ANNOUNCEMENT The Bakhawa Foundation announces the start of construction of its Village Academy in Bambilor (Gorom 2).
  • Pikine, Dakar
  • hello@fondationbakhawa.com
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ABOUT THE

BAKHAWA

FOUNDATION

The Bak'Hawa Foundation is a secular association, with no political, religious, ethnic, or profit-making agenda, officially recognized and approved by the Senegalese Ministry of the Interior under the number: 021735/MIN/DGAT/DLPL/DAPA dated April 5, 2024. By initiating this project, I reflected on all the free academic and financial support I received, as did everyone of my generation—the generation of independence. The creation of the BAK'HAWA Foundation was born from three strong ideas:

1- Many children are left on the sidelines of knowledge due to a lack of resources, guidance, and support to become active participants in economic life.

2- We observe a deterioration of social and community bonds in urban life, as well as negative cultural influences that contradict the African values instilled by our parents.

3- Many parents from underprivileged backgrounds find themselves powerless in the face of the numerous economic and social challenges imposed by modern life.

It is in this spirit that the Bak'Hawa Foundation sets itself the mission and is committed to:
• Improve the living and educational conditions of the most disadvantaged boys and girls, ensuring their academic success as well as their social and cultural development.
• Strengthen solidarity, community life, and the expression of African cultural values.
• Help reduce social inequalities in the face of educational and knowledge challenges through volunteering and responsible action.

Making every child a leader for the Africa of tomorrow" is our credo.

2021

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Urban life and its many challenges force many children into a sedentary lifestyle, spending their time between television, video games, smartphones, and the internet for those who have access, while others are left to fend for themselves amid urban violence. Through this village, we aim to provide children aged 7 to 12 with a space that fosters a framework based on community life, sharing, and active engagement.
We aim to build a village on a 1.5-hectare site where children, nearby villagers, and academic and recreational supervision come together. This is not a summer camp or a boarding school, but a living environment where children from diverse backgrounds interact, with stays lasting up to three weeks.

The development of this project followed several steps. First, the COVID pandemic highlighted a chronic lack of resources that prevented underprivileged children from having an adequate learning environment to succeed in their schooling.

We have established a support program for children aged seven to twelve by providing them with a structured learning environment, supervisory and academic support staff, as well as covering all expenses related to their academic curriculum, initially funded from our own resources.

Faced with the high demand and limitations of space and resources, we have decided to build a village capable of hosting 40 to 60 children for stays of 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the period.

By engaging these children over time, we provide them with academic support and educational recreational activities they would not otherwise have access to.

This program is entirely based on volunteer work and has no profit-making objectives. However, we must find a financial balance to ensure the sustainability of the institution.

The

Promoter

By creating the "Young Felines" program in 2021 with my own resources, I aimed to provide an opportunity for academic and social success to around twenty children from underprivileged backgrounds. The "Bak’Hawa Village Academy" project is built on the same values that enabled me to pursue an international career spanning over 35 years across five continents as a Vice President at IBM. Indeed, I became the person I am today thanks to a completely free academic system, the dedication of my parents, and the support of numerous individuals committed to youth development and African values such as hard work, discipline, and courage—essential qualities for any professional and social growth.
The "Bak’Hawa Village Academy" initiative is inspired by my personal story and aims to provide children with a comprehensive set of actions and initiatives that allow young learners to grow, mature, and succeed for the benefit of their parents and the community.

BAKHAWA FOUNDATION

Goals

Provide a living and learning environment that promotes the holistic development of children, with a focus on community life, sharing, and active engagement.
Provide young people, through residential stays of 3 to 20 days aligned with the school calendar, with an environment that includes recreation, study, and community life, where they learn to live together, share, and embrace African values.

FOUNDATION

BENEFICIARIES

01

Children from underprivileged backgrounds in Dakar and surrounding areas

02

Children from modest families whose parents wish to provide a communal living environment aligned with traditional African values.

03

School groups or associations that wish to share a unique experience within the framework of a tailor-made program.

The CULTURE of BakHawa

With values such as
UBUNTU UBUNTU (a fundamental value that enables individuals to live together peacefully and support one another)
EMPATHY (the ability to understand and share the feelings of others) and
RESPECT (thinking and acting positively toward others as well as oneself),
The Bak’Hawa Village Academy will provide each child with the tools to become a model citizen, capable of giving, receiving, sharing, and living within a community.
Thus, our program is based on five principles.

01
Developing children's sense of civic responsibility

We build upon the existing education and civic sense of children, acquired within their family, school, or community environments. Our goal is to strengthen these fundamental values—such as discipline, hard work, courage, and respect—thereby preparing them for a fulfilling adult life.

02
Belief in children's potential

We consider each child as a bearer of unique potential. Our approach is based on personalized support, closely tailored to each child, adapted to their specific needs, and valuing their individuality.

03
An instruction of knowledge

We prioritize learning through action, enabling children to learn by doing and to understand through stories and experiences. We involve elders from traditional and rural backgrounds to support this learning, particularly in areas such as sports, gardening, music, cooking, basic mechanics, and the arts.

04
The Significance of community life

Acknowledging the challenges of urbanization, we view the group as an essential unit of community life. Dormitory living, shared meals, group games, and hands-on activities all contribute to fostering the children’s sense of community, encouraging them to express themselves, share experiences, and support one another.

05
The power of communication

We place paramount importance on communication at all levels of our project. From interactions among children, supervisory staff, and parents to exchanges with the administration, communication serves as a key driver for improving language skills, critical thinking, and the ability to express oneself clearly, courteously, and respectfully.