Chapter Trek Senegal Guide 2 3 Chapter 1 – Welcome to Trek for Knowledge What is a Chapter Trek? p. 6 Trek Covenant p. 7 Trek Guidelines p. 8 + 9 Trek Itinerary p. 10 A Typical Day on Trek p. 11 One the Worksite p. 12 Living with a Host Family p. 13 Trek Packing List p. 14-15 Chapter 2 – Paperwork and Medical Concerns Passports p. 18 Vaccinations p. 19-20 Medical Concerns p. 21 Malaria & Mosquitoes p. 22-23 Traveler’s Diarrhea p. 24 Rabies p. 25 Food on Trek p. 26 Water on Trek p. 27 International Medical Insurance p. 28 Chapter 3 – Pre Trek Workshops Pre Trek Preparation p. 32 Circle of Trust p. 33 Personal Goals p. 34 Culture Shock p. 35-38 Senegalese Customs p. 39-42 Host Family Gifts p. 43 The Art of Giving p. 44 Chapter 4 – Senegal Profile & History Map p. 45 Senegal Profile p. 46 History, Land & People p. 47 Chapter 5 – Articles of Interest Islam in Senegal p. 56 The Songs of Senegal p. 59 Polygamy Throttles Women in Senegal p. 66 From Beggars to Students p. 69 Leopold Sedar Senglor p. 73 Further Resources p. 77 Chapter 6 – Reflection on Trek Reflection time and Journaling p. 80 Trek for Knowledge Senegal 2013 4 Chapter 7 – Host Family Activities No Regrets! p. 84 Community Mapping p. 85 Family Tree p. 86 Animal Sounds p. 87 Local Language and English p. 88 Tic Tac Toe p. 89 Dots and Boxes p. 90 Hopscotch p. 91 Chapter 8 – Journals Blank Journal Pages p. 94 5 CHAPTER ONE Welcome to Trek for Knowledge Completed School in Los Encuentros, Nicaragua February 2008 – buildOn CT/NY Trek for Knowledge Senegal 2013 6 What is a Chapter Trek? uildOn’s Chapter Trek Program is a unique opportunity for groups to travel to a buildOn partner village to help with the construction of a school. Trek teams b commit to raising the money to build the school prior to their travel and then spend one week working on the project in-country. Participants in this program have a direct and lasting impact on the education of the community, bringing literacy and hope to hundreds of children and adults. After living and working in a rural community in one of the poorest countries in the world, you will be forever changed. The strong sense of community, family and tradition will open your eyes to another way of life. The beauty of experiencing village life in Senegal, Mali, Malawi, Nicaragua, Haiti or Nepal is profoundly moving, as is the hardship and despair of the devastating poverty you will find there. In the midst of these challenges you will experience firsthand the power of education and the life-changing capacity of literacy. TREK OBJECTIVES The Trek objectives are to provide an opportunity for participants to: Participate in the construction of a buildOn school in one of the buildOn project countries Be immersed in, and learn about a new and different culture Bring buildOn and the Trek experience to their classrooms, programs and communities 7 Chapter Trek Covenant The purpose of a buildOn Trek is to allow individuals to: Participate in the construction of a buildOn school in one of the buildOn project countries Be immersed in, and learn about a new and different culture Bring buildOn and the Trek experience to their classrooms, programs and communities Participant commitments: Raise the necessary funds to build the school and cover all travel costs associated with the trip Read the buildOn Trek guide and complete assigned homework Follow buildOn “Guidelines for Responsible Trek Travel” Complete necessary paperwork according to the timeline in the informational packet Live in a rural village and participate in the cultural exchange including: - Living and working alongside the villagers to build their school - Eating local foods ` - Sharing with the community and respecting the local culture and people Obtain a valid U.S. passport, necessary immunizations, and visa (where applicable) prior to departure Act as unofficial ambassadors for the United States and buildOn while in the country you are visiting buildOn commitments: Provide a Trek coordinator and translator to accompany your group Arrange host families and supply food and a cook in the village Arrange accommodations and transportation to/from the village Purchase emergency evacuation insurance for participants and provide a vehicle for emergencies to stay in the village at all times Coordinate travel dates with school groundbreaking and construction Offer support throughout the fundraising and pre-Trek process, including assistance with paperwork and visas and all other logistics I, undersigned, agree to the above-mentioned conditions for my participation as a team member on buildOn’s Trek for Knowledge. _______________________________ __________________ Trek Team Member’s Signature Date Trek for Knowledge