a cultural thing). Our notebooks are not understood over there, they use some pretty specific paper and any western stuff is just lost. Art Supplies are appreciated as well; crayons, water colors, colored paper, children's scissors, glue sticks. Simple mathematical type card games and paper dolls. Children’s DVDs and videos are a big hit.

The thing they are really looking for now is someone that knows about or works where there might be surplus commercial grade printing equipment, like copiers, printers, and laminating machines that could be sent in the shipping containers to equip the computer classroom/lab. Laptop computers (no older than 3 years) are needed, too.

There will be a representative from the organization in the Author Alley at StarFest. They will be there to take donations, answer your questions, and explain more about the organization. (You can also register for their April 23 annual dinner, featuring Mafe Gerte, one of Senegal’s national dishes – or call 303.788.1716)

Please do what you can. Let's boldly go and help the Friends of Gue'oul.





Humanitarian Services

50 East North Temple Street, Floor 7

Salt Lake City, UT 84150-6890

Phone: 801-240-1201

E-mail: LDS-Charities@ldschurch.org







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