Ami Diaw, a proud participant of Friends of Senegal and Maison de la Gare’s microfinance program, sharing her story.
French-Speaking Volunteer Opportunities: Empowering Communities Through Communication
Language is a potent instrument for service and connection.
Yet, we are often only semi-conscious of the power it harbors. Every word we share is an opportunity to help others, and every sentence we speak directly shapes the communities around us. Even if your language skills are rudimentary or rusty, just basic communication will please your conversation partners (“interlocuteur” or “interlocutrice” in French) and bring you both closer as fellow human beings.
Volunteering across languages is transformative.
Our evolution as a species has led to language branching off into different types of languages, dialects, syntax, and “slang,” as civilizations formed and preserved their unique cultures with words and writings. Diversity in language may create social barriers, but when those barriers are crossed through volunteer work, everyone in the conversation is connected for the better.
Language is a gift that makes us human; it allows us to extend our reach in the world to help others.
The ability to sit together and share our perceptions with others is the bedrock of our existence as human beings. Speaking multiple languages allows you to serve communities from various human angles. It can take your volunteer efforts almost anywhere in the world.
As a French speaker, you have an amazing opportunity to travel the world and support communities with the power of language. Help translate vital information, support education initiatives, connect with those in need, and make a meaningful difference.
In this article, we are going to discuss how you can use your linguistic gift to make a positive impact on the world through pursuing volunteer opportunities in French-speaking countries like Senegal.
Friends of Senegal & Maison de la Gare: Offering French-Speaking Volunteer Opportunities Since 2007
Maison de la Gare (MDG) and Friends of Senegal (FOS) have transformed countless lives across Senegalese communities, powered by dedicated volunteers and generous donors.
Founded in 2007, MDG created a safe haven for talibés — street children sent to live in “daaras” to study the Quran. These children often suffer abuse and neglect in these establishments, whether from their teachers (marabouts) or other children. Many are forced to beg for food and money, facing punishment if they fail to meet daily “quotas,” while being denied education, proper nutrition, and basic care.
Through night patrols, MDG finds runaway talibé children, some of whom are no more than 5 or 6 years old. They have fled intolerable situations and may be very wary of adults. We gently offer them shelter, safety, and food. If they stay with us, they will also receive education, medical care, sports, and a place to be just children. In time, some will return to their families, others will spend many years in and around the MDG Center.
Since 2020, MDG has partnered with Portland-based Friends of Senegal to develop a comprehensive microfinance program that empowers both older talibés and community members with entrepreneurial skills. After completing a one to two-month entrepreneurial course and presenting their business strategy to the microfinance loan committee, graduates receive interest-free microloans to launch small businesses and achieve financial independence. Learn more about our microfinance program here.
As independent organizations without government or religious affiliations, MDG and Friends of Senegal rely entirely on donations and volunteer support to sustain their vital work. Our microfinance initiative has created life-changing opportunities for community members like Oumar Ba, helping break cycles of poverty and dependency while fostering sustainable development within local communities.
The Impact of Being a French-Speaking Volunteer Through Our Microfinance Program
Ami Diaw, pestle in hand, tells us in Wolof a little about her life and business as she crushes spices in her mortar: combining parsley, garlic, chili pepper, and onion, which gives her special sauce its aromatic and delicious flavor.
In Saint-Louis’ Balacos district, Ami Diaw established herself as a skilled restaurateur before the COVID-19 pandemic forced her to close her establishment when rent payments became unsustainable. With an ill husband and children to support, Ami adapted quickly.
In 2021, she started all over, selling doughnuts from her family home and recreating her culinary presence in the community. During this transition, Ami discovered the microfinance program offered by Friends of Senegal and Maison de la Gare. After completing the required training, she qualified for a transformative loan.
With this capital, Ami expanded into a successful catering operation that now supports her children’s education while strengthening her financial independence. Her business continues to grow, and she aims to reopen a restaurant that would eliminate the need for daily deliveries.
“Having an actual restaurant again would allow me to work more serenely and continue to provide for my family with dignity,” she explains.
Ami’s journey from restaurant owner to home-based vendor to thriving caterer demonstrates how microfinance initiatives enable experienced entrepreneurs to adapt to changing circumstances and create new opportunities, even when faced with significant challenges.
To many, a $250 loan is a drop in the bucket. But to the people of Saint-Louis, Senegal, this amount of money is a rising tide that brings economic empowerment and mobility, often sending a ripple effect out into their communities as they hire their neighbors, send their children to college, and partner with other local businesses.
