In Saint-Louis, the Senegal River Valley Community Resilience and Development Project (PRDC-VFS) demonstrated a strong act of solidarity with the Christian community. Through a ceremony bringing together religious authorities and community leaders, the project distributed 100 food kits to the most vulnerable populations.

 

The meeting was held in the presence of several religious figures, including the parish priest of the cathedral, Father Jean-Louis Coly, as well as representatives from the city's various churches. This turnout was hailed as a powerful symbol of Senegalese unity.

 

In his speech, Lamine Dramé, specialist in social cohesion development within the PRDC-VFS, recalled the project's purpose: to strengthen the resilience of populations facing shocks, particularly climatic ones, in the Senegal River valley.

"In this area, nearly 38% of the population lives in poverty, including 28% in extreme poverty, regardless of religion," he stressed.

 

Beyond infrastructure, the project aims to leverage social inclusion and economic development. Therefore, young people, women, people with disabilities, and vulnerable households are central to the interventions.

 

This gesture comes in a particular context marked by the coincidence of Ramadan and Lent, a situation that the organizers consider "a symbol of unity and sharing." After supporting Muslim families with "Ndogou" kits, the PRDC-VFS wanted to extend its support to the Christian community, in a spirit of equity and social cohesion.

 

The 100 food kits, distributed equally among four churches, are composed of local products: rice from the valley, onions, potatoes, sugar, oil, and peanut paste processed by women in the area. Each kit is valued at 44,000 CFA francs, for a total cost of 4.4 million CFA francs. The beneficiaries were identified beforehand in collaboration with religious leaders, specifically targeting widows, orphans, and people with disabilities.

 

For his part, Father Jean-Louis Coly praised the initiative as "full of meaning," rooted in the Senegalese tradition of interreligious solidarity. "What we are experiencing today is not new. It is a legacy from our ancestors that continues to be a source of pride for our country," he declared.

 

The religious leader also emphasized the spiritual significance of the gesture during this Lenten season, inviting everyone to cultivate sharing in their daily lives. "We shouldn't wait until we're rich to give. What we have, however modest, can be shared with those in need," he reminded them.

 

With this initiative, the PRDC-VFS intends to lay the foundations for sustainable action. Launched in Saint-Louis, the operation should gradually expand to the entire project intervention area, with the ambition of ultimately increasing the volume of aid provided to vulnerable populations.