Capacity Building for Young Entrepreneurs

What is a GlobalGiving Evaluation visit?

GlobalGiving project evaluators visit projects to complete in-depth organizational assessments and ensure donations are used responsibly. The assessments help GlobalGiving Partners to promote their work to new audiences, access relevant professional support and improve their effectiveness for the long term. During the visits the evaluators conduct interviews with staff members and volunteers, identify training and support needs, ensure a good assessment of a project’s transparency and effectiveness and much more.

Visit to Aspyre Africa’s projects in Senegal

It was with great pleasure that we welcomed GlobalGiving Evaluators Anna Maria and Isabella to Saint-Louis last week. A very full but varied schedule had been drafted alternating in depth discussions on topics like governance, finance and fundraising with field visits to see the work and meet with beneficiaries, partners and other stakeholders.

For the “Capacity Building Project for Young Entrepreneurs” Anna Maria and Isabella visited the cooperative located at the University of Saint-Louis. They talked with beneficiaries who shared their hopes and challenges. “We are so grateful for having been given this opportunity to build our future. Unlike some people I know who had no alternative than to take a boat, hoping to make it to Europe alive.” one of the boys explained. They also met with the project manager Ousmane, the technical advisor Khadim and visited the crèche that has allowed the young mums in the project to remain committed.

We also took them on a family visit to meet Babacar and his mum. Babacar had left the cooperative early on after having been selected for a government- funded scholarship to continue his education in the agricultural sector. As the training center’s Director Mr Diop also told the evaluators, Babacar is doing very well and if he continues this way, his future is wide open. Babacar’s ambition is to continue his studies all the way up to the BT (Brevet de Technicien) and to start his own enterprise.

Quote from the Evaluators

“We visited Aspyre Africa's projects in Saint-Louis and carried out an in-depth evaluation of the organisation over the course of four days. During this visit, we were impressed with the strong relationships Savina and Veronique have built with local NGOs, businesses and government. Most of all, it was inspiring to see the impact the work of Aspyre Africa is having on young people in Saint-Louis, by building their confidence and providing them with the tools to access sustainable, fulfilling careers. We wish Aspyre Africa all the best in continuing their amazing work and we hope that others across not only Africa but other continents too will recognise the value of the model they are building.”

IMPORTANT NOTE:

As we have managed to secure funding for this project from alternative sources, we will shortly be closing this project page on GlobalGiving. We will however soon be launching an "End of year campaign" to support the next cohort of students. More information will follow soon. We sincerely hope you will continue to support our work in Senegal, and help us provide more vulnerable young people with access to quality vocational training and secure livelihoods.