Ami’s story is just one of the many. Click here to learn more about the impact of Friends of Senegal and Maison de la Gare’s microfinance program.
From New Beginnings to Continual Growth: How Our Microfinance Program Continues To Uplift Participants
Oumar Ba shows us his everyday life as a restaurant owner.
“My name is Oumar Ba. I started my dream of having a restaurant by placing a single table near one of the main avenues in Saint-Louis and selling a couscous and chicken dinner to people who live in the neighborhood. Then, thanks to a loan from Maison de la Gare and Friends of Senegal, I was able to open a real restaurant with five tables.
Although I must work from very early in the morning till late at night, my restaurant has thrived and brought me a level of independence that I never experienced before.
I can now provide for my family and send money to my parents and siblings in Koalack.
Recently, with a second microfinance loan, I reached a new milestone by offering lunches, because many of my customers needed them. Now I’m earning more money and I have decided to pay for my sister’s studies to get her BFEM» [the diploma or certificate awarded upon successful completion of the four-year lower secondary (middle school) level, which is a prerequisite for continuing onto general academic, vocational, or technical studies.]
One of Oumar’s speciality dishes: a fataya, which is a popular deep-fried pastry, often filled with seasoned meat.
or chicken) and sometimes fish, such as beef, fish, or chicken,
With your help, more young men like Oumar will be able to achieve their dreams.
Today, I am not alone in this adventure. I employ a woman and two young people who help me every day except Sunday, when I manage the restaurant by myself so my employees can have a day off.
My dream is to have a shop where I can store the products I need as well as sell them to other restaurant owners. This will allow me to organize my work better and to go even further. It’s not just a goal, it’s a necessity to keep moving forward, to build something solid, to earn more money.
I paid back my first loan earlier than required, and I will repay this second loan as quickly as possible, too. It’s important to me to do what I promise, and I also hope to obtain future loans so that I can continue the expansion of my business. I’m proud that I’ve come so far from the tiny beginning of my restaurant dream.”
With your help, more young men like Oumar can achieve their dreams.
We invite you to become a partner by making a donation to our work, or join us for two weeks or more as a volunteer, immersing yourself in a new culture and having the experience of a lifetime.
Building a Bridge With Words: The Benefits of Exploring French-Speaking Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering as a French speaker in Senegal is essential in…
Finding and Creating Purpose
Language flows naturally when serving a purpose. And we, as people, are at our best when we have purpose. If you wish to come to Senegal to improve your French proactively, you will find that the people within these communities are hungry to share words and culture with you. This purposeful exchange benefits everyone. As a volunteer, you will gain real-world language skills while communities receive meaningful support. Having a clear purpose not only improves your French faster than classroom learning but also creates meaningful connections that last long after your return home.
Making a Connection
Embarking on volunteer opportunities in French-speaking countries transcends mere language practice, creating bridges between cultures through meaningful human connection. The magic emerges in unplanned moments during your stay in Senegal, whether you are helping a microfinance candidate develop a business plan, learning playground rhymes from the talibé children, or cooking with the matriarch of your host family (who may gently help you with your pronunciation while teaching you how to properly debone fish).
Ultimately, these experiences teach us that language isn’t just a skill but a vessel for human connection. The impact endures beyond improved fluency, expanding our capacity to understand and connect across boundaries.
Growing as a Person and a Professional
Volunteering as a French-speaker in other countries also transforms you professionally and personally as you navigate unfamiliar situations, solve problems with limited resources, and adapt to different cultural expectations: All the ingredients needed to develop resilience and cross-cultural communication skills that are highly valued in today’s global workplace. These lived experiences become powerful stories that distinguish your resume and shape your worldview long after your service ends.
Many college students come to volunteer with Friends of Senegal and Maison de la Gare to employ their newly learned skills in the real world before graduating. These immersive experiences provide a crucial bridge between academic French and practical application, allowing students to test their abilities in authentic contexts while making meaningful contributions.
At Maison de la Gare, volunteers work alongside local staff to assist microloan applicants or support talibé children, practicing language skills while teaching, organizing activities, or assisting with health initiatives. This hands-on engagement not only solidifies language skills but also develops critical soft skills like adaptability, cultural sensitivity, and problem-solving that employers increasingly value. Students consistently report that these volunteer experiences become transformative chapters in their educational journeys, often influencing career paths and sparking lifelong connections to Senegal and its people.
