The first group are deaf children, who – until they could join our school- just sat down at home and hardly came outdoors. Now they are radiant children!
They were frightened but thought it to be thrilling as well. Even the most frightened child wanted to jump in the pool for a second time. Swimming is such joy for deaf children. They do not need words: there is not much talking in a pool and everyone understands each other with simple gestures.
A second group are children with severe burns (they do not want to be photographed).
A third group consists of children with poliomyelitis.
A fourth group: the so called albino children. The groups are small but all these children had to overcome the shyness to show their handicapped features. We do respect that, that is why they are divided in small groups. The pool is small, but situated in a beautiful  protected spot between the trees. A heartwarming experience to see  frightened withdrawn children change in radiant enthusiast girls and boys.

In 2007 started a Karate training in some small villages without any activities available for youngsters and kids. The trainer gets a small compensation from the government. The children, a group of 45 boys, and girls as well this being very special, train twice a week. This group performs so well that we are very proud of their participation in regional contests. They needed the special outfits for it, awarding them status and respect from the environment visiting their competitions. Silent work found a donor who provided for the outfits. These are made by another Silent Work project in Senegal. Mutual cooperation between projects creates development and good contacts.

Silent Work build in 2005 in a large village a center for different activities, amongst others: a 3 year training to become a tailor. An important skill because traditional clothes are worn by many men and women in Senegal. 25 Girls were trained and are now self employed or started in small groups their companies. They co-operate with the women of the tissue-dye training. They can use the machinery in the center.

Silent Work build in a large village a center for different activities, a.o. a 3 year training in dyeing tissues/clothes. An important skill for many men and women in Senegal wear traditional clothes. 25 Women were trained and are now self employed or started in small groups their companies. They can use the center for this.

In 2007 a well trained socker team has been put in the spotlights by us and offered outfits, balls and goalkeeper equipment. These boys form a solid team which benefits the community. They support with all kinds of jobs that have to be done in the villages. They train as well small boys to play socker.

In 2003 we started with the “school on a mat” in a large village containing many deaf children. A group of children, 14-18 years old, receive daily a few hours training in sign-language, by means fo visualisation and referrers. F.e. by collecting vegetables and fruits and show the children the concerned gestures, they learn step by step to understand and be understood, by means of gestures. If there are no referrers available, the subject is drawn in the sand and the gesture involved taught. In the meantime this group of children got their own real classroom in the regular school of hearing persons.

In the south of Senegal a training center for informatica has been build in 2006. 25 Pupils of the secondary school receive education in informatica for one year. After receiving their certificates they can use this for further training and they will have more opportunities on search for jobs. This center has created other departments to obtain an income: internet, leaflets, visiting-cards, creating invitations and writing letters and if necessary translate in English and French.

Building this center started in 2008. An internet cafe and informatica training centre: a professional in informatica can’t wait to start training in november 2009! As well an atelier, a space for expositions of art and artifacts from projects in different african countries, linked in any way to Silent Work. F.e painters from Mauritania will be able to expose their artwork.

There will be a shop to sell differing products of Silent Works projects.

In 2004 a simple primary school has been build in two nearby small villages of refugees. The children are able to receive education in their own local language, french and arabic.Over 300 children receive education in morning- and afternoon schedules. Before they were seated in the heated sand, without any shadow, in groups very close to each other in order to hear the teacher.

housing the Twa's

at present..Twa's attend school

chief of the Twa's

In 2008 a group of children, the Twa’s (pygmees) can attend school. The chief put forward a request for education and in solid cooperation with him most of the Twa children in this area receive education. Special care is offered in regard to their differing language.