Publication Date | March 18, 2026

Period: June to December 2026

• Institution : Saint Jean Bosco Middle and high School
• Location : Yène, a village located in the Rufisque region,
• City : Dakar, Senegal, West Africa

• Objective : Increase the school's capacity to accommodate more students from surrounding villages

Lack of a school canteen, infirmary, computer labs, and principal's office

Current status: Incomplete

‍

Key needs :

• Construct new buildings and classrooms
• Construction of 16 new classrooms (Right wing + Main building) = $34,301
• Construction of 8 additional classrooms (Left wing) = $27,044
• Water supply (Borehole with solar pump) = $9,146
• Electrical installation and classroom lighting = $2,972
• Plumbing / Sanitary installation = $2,286
• 288 Classroom desks = $8,640
• Construction of an infirmary and canteen = $3,950
• Teaching materials and equipment = $1,300

Total requirements = $89,639

‍

INTRODUCTION

The project to establish the SAINT JEAN-BOSCO school complex in the Commune of Yène is driven by the ambition to contribute to the development and emergence of this rural suburban commune, the most remote in the Dakar region. It aligns with the Senegalese government's policy of education for all. Our vision is consistent with the Results-Based Management (RBM) strategy.

Located in the far southeast of the Dakar Region, in the Rufisque department, 50 km from Dakar and 30 km from the Rufisque Commune, the Commune of Yène covers an area of 70 km² and includes ten (10) villages, three (03) of which are located on the mainland (Niaye Khaye, Ndoukhoura Wolof, and Ndoukoura Peulh) and seven (07) of which are located along the coast. It is bordered to the east by the communes of Diass, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the north by Diamniadio, to the northwest by Sendou, and to the south by Popenguine-Ndayane.

The Commune of Yène stretches along 15 km of coastline. Fishing is therefore the primary economic activity, with agriculture and livestock farming as secondary activities. It should be noted that tourism is centered in Toubab-Dialaw, which hosts the majority of the commune's hotel infrastructure. The Commune of Yène occupies a strategic position in relation to the Dakar region and the Mbour Department. This situation is reinforced by the presence of the toll highway and the Blaise Diagne International Airport in Diass, among others. The ongoing construction of the Ndayane port will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the Commune of Yène, hence the importance of this educational project, which will allow for the strengthening of structures in the field of education.

‍

‍

‍

THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Project name: Creation of a school complex for the village of Toubab Dialaw

Name: Saint Jean-BOSCO Middle School

Type: Private Catholic School

Project duration: 8 weeks

Number of direct beneficiaries: 1,280 students

School contact: Nathanael TABLA - School Principal

1. Mission: Making education more accessible to children in the village and surrounding areas
2. Construction and facilities:

• 30 new classrooms
• Principal's office and staff room
• Library, computer lab...
• Restrooms and water well

Initial school plans

The institution consists of two schools in one: a middle school with 16 classrooms and a high school with 16 classrooms, with a total capacity of 1,280 students

‍

‍

‍

Buildings (32) Right and left wings : Each floor of the wing contains 8 classrooms for 40 students each, for a total of 32 classrooms for the institution

Main building (12) It contains twelve rooms:

• The staff room
• The library
• Two laboratories
• The administrative office
• The principal's office
• Supervision
• Computer lab
• A cafeteria,
• Three (3) prefectural rooms for 6th-5th grade, 4th-3rd grade, and Upper Secondary

‍

‍

CONTEXT

The population of the Yène Commune has seen constant growth over the last twenty years. This rate of growth has accelerated since 2000, as confirmed by the results of the last two censuses, as well as by the rural council's administrative census.

• 1988 = 9,620 inhabitants
• 2002 = 17,992 inhabitants
• 2010 = 21,605 inhabitants
• 2023 = 34,892 inhabitants

The change in population density between these four dates confirms the demographic dynamism of the Yène Commune: density rose from 137 inhabitants/km² in 1988 to 257 inhabitants/km² in 2002, reaching 354 inhabitants/km² in 2010 and 832.9 inhabitants/km² today.

Overall, an analysis of the population distribution within the Commune reveals three distinct zones: - villages with a large population: Nianghal, Yene Guedji, Yène Kao, and to a lesser extent, Toubab Dialaw; - villages with a medium population level: Nditakh, Yène Todd, and Kelle; - villages with the lowest population levels: Niayes Khayes, Ndoukoura Peulh, and Ndoukoura Wolof.

The analysis of demographic dynamics as a whole revealed that the population of the Yène Commune has doubled since the 2000s. Furthermore, the study of growth rates shows a sustained increase: - Between 1988 and 2002: +87%; - Between 2002-2010: +20%; - Between 2010-2023: +61.5%. 34.3% of the Commune's population is under 15 years old.

‍

JUSTIFICATION

The population of Yène is set to reach 40,000 inhabitants by 2020. Nevertheless, the exceptional demographic growth observed provides the Yène Commune with a local workforce and a consumer market, which are factors for developing a local economy. However, in the field of education, a real concern arises:

THE INSUFFICIENCY OF SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE DUE TO EXCEPTIONAL DEMOGRAPHIC GROWTH.

Elementary education The eight public elementary schools in the Commune of Yène are located in the coastal villages. The village of Nianghal has two primary schools (Nianghal 1 and Nianghal 2), while all other villages have one elementary school each. These schools contain 61 classrooms, resulting in a ratio of 57 students per classroom. The shortage of these school facilities is evidenced by the use of a double-shift system in 13 of the Commune's classrooms. Additionally, three schools lack fencing, which highlights the low level of equipment.

