More than 2,000 students in Dakar are benefiting from the expansion of the Yango Group's "Safer Journeys to School" initiative in Senegal.

Senegal has joined the Yango Group's growing "Safer Journeys to School" initiative, bringing improvements to road safety and raising awareness among nearly 2,000 children in Dakar. Building on experience gained in Zambia, the program aims to make daily journeys to school safer through cooperation with LASER International and local authorities.

For many children in Dakar, getting to school means walking along busy roads, crossing fast-moving streets, and navigating areas with inadequate pedestrian infrastructure. According to the World Health Organization, road traffic accidents remain the leading cause of death for children and young people aged 5 to 29 worldwide.

In this context, the international technology company Yango Group has extended its “Safer Journeys to School” initiative to Senegal, in partnership with LASER International and local authorities, in order to improve road safety around schools in Dakar.

Safer school zones for more than 2,000 children

The initiative focuses on two schools: Ibrahima Bèye primary school in Fass and El Hadj Malick Sy school in Medina.

The project combines infrastructure improvements and road safety awareness. New pedestrian crossings, speed bumps, traffic signs and road markings have been installed, as well as approximately 80 meters of protective barriers in each school to separate students from passing vehicles.

According to the international road safety organization iRAP, both schools have achieved a safety rating of at least three stars under its "Star Rating for Schools" assessment methodology.

Beyond infrastructure improvements, approximately 2,000 students participated in road safety awareness sessions, including practical demonstrations of safe crossing techniques. School road safety teams were also trained and equipped to help promote safer behavior around schools.

A collaboration between local expertise and public authorities

These improvements were inaugurated on October 14 at the Ibrahima Bèye Primary School during a ceremony presided over by the Chief of Staff of Mr. Déthié Fall, Senegal's Minister of Infrastructure and Prefect of Dakar. The event brought together representatives from the Yango Group, LASER International, AGEROUTE, CETUD, the National Road Safety Agency (ANASER), the Ministry of Education, the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee, and local school communities.

This project combines the Yango Group's commitment to safer urban mobility with the local expertise of LASER International and the technical skills of AGEROUTE and other public institutions.

Speaking at the launch, ANASER Director General Atoumane Sy stressed the importance of respecting the 30 km/h speed limit around schools and called for similar initiatives to be extended to other Senegalese cities.

This initiative comes as Dakar prepares to host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, prompting increased attention to pedestrian safety near busy roads and transport routes. However, these improvements are designed to benefit local communities long after the Games are over.

From Zambia to Senegal: extending school travel safety across Africa

Senegal's participation marks a new step in the Yango Group's efforts to improve road safety across all its African markets.

The company first launched the "Safer School Journeys" program in Zambia, in partnership with the Zambia Road Safety Trust. Following its initial implementation, the program expanded to other schools, combining safer pedestrian infrastructure with awareness campaigns and community involvement.

In Senegal, the Yango Group is building on this experience with local partners, adapting its approach to Dakar's road conditions and the community's needs. For the company, which operates mobility services across Africa, road safety is not limited to drivers and passengers using its platforms, but extends to everyone who shares the public road.

“ Every child should be able to get to school safely. As a mobility company operating in Senegal, we consider road safety a responsibility that goes beyond our services. By collaborating with LASER International and local authorities, we hope to bring about real, tangible improvements for children and families in Dakar, through infrastructure that will benefit the community for many years to come ,” said Aïcha Niang, Country Director of Yango Senegal.

As Senegal prepares to host the Youth Olympic Games, the improvements made in Fass and Medina show how cooperation between businesses, public authorities and local organizations can bring lasting benefits, making the daily journey to school safer for thousands of children.