Senegal 2013 8 Guidelines for Responsible Trek Travel Over the years buildOn has developed the following guidelines to ensure a positive experience, and to protect both you and the community. Of course, buildOn cannot predict every situation that may arise and create guidelines for every possible scenario. There is no substitute for sound judgment and an understanding of the heightened elevation of risk when faced with decisions on Trek. Listen to your Trek Coordinator, and let the following be a guide, but not the ends, for how you will keep yourself and the community safe: Clothing Dress more conservatively than you might at home; you’ll feel more comfortable and attract less unwanted attention this way. Pants or skirts should be at least knee length, and shoulders should be covered. Leggings or tight clothing are not appropriate. Please see the packing list for further details on appropriate attire for your Trek country. Swimming That river near your village may look like a great place to take a dip, but water often carries unpleasant diseases and pollutants that won’t look as good when you get sick. Also considering the hidden currents and submerged objects that may exist, and the fact that buildOn Staff are not lifeguards, there is no swimming allowed on Trek. Alcohol & Illegal Drugs The possession or use of illegal drugs at any time during your Trek is unacceptable. The possession or consumption of alcohol by minors under the age of 21 is prohibited. buildOn understands that adults age 21 and over may choose to consume alcohol while traveling with buildOn. Rather than prohibit this potentially dangerous activity, we strive to foster a culture of personal responsibility so that the consumption of alcohol by legal adults may be done in a responsible manner. We ask that participants refrain from consuming alcohol while living with local host families, and strongly encourage that drinking in town be done only at establishments recommended by buildOn staff. Food Food from home should only be brought to the community for special dietary needs and should be discussed with your Trek Coordinator beforehand; remember that part of your Trek is immersing yourself in the local culture and living like a member of the community for a few days. There will be plenty of fresh and healthy food prepared for you 3 times daily. Replacing meals with snacks from your bag may offend your host family, prevent your Trek Coordinator from keeping track of your health, and encourage insects. There may also be a small store in the community where you can buy thinks like Coke and chips; it is fun to try the local junk food, but don’t go overboard on the goodies everyday- keep in mind that your host family likely can only afford an occasional treat. 9 Water Drinking plenty of water is critical to your health on Trek, but make sure you are only drinking filtered or bottled water. We carry a Katadyn Expedition Water Filter to help us purify our drinking water in the village, and you will get to know it well as we pump water every day. When you are in towns, it’s better to use bottled or filtered water to brush your teeth, and stay away from ice in your drinks. See Page 27 for more information about water on Trek. Trash On Trek we leave no trace! All trash brought into the community must be packed out and disposed of in town, as there is no rural trash collection in the areas where buildOn works. Only toilet paper and feminine products can be tossed in the latrine. Animals You may have a dog or cat in your home, and that little puppy in the village may look so cute, but do not touch! Animals in buildOn communities are not cared for like pets in the United States, and they generally do not receive vaccinations. Feeding them should be left up to your host family and petting them is an easy way to get fleas, parasites and other diseases. Not to mention, the risk of rabies! Take lots of pictures…just don’t touch! Transportation This is statistically the most dangerous part of any international trip, so it is important that you follow the instructions of your Trek Coordinator regarding vehicles in country. Riding in the bed of pick-up trucks, though tempting, is not ok on Trek. Also, don’t ride motorcycles, horses, donkey carts, bicycles….etc. It just isn’t worth the risk! Worksite Closed toed shoes are required at all times on the worksite. Work gloves may be required for some activities and are strongly recommended at all times. Additionally, we ask that participants refrain from sitting on the worksite (excluding medical justification). buildOn hopes to exemplify a strong work ethic , and sitting down will simply make you tired and sends unintended non-verbal messages.