About Us
Who Are We?Friends of Guéoul is a Colorado non-profit organization. Our mission is the education of girls in the village of Guéoul, Sénégal (pronounced GAY-ool) whose families are too poor for them to go to school.
Our Mission.
Our support gives these young girls the opportunity to go to school based on their talent and initiative, rather than upon lack of money and other resources. Our main purpose is to provide them with the best education possible. Ultimately our goal is to promote empowerment and success of each girl into adulthood.
Why are We Educating Girls in Sénégal?
The average annual income in Sénégal is about $1,200. Among the poor, this
figure is much less. At the bottom end of society, poverty is so great
that families cannot afford even the minimal costs of supplies and
school fees that would permit their daughters to stay in school. They
may not even be able to afford to feed their families, creating an
incentive to marry off daughters at a very tender age, just to have one
less mouth to feed. The unfortunate result is that the poorest girls
drop out of school and are married when they are as young as eleven
years old.
How Do We Do This?
We select the poorest girls in every incoming first grade class in the
village of Guéoul. Each girl is given a scholarship of $100 per year. Since the scholarship is provided only so long as the girls remain in school, the family is given both the resources and a powerful incentive
to keep their daughter in school. 
In 2004-05, we named the first 14 girls. In the winter of 2006, we named another 12 girls. Likewise, twelve more girls were added from the 2006-07 class. With
the addition of 12 more girls for 2007-08, our numbers are now at 50.
Mbaye Samb is the key to the success of our program. He is a native Sénégalese English teacher who was born and lives in Guéoul. In consultation with village elders and school administrators, he identifies candidates, monitors their progress, oversees disbursement of funds, provides periodic audit reports on disbursements, and reports on academic progress of the students. Mbaye does his work strictly on a volunteer basis, as does our Board and staff. Funds are disbursed at an elaborate ceremony in Guéoul at the beginning of the school year.
Some Additional Facts
Sénégal is a very poor country. Even a small amount of money will have a huge impact. The $100 yearly scholarship for each girl provides money for supplies, school fees and clothing for the girls, and food for them and their families.
Friends of Guéoul is a fully qualified 501 (c)(3) non-profit charity. Your contribution is fully tax-deductible under federal tax law.