Casamance: Air Senegal and the Maïmouna Association come to the aid of orphans in Oussouye and Kabrousse

In a show of solidarity and civic engagement, Air Senegal and the Maïmouna Association made a significant donation to the Sainte-Thérèse orphanages in Oussouye and Kabrousse. Through the "Wings of Hope" initiative, the two partners provided school supplies, recreational equipment, hygiene products, eyeglasses, and toys to improve the living and learning conditions of the region's most vulnerable children.

Emotion, gratitude, and hope were palpable during this day of sharing organized to benefit the children of the orphanages in Oussouye and Kabrousse. Driven by its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy, Air Senegal once again reaffirmed its commitment to social causes in Casamance through its "Wings of Hope" program.

Speaking on behalf of the national airline, Khadijatou Faye, representative of Air Senegal, emphasized the company's commitment to providing long-term support to vulnerable children. "Today, we are pleased to offer our support to the children of the Kabrousse orphanage and also to the Oussouye nursery, in partnership with the Maïmouna Association," she stated.

This act of solidarity resulted in the donation of school supplies, leisure and sports equipment, hygiene products, and eyeglasses for children. Nearly one hundred toys were also donated to help create a recreational area for residents of care facilities.

For Air Senegal, beyond material aid, this initiative conveys fundamental values ​​of solidarity, sharing, and civic engagement. "It demonstrates Air Senegal's commitment to making a concrete contribution to the well-being of communities and strengthening ties with its partners working on the ground," emphasized Khadijatou Faye.

An essential partner in this operation, the Maïmouna Association is thus pursuing a mission that it set for itself since its creation in 2019. Its co-founder, Maïmouna Baldé, recalled that the organization was born from the moral legacy of her grandmother, a woman who dreamed of learning to read and write, but who did not have the opportunity.

“Her story inspired us and gave us a mission: to enable future generations to have access to education, knowledge, and culture,” she explained. For several years, the association has been carrying out solidarity projects between Africa and France through academic support, the creation of libraries, the improvement of infrastructure for children, and support for vulnerable people.

For this new initiative, which has been in preparation for several months, the association mobilized its donors to provide children with backpacks, pencil cases, pens, markers, and various educational materials to facilitate their return to school. This action follows on from initial support provided a few months prior.

“We have committed to being by their side until the start of the new academic year,” said Maïmouna Baldé, while praising the involvement of Air Senegal and the personal support of its Director General, Tidiane Ndiaye.

The importance of this support was strongly emphasized by the leaders of the beneficiary organizations. In Oussouye, Sister Marie-Thérèse Kouma recounted the history of the Sainte-Thérèse orphanage, founded on January 4, 1954, by Sister Élisabeth Coly to save children threatened by certain cultural practices of the time. Today, the institution welcomes orphans, abandoned children, and children whose mothers suffer from intellectual disabilities. Faced with the numerous challenges the institution encounters, the nun expressed her profound gratitude to the donors.

“These gifts brought a lot of joy and happiness to the children. The games and snacks offer them moments of pleasure and sharing, while the books and school supplies contribute to their educational journey,” she said before warmly thanking Air Senegal, the Maïmouna Association and all their partners.

The same sentiment was echoed in Kabrousse, where Sister Marie-Thérèse Sagna praised an initiative that gives hope to children and those who care for them daily. "It's a feeling of gratitude and pride to see people who care about the most vulnerable children," she said.

According to her, these donations represent not only material support but also a powerful message to children, showing them that effort, hard work, and discipline can be rewarded. "The resources are now in place to allow them to move forward, learn, and succeed," she emphasized.

In a context where care facilities must look after dozens of children with often limited resources, this act of solidarity comes as a breath of fresh air. The orphanage directors unanimously praised the commitment of both partners and offered prayers for the success of their future activities.

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Through "Wings of Hope," Air Senegal and the Maïmouna Association demonstrate that solidarity can take concrete and lasting forms. This hopeful initiative reminds us that every act of generosity can contribute to building a better future for the most vulnerable children of Casamance.