Fewnugol means “to make” in Fulani. This picture was taken in a neighbor’s compound. The hay roofs need to be replaced every other year. They completely keep the water out, as the hay directs the rain to follow a shaft down the side of the hut. After two years the hay starts to rot and loses its “stringiness,” so it stops directing water down individual strands of hay. Replacing a roof is a community project.
I spent a year in the southern region of Senegal as a Global Citizen Year Fellow, trying to immerse myself in a rural community. I lived in a homestay in Pelel Kindessa, a town of about 40 people. I left home with the intention of gaining cultural perspective and life experience, but during the second six months there I ended up opening a local bakery to provide a no-cooking breakfast to families who usually started their morning work on an empty stomach.
Do not hesitate to contact me if you have lingering questions or comments: arieljv@uw.edu
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