From Northern Ireland to Western Africa

Valerie Addy of Belfast, Country Antrim has been a sponsor with Plan for almost 19 years, and in that time, has sponsored three different children in Senegal, West Africa. In April of 2008, Valerie, her daughter Julie and Julie's friend, Claire, travelled to Senegal to visit one of these children, 12-year-old Ndeye, for the first time. This is their story.

"I initially decided to sponsor a child because I was starting my own family and thought it would be a nice connection for my children to have. Ndeye is the third child we have sponsored in Senegal and I definitely feel a connection to the country as a result of my sponsorship.

On the day of our visit, local Plan staff met us at our hotel and together we went to the market to buy some gifts for Ndeye's family - rice, sugar and soap. Then Julie, Claire and I were taken to Ndeye's village.

First, we were shown two of the community's schools. The headmaster took us around to visit some of the classrooms to see what Plan had done in the school. This included providing books and stationary for the children. We sung Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes with the primary school children which was good fun for everyone.

Plan had also supplied the school with a water tap, which has made such a positive difference in the area. Ndeye's community is in a sub-Saharan region and her family lives one kilometre from a water source. I thought this was bad until I learned that the next village along was fifteen kilometres away from their water source!

We met Ndeye in her classroom. It was very emotional and obvious what a big deal it was that we were there to visit her. We asked permission from the headmaster to take Ndeye out of the class and back to her home. He said yes so we set off to the village together in the 4x4.

We arrived at Ndeye's home - a very basic concrete dwelling, with two rooms and no windows. I noticed a mosquito net hanging from the ceiling inside - a sign of Plan's efforts to help the local people avoid catching malaria.

Once introduced to her family, we were invited to sit down under a canopy and were given African fizzy drinks. We think they only had four cups to use between everyone because they waited for us to finish our drinks, washed the cups and then used them themselves.

We learned that food is cooked on either one ring of a kerosene stove or on a small coal burner outside the house. Ndeye's family had prepared a traditional Senegalese meal for us and we were invited inside their house to eat. Seated on the ground, we ate with spoons from large communal platters.

The food was a giant fish and vegetable stew with spices called Thiebo Dien. It tasted delicious! Relatives and friends came round to visit and a very jolly time was had by all.

Along with the household goods we got at the market earlier in the day, I had brought stationary and bags from home for them as well. The gifts were very gratefully received and I was extremely touched when Ndeye's mother presented me with a cotton bedspread and pillowslips that had been hand embroidered.

The family told me they are very happy that I am sponsoring Ndeye and that their house would always be my house. I hope to return in two or three years time, and in the meantime, I will contribute to a Plan project in the area.

Senegal is an extremely poor country and I realise now more than ever that charities such as Plan are needed on the ground to liaise with the people to determine the real health and educational needs of children. Now back home, I am particularly aware of the difference in living conditions between where I live and Ndeye lives.

Julie, Claire and I will never forget our Senegalese experience."