The celebration of ChildFund's 40 years of presence and partnership in Senegal brought together government authorities, technical and financial partners, and civil society actors. This event recognized four decades of unwavering commitment to child well-being and community development across the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, ChildFund Senegal-Guinea Country Director Sagane Thiaw expressed his profound gratitude to the donors, institutional partners, and the Senegalese government. He emphasized that these 40 years are a testament to renewed trust and a strong collective commitment. For him, beyond the figures, it is the transformed lives that are being celebrated. More than 2 million children and their families benefit each year from the organization's interventions in Senegal, with tangible results in education, youth empowerment, and women's resilience to economic and climate shocks.

Mr. Thiaw noted that children who once traveled long distances to attend school now learn in safer conditions within their communities. He also highlighted ChildFund's role in transforming underprivileged youth into agents of change. Faced with growing needs and limited resources, he advocated for strengthened partnerships to expand the NGO's impact through innovative approaches.

Fatoumata Fall, Director of Partnerships and NGOs at the Ministry of the Interior, emphasized the symbolic significance of this anniversary, describing it as an indelible mark on the lives of the people. She praised ChildFund's extensive network, present in 773 localities, while also highlighting the need for a new phase of collaboration between the government and NGOs, focused on transparency, coordination, and accountability.

For his part, Alassane Drabo, representative of ChildFund's Africa regional office, highlighted the organization's achievements despite a challenging environment, noting that by 2025, over 1.7 million children had benefited from its programs. Finally, Fatou Ba, Director of Child Rights Promotion, commended the NGO for its contribution to the national child protection strategy, emphasizing that this mission remains a top priority within the framework of the new 2025-2029 national development strategy.