God has given you a love for animals, as well as a heart to bring the gospel to the unreached people of West Africa. Join a team in a harsh spiritual climate and environment, who are developing relationships through which the Word of God can be sown.

The local people are proud pastoralists and nomads moving with their cattle and livestock around, the nobility of their society despite hardships and difficult life circumstances, where losing livestock means losing identity in their community.

A small NGO is running various projects in alphabetization, healthcare, and agriculture, but there is also a need for improved livestock support. With God's help, you could treat and give advice on livestock issues, while also bringing Good News to the community leaders.

You will be flexible when initiating or finishing small projects, as the Lord provides resources, focusing on those which will help build God's kingdom. The main priority is relationship building with the community to share the Lord's love, but the community's economic stability and wellbeing may also be an outcome.

Qualities & Gifts Sought

You have energy and patience, as you contribute your experience and knowledge as a vet or animal livestock keeper. This region has no Christian church, only a small group of mostly foreign believers, so you will need to be well-discipled and mature in your faith.

You will need fluency in French for administrative issues, but also study the local culture and language in depth.

You will enjoy living and integrating into a simple lifestyle, and learn local ways, since western methods may not necessarily be relevant or helpful. You will work and live closely within a multicultural team, with transparency.

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About West Africa

WEC works in 9 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, and also seconds workers to partner organisations and churches in other African countries.

Our teams seek to work together with local churches to show and speak of the compassion of Jesus to those who have not heard in order to see churches established among them.  WEC in Africa also seeks to mobilize and facilitate local Christians for cross cultural mission.

We cannot give details online about all the countries, situations and opportunities we have found where you can serve in West Africa, but we will be able to tell you more when you meet us face to face.

This is an exciting time for the African continent - many challenges but also many opportunities. Why not join us in the adventure?

More about WEC in West Africa

About Senegal

Senegal is a country in West Africa. Senegal is bordered by Mauritania in the north, Mali to the east, Guinea to the southeast, and Guinea-Bissau to the southwest. Senegal also borders The Gambia and Senegal also shares a maritime border with Cape Verde.

The name “Senegal” comes from the Wolof  “Sunuu Gaal” which means “our boat”. Senegal has an estimated population of about 15 million.

Senegal's capital of Dakar is by far the largest city in Senegal, with over two million residents. The second most populous city is Touba, with half a million people.

Senegal has a tropical climate with pleasant heat throughout the year.

Senegal became independent in 1960 and Léopold Sédar Senghor was Senegal’s first president.  

Senegal has a wide variety of ethnic groups and, as in most West African countries, several languages are widely spoken. The Wolof are the largest single ethnic group in Senegal at 43%; the Fula  and Toucouleur (24%) are the second biggest group, followed by the Serer (14.7%), then others such as Jola (4%), Mandinka (3%), Maures, Soninke, Bassari and many smaller communities (9%).  

About 50,000 Europeans (mostly French) and Lebanese as well as smaller numbers of Mauritanians and Moroccans live in Senegal, mainly in the cities.  

Religion

Senegal is a secular state. Islam is the predominant religion, practiced by approximately 94% of the population; the Christian community, at 5% of the population, are mostly Roman Catholics. 1% have animist beliefs, particularly in the southeastern region of the country.  

A majority of the Muslims in Senegal are Sunni with Sufi influences. Islamic communities in Senegal are generally organized around one of several Islamic Sufi orders or brotherhoods, headed by a khalif.

Culture, arts and food

Because Senegal borders the Atlantic Ocean, fish is very important. Chicken, lamb, peas, eggs, and beef are also used in Senegalese cooking, but not pork, due to the nation's largely Muslim population.  

Peanuts, the primary crop of Senegal, as well as couscous, white rice, sweet potatoes, lentils, black-eyed peas and various vegetables, are also incorporated into many recipes. 

Arts, music and sport

Senegal is well known for the West African tradition of storytelling, which is done by griots, who have kept West African history alive for thousands of years through words and music.

Senegal is known across Africa for its musical heritage, due to the popularity of mbalax (the national dance). It has been popularized by Youssou N'Dour, Omar Pene and others.

Sabar rhythm-drumming is especially popular. The sabar is mostly used in special celebrations like weddings. Another instrument, the tama (talking drum), is used in more ethnic groups.  

Wrestling and football are the most popular sports in the country.  

[Source: Wikipedia. Read more about this nation here].

There are 56 people groups in Senegal and nearly 50% are considered unreached with the good news of Jesus.  

The largest religion is Islam at 91%. Ethnic religions make up 4.2%. Professing Christians are 4.5% and of those 0.5% are consider themselves evangelical. 

[Source: Joshua Project]  

Pray with us for:
continued freedom of religion
the growth of the church
Young people and students
work among the Talibé street boys
Dakar - a strategic location
unreached people groups such as the Wolof
[Source: Operation World, 2010 print edition]  

You can also pray for Senegal using Operation World’s online resources.  

Or pray using a Prayercast video here.

WEC Senegal

The vision of WEC Senegal is to see every people and language group of Senegal knowing, loving and worshipping Jesus.

We believe we will see this happen as we commit to workers sharing the good news of Jesus creatively, sensitively and abundantly amongst the people in urban centres and rural areas, reaching both adults and children.

We want to see groups of disciples emerging and communities of disciples belonging to Jesus formed who understand and obey the great commission.

Read more information about WEC in Senegal