Senegal is on the coast of West Africa, with over 16 million residents. Its primary language is French, however many people speak smaller, more local dialects such as Wolof. Senegal’s ecosystem includes ocean coasts, grasslands, and tropical rainforests, making it very diverse for animal and plant life. Senegalese culture contains a mixture of Islamic, French colonial, and traditional African and tribal legacies. Although the population is 95% Muslim, Senegal has maintained religious harmony with other beliefs.

Dakar is the largest city in Senegal. It is known for its markets, music, and port. A short drive away is Thiès (pronounced chess), home to the airport our team uses, and the closest city and hospital to Ngonine. From Thiès, it’s a 2-hour drive on dirt roads to the village of Ngonine. Ngonine is a 5x5 mile rural village consisting of approximately 2,000 people. Clean water is now available to each family compound, but there are no medical facilities. Most people use horse carts for transportation, while some own dirt bikes. Because there is no electricity, the few residents who do have cell phones operate them using streaming data.