Ndiagne Boumi
Ground Break, July 2025
Completion, September 2025
We’re excited to announce that our school in Ndiagne Boumi, Senegal has completed it’s groundbreak and will be providing vital education to 182 students - with buildOn actively working alongside the community to enroll even more children.
Built in solidarity with the people of Ndiagne Boumi, and constructed to last 100 years, this school will serve not only today’s students but generations to come. In Ndiagne Boumi, local residents played a vital role by providing land and essential materials like sand, water, and gravel. A dedicated Project Leadership Committee, made up of six men and six women, was chosen to guide the construction process. These inspiring leaders not only gathered supplies but also coordinated daily volunteer crews to keep the project moving forward. By the time the school was complete, the people of Ndiagne Boumi had invested an incredible 1,152 volunteer workdays, working together to bring their vision to life.
This marks school number 30 in the 100 Schools Project! This project - commenced in honour of Oliver ‘Felix’ Wissenbach - means this milestone holds an even deeper meaning as the build coincided with what would have been Oli’s 30th birthday. This school is a powerful tribute to Oli’s memory, and his spirit will continue to inspire and empower generations to come.
About NDIAGNE BOUMI, SENEGAL
Senegal is a country celebrated for its rich cultural heritage, vibrant music and dance traditions, and colourful textiles. However, it faces significant challenges in education and poverty. The adult literacy rate stands at approximately 51.9%, indicating that nearly half of the adult population is unable to read and write. Poverty remains a pressing issue, with about 36.3% of the population living below the national poverty line as of 2022.
These challenges are even more pronounced in remote rural communities, such as Ndiagne Boumi, where buildOn is actively working. In these areas, illiteracy rates are higher, and educational attainment is lower, especially among marginalised groups. Many residents are subsistence farmers who cultivate crops like beans, millet, and peanuts, and raise livestock. Limited access to quality education perpetuates the cycle of poverty, making our 100 Schools Project and our collaboration with buildOn crucial for empowering these communities and fostering sustainable development.
THE GROUND-BREAK CEREMONY
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Oliver’s impact was deeply felt as his story was shared with the community. You can watch a speech honoring Oli and your generous investment that made this school possible here
MEET Ndeye Sarr
At just 13 years old, Ndeye Sarr (pictured above) has witnessed a dramatic transformation in her education. As a fifth-grade student in Ndiagne Boumi, she remembers how difficult it once was to study in the old, provisional classrooms. “When it was hot, it was very difficult to work,” she explained. “The sun’s rays came in and beat down on us. The dust made our clothes dirty, but also our notebooks.” These harsh conditions caused many of her peers to leave school, with some parents deciding it was no longer worth the struggle. Ndeye admits, “My father reminded me every day that school was important, but I didn’t understand why we had to suffer so much to learn.”
That reality changed with the construction of a new school block, made possible by the support of the Sylvia and Colin Charitable Trust. At first, Ndeye was skeptical, believing that the project might only result in another temporary structure. But when her father explained that it would be a permanent building with two fully equipped classrooms, her perspective shifted. “I was so happy and couldn’t wait for construction to begin,” she recalled. When the new school block was completed, she felt immense pride. “I told my classmates who had given up that from now on, we would learn in beautiful classrooms with good, sturdy desks and a blackboard on which we could read and write without difficulty.”
Today, Ndeye feels a renewed sense of hope for her future. She is determined not only to stay in school but also to pursue her dream career. “I would like to become a teacher, so I can work in beautiful classrooms like these,” she said with determination. Having watched her father work on the worksite, Ndeye feels pride when attending school. She expressed gratefulness to every community member who took part in the construction and is thankful to those who helped make this project possible.
the build gallery
