REPRESENTATION AU SENEGAL

10, avenue Pasteur X rue Galiéni – BP 6288 Dakar- Etoile - Dakar (République du Sénégal) Tél. +(221) 849 65 30 - Fax +(221) 822.37.98 E.Mail wfp.dakar@wfp.org

SUMMARY WALK THE WORLD SENEGAL By Angela Adrar

THE PEOPLE

World Food Programme

Programa Mundial de Alimentos

Progr amme Alimentaire Mondial

L’Organisation d’Aide Alimentaire du Système des Na tions Unies

Walk the World: La Marche Contre la Faim in Senegal counted on

more than 18 500 men, women and children early on a Sunday

morning singing, drumming, dancing, rollerblading and walking

against hunger in the streets of Dakar, Kaolack and Ziguinchor.

May 21st, 2006 was an exhilarating day in Senegal that

empowered people to take action against hunger with the

encouragement and involvement of the United Nations World

Food Programme-WFP regional and country staff, the

government, sponsors, NGOs, associations, schools, and

volunteers.

Mothers and Children benefiting from WFP’s School Feeding

Programs in the regions of Kaolack and Ziguinchor walked to

show the world that a child studying with a full stomach makes

the difference. In Dakar, 8 500 school children from over 300

local schools woke early, travelled from the outskirts of the city

by bus (donated by Dakar Dem Dikk) with their classmates and

teachers to participate in this unforgettable experiential learning

lesson in fighting hunger.

The sound system was checked, drummers, dancers, health and security in place

before 10:00am. More than 300 employees of sponsor organizations and companies

had found their banner, each other, their motivation and place of departure. The final

touch to prepare for the opening ceremony was to get 50 brave preschoolers from

the ages of 4 to 6 to their spot up front and center which, participated on behalf of

l’Agence National de la Case des Tout-Petits, an initiative of the First Lady, Madame

Vivian Wade. Linked hand in hand these preschoolers walked through the crowd of

supporters to naturally lead this historical Walk the World manifestation through the

streets of Senegal West Africa.

“The Walk in Senegal

marked the point of

departure for what is

possible, if a community

in solidarity is

committed to their

future...to their children,

and to a better world.”

Angela Adrar

Walk the World

Senegal Coordinator

Dakar

REPRESENTATION AU SENEGAL

10, avenue Pasteur X rue Galiéni – BP 6288 Dakar- Etoile - Dakar (République du Sénégal) Tél. +(221) 849 65 30 - Fax +(221) 822.37.98 E.Mail wfp.dakar@wfp.org

THE WALK

THE RESULTS

Ziguinchor

The tender voices of a local children's choir singing the

National Anthem carried through the crowd of thousands

lifting the spirit and attention of all the to the stage where

the motivational opening speech took place with the

Minister of Literacy Mr. Diégane Sène, the President of

CONGAD, the largest NGO consortium of Senegal, and

the Representative of WFP Senegal; Omar Bula Escobar.

The Opening Speech emphasized food security, the end

of

The music and Fight Hunger banners « Ensemble Contre la Faim » held up by

the representatives of the Senegalese Government, the WFP Representative,

and Sponsors such as CitiGroup, Mobil and World Vision led the well organised

crowd along the circuit. Children were leading walkers in front of the Mayors

Office, past the historic Train Station, through the colorful street markets, to

the Presidential Palace and back to the Place de l’Independance. Along the

way, the walkers were met by drummers and dancers that marked the rhythm

of the Walk and kept the walkers in high spirits. Water points were positioned

by Kirene, our sponsor water supplier to keep walkers cool and quenched in

the heat of the sun. Upon reaching the finish line, the songs sung by local

Senegalese performers like Pape Ndiaye Thiopète, DJ Awadi, and many others

during the closing concert marked the success of an excellent event and the

beginning of a new Senegalese tradition.

of child hunger and the importance of reaching our Millennium Goal for 2015 with the help of the Senegalese people.

Omar Bula Escobar WFP Country Director quoted a famous Brazilian activist that captured the emotion of the day and set

us on our way. « La Solidarité ne se remercie pas, elle se Commémore » (Solidarity is not thanked, it is commemorated)-

Herbert de Souza Betinho.

We surpassed by almost 3 times our modest Goal of mobilizing 7500 walkers in

Senegal. A great accomplishment! Local schools taught session on CHILD HUNGER

prior to the Walk in over 800 schools. Over 500 private companies, public

organisations, and embassies were informed about Walk the World, CHILD HUNGER

and the WFP’s role in the Fight.

Some 40 Sponsors generously contributed approximately 100 000 USD in cash and in

kind contributions to make Walk the World in Senegal a success. Our goal is to raise

200 000 USD. The fundraising strategy closes at the end of September, events and

activities are planned in the following months to continue collecting funds for the

WFP-School Feeding Programmes and promote www.fighthunger.com

Ziguinchor

Kaolack

Dakar