The school enrollment rate in the commune is well below the gross enrollment rate for the Dakar region, which is 98%, and for Senegal as a whole, which is 92.5%. This is due to the high number of children involved in fishing and related activities, as well as the seasonal migration of fishermen and their families.

Middle and secondary education : It is provided at the Commune's only middle school (CEM), which occupies two sites: one in Yène Guedj and one in Nianghal. This setup allows administrative and teaching staff to distribute students based on their place of residence. The Yène Commune middle school is a public facility with 6 classrooms, fencing, and sanitary blocks, although there is no separation between girls and boys in the restrooms. The middle school has an enrollment of 477 students out of a school-age population of nearly 2,300 (ages 14-19), representing an enrollment rate of 21%.

Addressing: The distance to schools, the shortage of classrooms, and the low enrollment rate

We propose: local schools, an increase in the number of classrooms, and higher enrollment

Other types of education: This includes Arabic instruction and functional literacy. Arabic instruction is provided at 12 daaras or Franco-Arabic schools.

Challenges in the education sector: The constraints of the Commune's education system include, among others:

• The distance to some schools,
• The shortage of classrooms,
• The low level of equipment in some schools,
• The low enrollment rate,
• The insufficiency of programs for providing school supplies and materials

‍

CURRENT STATE OF THE SCHOOL

• First building constructed

‍

CURRENT STATE OF THE SCHOOL

St. Jean Bosco Primary School is a private school founded in 2018 by Brother Nathanael Tabla, a member of the St. Jean Catholic community of Popenguine, Senegal. It was created to facilitate access to education for children in the village by offering low tuition fees (between €15 and €30 per month). It is located in Toubab Dialaw, a village on the Petite Côte south of Dakar, Senegal.

ProblemThe facility originally planned (32 classrooms) was not fully completed due to a lack of funding. The current capacity (6 classrooms) is insufficient to meet the needs of the village and surrounding areas. These improvements are essential to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment.

CURRENT SITUATION

• The current structure cannot accommodate the number of students expected in the Toubab Dialaw area.
• Some students travel long distances to the high school in Yenne.
• The classrooms are unfinished; only the left wing has been built (see illustrative photos).
• There is no water fountain; 30L water jugs are brought into the school every day.
• There is no cafeteria, no infirmary, and no first-aid kit on school premises.

PROJECT

The SAINT JEAN-BOSCO school complex project comes at the right time. This emerging school complex helps address certain constraints within the municipality's educational system.

Build a framework in which every child can envision success.A modern school will be made available to the school-age population of the area, along with local transportation options.

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

1. The SAINT JEAN-BOSCO school complex project aims to initiate the emergence of National Education in Senegal, not only for a school of excellence but also through organizational structures that inspire a love and passion for learning in young children.
2. Ensure access to quality basic education for all children, regardless of their social or geographical background, by ensuring that every student benefits from appropriate learning conditions.
3. Help students from disadvantaged backgrounds overcome obstacles that prevent them from accessing education, such as a lack of financial resources or the distance to school.

IMPROVE LEARNING AND LIVING CONDITIONS FOR STUDENTS

‍

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• Support the actions of municipal authorities in their efforts to implement the government's "Education for All" project within the municipality.
• Enable the harmonious development of the municipality by training the future leaders of this vast area, which encompasses ten villages.
• Increasing student success rates
• Reducing rates of early marriage and teenage pregnancy.
• Reducing absenteeism and dropout rates while creating a healthy, supportive educational environment.

The project prioritizes gender equality and aims to provide equal opportunities for all. The school facilities will include: a main reception area, teacher housing, a chaplaincy, a school health center, a general library, a kitchen, a laundry room, an indoor pool, an indoor gymnasium, a sports complex, and indoor parking.

‍

Expected Results

• Providing access to education for over 1,280 children
• Making school affordable with fees starting at €17/month
• Offering a modern and well-adapted educational environment

Community Impact

This initiative will have a significant impact on the local community. By providing adequate infrastructure, Action For Africa helps ensure equitable access to education for all children in the region. The new facilities will help relieve overcrowding in existing classrooms, providing students with optimal learning conditions.

SCHOOLING: 95% of children in the municipality, both girls and boys, are enrolled in school.

SUCCESS: The success rate has increased to 98.75%

DROPOUT: Reduction in school dropouts. The dropout rate is now a low 0.02%

COMMUNITY: A positive impact for the local population in terms of job creation

"We are deeply committed to supporting education in Africa. Building new classrooms at the Saint Jean Bosco school is a crucial step toward providing children with an environment conducive to their academic and personal development," said the Action For Africa School Projects Manager. "Our goal is to create spaces where every child can learn and thrive."

Mobilization and Support

The success of this project also relies on the mobilization of the community and local partners. Action For Africa invites local authorities, businesses, and citizens to join this collective effort to improve education in the village of Toubab Dialaw. Collaboration between all stakeholders is essential to ensure the long-term sustainability and success of this initiative.

‍

CONCLUSION

Providing children in villages with access to school is one of the most significant ways to reduce poverty worldwide. It offers an opportunity to out-of-school children in these areas, as well as to future generations. The goals of this initiative are to ensure student well-being and provide a better environment for learning, studying, and succeeding.

For more information on this project and to learn how you can contribute, please visit our website at actionforafrica.org