Last month, Faircom New York traveled across the Atlantic Ocean to organize an exceptional series of events in Senegal for SOS SAHEL.
Founded in 1976, after a period of extreme drought in Sub-Saharan Africa, this international nonprofit works to improve food security and nutrition in rural communities across 11 countries, from Senegal to Djibouti.
This year, SOS SAHEL celebrated 40 years of action on the African continent. To mark this important milestone, Faircom New York, who has partnered with SOS SAHEL in the US, in Europe, and in Africa, established a number of events in Senegal, where it all began. Because SOS SAHEL is a grassroots organization, the goal was to celebrate Africa and the activists working to improve food security and nutrition on the ground. Thus, events purposely overlapped with Africa Day, observed annually around the world on May 25.
“Africa Days” launched on May 24 with an outstanding charity gala at the Pullman Teranga Hotel, in Dakar, gathering more than 250 guests for an exciting kickoff to the week. Sponsored by President Abdou Diouf, the event featured an exquisite fashion show by the Senegalese designer Oumou Sy. The National Orchestra of Senegal performed along with famous African artists such as Nayanka Bell, Baaba Mall, Sekouba Bambino and Cheick Tidiane. SOS SAHEL highlighted the success of their Food Security and Nutrition Initiative 2025, launched in 2016, and presented a movie retracing the nonprofit’s powerful story.
The day after the gala, guests were led into the Lompoul desert, where they participated in several workshops. Conducted by three experts in their fields, including an UN ambassador to the Dryland, and a world-renowned chef specialized in African cuisine, the activities encouraged reflection and debate on the issues of nutrition, sustainable energy and agroforestry.
On May 26, participants were invited to visit a pilot farm and a dairy plant, both developed by SOS SAHEL as part of its mission. Finally, on May 27, select guests took a trip to Saint-Louis, a registered UNESCO world heritage site, to discover the unique architecture and artisanal fishers of the city.
SOS SAHEL’s Africa Days allowed the organization and its friends to celebrate past successes and display the richness of the Sahel region. However, above all, it was a great occasion to raise awareness about the pressing issues of food insecurity and malnutrition. This unique series of events propelled SOS SAHEL to a future of hope and new achievements.