Oumar Ba, proudly preparing fatayas for his many hungry customers!
Frequently Asked Questions About French-Speaking Volunteer Opportunities
How Fluent Should I Be To Volunteer with Friends of Senegal and Maison de la Gare?
The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) categorizes language proficiency into six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2. These are grouped into three broad categories:
- Basic User: A1 – A2
- Independent User: B1 – B2
- Proficient User: C1 – C2
To volunteer in the microfinance loan program with Friends of Senegal and Maison de la Gare, individuals must have at least strong B1 or beginning B2-level skills in French. This is due to the nature of the volunteer position, where individuals work with loan candidates as they mold their aspirations, hopes, and passions into a finite business plan with many different working parts. However, there are many areas of work for volunteers who come to MDG, so if your French language skills are not up to the B1 level, don’t worry, we’ll find exactly the right place for you.
Learn more about volunteering with our microfinance loan program.
Maison de la Gare offers many different volunteer opportunities, some of which do not require a high level of French speaking skills:
-
- Health – Provide first aid and medical support to talibé children. (Requirements: First-aid training and the ability to respond to basic medical needs.)
- Gardening & Site Development – Assist with maintenance, construction, and gardening projects. (Requirements: Basic maintenance skills and gardening knowledge.)
- Sports – Lead soccer, wrestling, karate, and other physical activities. (Requirements: Experience with children’s sports and safety protocols.)
- Arts, Music & Excursions – Foster creativity through artistic expression and organize outings. (Requirements: Experience working with children in creative settings.)
- Education – Teach French, English, mathematics, and other subjects to talibé children. (Requirements: Strong French language skills and teaching aptitude and experience recommended.
Please note: in your work as a volunteer, you will usually be accompanied by a staff member who speaks both French and Wolof, the local native language. So, again, don’t worry. Submit your application and let’s talk about what you would like to do.
Learn more about Maison de la Gare’s French-speaking volunteer opportunities here.
Is French in Saint-Louis, Senegal, Different From Standard French?
The use of a language, such as the dialect and regional accents, varies in West Africa, as it would anywhere in the world. In Senegal, the type of French they speak is generally very clear, standard French with a slight “Senegalese” accent. You may also notice that some of the consonants are a little softer, and the rhythmic and melodic intonation is different from French spoken in France or Canada.
This difference in tone, rhythm, and pronunciation is due to Wolof and Pulaar being the first language of the Senegalese people. French, which is the official and often the business language of Senegal, is learned in school as a second language.
Don’t Worry. As a French student or second language speaker with a limited proficiency in French, you should not have much difficulty interacting with the communities that work with Maison de la Gare and Friends of Senegal.
What’s the Best Way To Prepare for a French-Speaking Volunteer Opportunity?
Navigating real-time conversations is one of the most difficult parts of exercising your language abilities. One of the most effective — and often overlooked — ways to improve is by immersing yourself in authentic French through radio, television, and online media. These sources not only help you get used to the rhythm and flow of spoken French but also expose you to regional accents and everyday vocabulary you’re unlikely to find in textbooks.
Getting Involved With Maison de la Gare and Friends of Senegal: How To Embark on an Amazing Journey as a French-Speaking Volunteer in Senegal
Every day, entrepreneurs like Ami Diwaw stand at a crossroads where a small investment can transform not just a business, but an entire family’s future. Through Friends of Senegal and Maison de la Gare’s microfinance program, these determined individuals aren’t seeking charity; they’re seeking partnership in their journey toward self-sufficiency and dignity. Friends of Senegal and Maison de la Gare are entirely run on the contributions of our volunteers and donors, so you will be contributing with both your work and the small fee that we ask of volunteers.
By reaching out today, you become part of a community that believes in the power of economic opportunity to build resilience. Whether you can offer expertise in business development, contribute to the loan fund that makes these success stories possible, or simply share these stories with others who might help, your involvement matters profoundly.
Join us in building bridges to financial independence for entrepreneurs who, like Ami and Oumar, have the vision and determination to succeed—they just need a little boost, a little training, and a bit of financial help. Please help us in the way that you can. Together, we can transform challenges into stepping stones toward a more secure and dignified future. Apply to work as a volunteer, or donate below.
Click here to learn more about Friends of Senegal and Maison de la Gare.
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM
