LE BON SAMARITAIN SCHOOL
PARTNER CHURCH: newlife Bremerton | Bremerton, WA
YEAR OPENED: 2013
CITY: Dakar, Senegal
TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 120
NUMBER OF CLASSES: 8
GRADES OFFERED: Preschool - 6th Grade
Located in an impoverished neighborhood of Dakar, the capital city of Senegal, the opportunity for children to go to a school like Le Bon Samaritain is life-changing. The literacy rate of Senegal is 52%, but in this neighborhood, it shrinks down to just 20% of adults. That means that 80% of the population cannot read or write, trapping them in the cycle of poverty. Many parents in the neighborhood cannot pay school fees, even at public schools, so 60% of the children who live here do not attend school. The local Presbyterian church, Fass-Mbao, saw these needs and dedicated themselves to starting a school. From the beginning, Le Bon Samaritain (or the Good Samaritan) school has opened its doors to as many children as possible, no matter their ability to pay the tuition. Every time a child is sponsored it allows them to enroll another child in need. As a Christian school, these children and their families hear the good news of the Gospel. Their motto is “ministering to show God’s compassion and love in the community.” With excellent exam results for their students each year, this school is truly making an impact on their community.
LE BON SAMARITAIN SCHOOL PROJECT
COMPLETED PROJECTS
Recently, Le Bon Samaritain was able to acquire a larger building in a better location close to the current school and a $75,000 campaign was funded to overhaul the new building, providing classrooms and offices, giving the school the capacity to reach more children. The new building will also function as a community center, with space for people to gather, and with classes for adults.
NEXT STEPS
Coming soon Le Bon Samaritain hopes to add secondary grades on land they own next to the current school.
MEGAN MEETS HER SPONSOR CHILD
Working at GO on the Mission has given me the opportunity to advocate for impoverished children around the globe. However, I was a sponsor long before I began working at GO. Having the opportunity to meet the children our family sponsors brought immeasurable joy and changed the way I thought about the work we do.
I started working at GO in the spring of 2020 but wasn’t able to travel internationally to our ministry sites in Senegal until 2023. Having met one child we sponsored already in Mazatlan, I was excitedly anticipating meeting the young girl we sponsored at Le Bon Samaritain. My expectations were blown out of the water; it was nothing short of magical. Madeleine’s smile is contagious. She pulled me out of my chair to dance with her and her mother during the school’s assembly and taught me the traditional dance from their tribe. She is in her final year at Le Bon Samaritain and it’s amazing to see the confident young woman she has become. She has big dreams and I will be cheering her on!
It is so easy to focus on the impact sponsorship can have on the child you sponsor, but I’ve learned we shouldn’t overlook how sponsorship can impact our own lives as well. I have a deeper gratitude for the work our partners do and I feel even more called to help impoverished children because of my personal connections. These children are nothing but pure joy, and I have been blessed to be even a small part of their story.
SPONSOR A CHILD AT LE BON SAMARITAN
Sponsorship is a way to be deeply and intentionally involved in the lives of the impoverished. You can make a difference in the life of a child or vocational student for just $39 a month.
DONATE TO A PROJECT AT LE BON SAMARITAN
GO believes the people of the culture know their communities and the people in them. They know what works, and what doesn’t. As the basic needs of the people are met, doors are open to help meet emotional and spiritual needs as well.