Country Welcome for Senegal

Greetings from the land of teranga (“hospitality” in the national language, Wolof)!

Senegal is a country rich in cultural traditions with a long history of welcoming Peace Corps Volunteers. Known for its hospitality, Senegal has hosted more than 4,250 Volunteers and Peace Corps Senegal is proud of its strong tradition of effective and meaningful community engagement. Through our current programs in Agriculture, Environment, and Health, most two-year Volunteers are based in rural areas, with some serving in small- to medium-sized towns. Senegal Volunteers also contribute to youth engagement through soccer and after-school clubs and girls’ and youth empowerment camps. Projects are identified and developed in conjunction with the communities in which Volunteers serve, and through these projects Volunteers work with local partners to develop innovative interventions, addressing issues such as food insecurity, natural resource management, and income generation for women and youth.

Senegalese are proud of their strong commitment to democracy and respect for their constitution. Peace Corps serves at the invitation of the Government of Senegal and our strong relationship provides the foundation upon which Volunteers are invited to serve in most regions of the country.

The vibrant and proud people of Senegal are welcoming, generous, and deeply committed to community development and local empowerment. Community is embodied in the country’s name, Senegal—in Wolof, “Sunu Gaal,” means "our boat," reflecting the concept of community cohesion and action. A strong commitment to community unity and support for each other is woven throughout the fabric of Senegalese society and culture. Senegal Volunteers are expected to devote most of their time and energy to integrating into their host communities, working side-by-side to implement activities developed by and with community members, and advancing the Peace Corps mission of world peace and friendship.

Peace Corps Senegal’s training facility in Thies is about 1.5 hour’s drive from Dakar, and 25 minutes from Blaise Diagne International Airport. The Thies Training Center (TTC) provides a perfect backdrop for local language and technical skill acquisition, and development of intercultural competencies such as cultural humility, curiosity, and empathy.

The training staff share their passion for teaching several local languages: Wolof, Sereer, Fulakunda, Mandinka, Pulaar du Nord, Bambara, and Pullo Fuuta. Volunteers are not required to speak French before arriving in country, and Peace Corps Senegal does not teach French, as we find local language is the best way to build trust and understand community needs and problem-solving approaches. Arriving with some basic French is helpful for navigating the initial weeks in country.

Volunteers live in the same conditions as their community members. Living conditions can be challenging, with heat, limited internet connectivity, and access to electricity being the most notable change from living in the United States. Our medical team provides effective health care (medical and mental health) support to Volunteers, including but not limited to encouraging Volunteers to actively develop and adopt self-care strategies to stay healthy during service. As a malaria-endemic country, all Volunteers are required to follow preventive measures such as consistently taking malaria prophylaxis and using provided mosquito bed nets.

Our safety and security team provides insights and strategies to keep Volunteers safe in their communities and promote personal and situational awareness to reduce crimes of opportunity. Like most parts of the world, sexual harassment and sexual assault occur even with the best intentions to minimize the risk. Read up on the safety situation in Senegal here: Senegal_CHET_OSS.pdf (peacecorps.gov). Many individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual have successfully served in Senegal; however, given the recent rise in negative sentiment towards gay and lesbian individuals in Senegal, it is not safe to disclose your sexual orientation outside of the Peace Corps community.

Peace Corps Senegal offers a culturally enriching experience to Volunteers who arrive with a mindset of service, curiosity, humility, and flexibility. If you are seeking a rewarding experience where you will grow personally, expand your professional skills, and hone intercultural competencies, Peace Corps Senegal may be a perfect fit for you. Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to see the exciting and diverse work that Volunteers are doing in Senegal. We look forward to welcoming you to the land of teranga!

Jo Anne Yeager Sallah