CorpsAfrica/Senegal hosted its de-centralized Pitch Day events on May 28 and May 30, 2024. The events were hosted in the following four regions: Saint Louis, Kaolack, Kédougou, and Ziguinchor. Two Volunteers were selected per region to pitch their projects. 221 were brought together, including 51 Volunteers, 13 Alumni, 17 Staff Members, as well as partners, community members, and local authorities. SAED was among the notable partners in attendance.
Pitch Day is a significant event on the CorpsAfrica/Senegal calendar, providing an essential platform for Volunteers with community projects to present their initiatives to a panel of influential local figures. The event aims to foster community development by encouraging dialogue between Volunteer communities and local stakeholders while mobilizing resources to support community projects.
While eight Volunteers were selected to pitch their projects, all project prototypes were presented in the Project Gallery.
One of the projects presented at the Kaolack event was Issaga MBALLO’s MAAC JIRIÑ SAAXOF Project in the Podome community. Issaga’s project aims to build a pre-school, providing access to education for children ages 3-5. The community has chosen a former elementary school to make this vision a reality. To date, the project has received 566,000 FCFA in community contributions, and sought 481,400 FCFA in funding for expansion and implementation.
Showcasing the generosity and dedication of our attendees and stakeholders to support community-led projects, we have received pledges totaling 56,000 FCFA. We are still welcoming contributions, and organizations have expressed the possibility of providing additional funding and support.
In Ziguinchor, Nganawe Chiwona presented her Djimoutene man djirock Project in Mangagoulack community. Nganawe worked with her community to devise solutions to low agricultural productivity and crop yield. Together, they found that the best solution would be the installation of a solar-powered irrigation system to provide consistent access to water to the gardens. The community contributed X FCFA, and seeks an additional 4,612,500 FCFA for a successful project implementation.
We extend our sincere gratitude to all participants for their unwavering commitment to supporting these community-driven projects. Your presence and active participation have sparked hope and strengthened our confidence in our mission. Our team is now engaging in one-on-one discussions with potential funders to secure the necessary resources for the successful implementation of these volunteer-led initiatives. The enthusiasm and support shown by everyone have deeply inspired us, reaffirming our collective power to uplift and empower communities across Africa.
