Itinerary

Photos

Follow-Workshop

North Carolina educators learned about Senegal 's culture and education system by visiting schools, historical sites, and mosques, as well as exploring urban and village life. Lauren Feng, Program Manager for World View, and Barbara Anderson, Associate Director of the African Studies Center, were co-leaders on this study visit.

Our base was Cheikh anta Diop University in Dakar where we stayed in the university guest houses. From there we explored Dakar, Senegal 's capital of two million, as well as Toubab Dialaw, a nearby fishing village and artists' colony. Special excursions included a visit to Touba, an Islamic holy city where pilgrims travel to worship at the Grand Mosque. We devoted a day to a special visit by ferry to Gorée Island, where the"Door of No Return" stands as a constant reminder of the transatlantic slave trade.

We enjoyed eight different school visits, including the national pre-school Case des tous Petits; a Franco-Arabic School; L'école de la Rue, a school serving the poor of Dakar; a Koranic school; a business college, and several other public and private schools. We also assembled culture kits to be used in our classrooms and to share with other educators.

Our connection with the West African Research Center at Cheikh anta Diop University also offered us the opportunity to learn from Senegalese faculty members. We arranged for sessions on Senegalese history, literature, education, and some lessons in Wolof, the most widely spoken language in Senegal . From start to finish, this study visit gave educators insight, enthusiasm, and confidence to add more global content to their curriculum.

This year's roster was made up of K-12 and community college educators from teh following school systems, independent schools, and colleges: