INEFJA PROJECT

The Honorary Consul of the Republic of Slovenia in Dakar, Senegal, Mr. Mamadou Moustapha SARR, met today in Ljubljana with the management of the Center za mednarodno sodelovanje in razvoj - CMSR (Center for International Cooperation and Development of the Republic of Slovenia).

On this occasion, the INEFJA PROJECT was presented which concerns the construction of a modern building with all the necessary infrastructure for visually impaired students.

The National Institute for Education and Training of Blind Youth (INEFJA) is currently the only one in Senegal prepared to receive visually impaired students from primary to high school. INEFJA was founded in 1982 on the initiative of the Union of the Blind of Senegal (Unas) which initially ran it jointly with the state. Since the 1990s, the institute has been "fully" owned by the state.

The main objective of the project is to build a school and dormitory with all the necessary infrastructure for visually impaired students. The school  with its updated infrastructure, will increase its capacity and be able to accommodate a greater number of students. It will also provide more job opportunities for special education teachers, who will receive additional training from the National Ministry of Education and international organisations which provide humanitarian or professional assistance to the visually impaired

The project intends to construct a modern building with appropriate biological wastewater treatment, drinking water filters and energy independence, which will serve as a model to influence and raise awareness within the local community. The project is inmportant to both local and national public spheres of interest.

The INEFJA PROJECT, therefore, represents a significant step forward in addressing the educational needs of visually impaired students in Senegal. It is a testament to the power of international cooperation and the impact of dedicated infrastructure development on enhancing the quality of education for all students, regardless of their physical abilities.

International development cooperation of the Republic of Slovenia is carried out in developing countries, especially in priority areas Western Balkans, European neighbourhood and Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on least developed countries.