THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO

SENEGAL

A PEACE CORPS PUBLICATION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS

June 2013 Year CCD
MAP OF SENEGAL
A WELCOME LETTER

Congratulations on your invitation to become a Peace Corps Volunteer in Senegal! This 

next chapter will be the most challenging and rewarding of your life. You will do good work, 

make many friends, and have experiences that you’ll never forget. You will learn much 

about yourself and about another culture. Your future neighbors in Senegal, along with 

Peace Corps staff and your fellow Volunteers, are looking forward to meeting you and 

working with you.

This book provides you with a detailed introduction to Peace Corps/Senegal and should 

answer some of the many questions that you and your family and friends may have about 

your upcoming service. It is, though, just a start to a process of orientation, training, and 

support that will continue once you arrive in Senegal. 

In the meantime, we urge you to reach out to returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have 

served in Senegal and other countries in West Africa, who can share stories and advice 

about their service. The quality of your Peace Corps service is largely in your hands, so we 

encourage you to start preparing for a great experience now. You can start by visiting 

www.pcsenegal.org, a website created by currently serving Volunteers.

The Peace Corps has always had three main goals: to help enable sustainable development 

in the countries where we work; to help the people we work with gain a better 

understanding of America and Americans; and to help Americans better understand the 

rest of the world. Now, more than 

ever, each of these goals is tremendously important. Our job as Peace Corps staff members 

is to help create the environment in which you can succeed in best achieving each of these 

goals.

Peace Corps/Senegal has a very strong emphasis on the first goal of Peace Corps—the 

development goal. We take pride in tangibly helping the communities where we live and 

work make progress in improving their day-to-day lives. 

In addition to our strong focus on programs, such as health, education, small enterprise 

development, agroforestry, and agriculture, Peace Corps/Senegal is developing innovative 

approaches to working across these sectors to achieve goals where we work. In these efforts, 

Volunteers work as teams to design, develop and implement strategies for development in 

collaboration with each other, their communities, the local government, and 

nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners. While we recognize the importance of the 

second and third goals, the cross-cultural exchange, our focus is on holding ourselves 

accountable for helping to enable measurable and sustainable progress in our communities. 

This approach guides our staff efforts in training, site selection, partnership development, 

and programming. We are very serious about our work and expect you to be, too. Part of 

that approach is being open to suggestions on how to improve the program. We encourage 
you to be professional in voicing your point of view and helping us to build a more effective 

program for our Volunteers and the communities they serve.

In Senegal, the government’s development priorities include agriculture and forestry, small 

enterprise development, community health, ecotourism, and environmental education. The 

Peace Corps program addresses each of these areas. As a community of Volunteers, 

supported by staff, and working collaboratively with our Senegalese partners, you will help 

enable progress that should sustainably improve the conditions of life for the Senegalese 

people. Your work and daily life as a Volunteer may sometimes be frustrating and 

challenging, particularly in the beginning, but as a community we will all support you and 

each other along the way. 

There is much to learn, but don’t worry. Soon, you will face the challenges and share the 

rewards of Peace Corps service. 

We welcome you and look forward to your arrival!

All the best,

The Peace Corps Senegal Staff
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Core Expectations..................................................................................................................... 1

For Peace Corps Volunteers ..................................................................................................... 1

Peace Corps/Country ................................................................................................................ 2

History and Programs .............................................................................................................. 2

History of the Peace Corps in Country................................................................................. 2

History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Country ............................................ 2

Country Overview: Country at a Glance.................................................................................. 4

History................................................................................................................................... 4

Government........................................................................................................................... 6

Economy ................................................................................................................................ 7

People and Culture ............................................................................................................... 8

Environment ......................................................................................................................... 9

Resources for Further Information.........................................................................................11

General Information About Country ...................................................................................11

Connect With Returned Volunteers ....................................................................................12

and Other Invitees ...............................................................................................................12

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Country...........................................................13

International Development Sites About Country X............................................................13

Recommended Books ...........................................................................................................14

Books About the History of the Peace Corps.......................................................................14

Books on the Volunteer Experience.....................................................................................14

Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle.............................................................................16

Communications ..................................................................................................................16

Mail ......................................................................................................................................16

Telephones ...........................................................................................................................16

Computer, Internet, and Email Access ...............................................................................17

Housing and Site Location...................................................................................................17

Living Allowance and Money Management ........................................................................17

Food and Diet.......................................................................................................................18

Transportation .....................................................................................................................18
Geography and Climate .......................................................................................................19

Social Activities....................................................................................................................19

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior.................................................................................19

Personal Safety ....................................................................................................................20

Rewards and Frustrations...................................................................................................21

Peace Corps Training ..............................................................................................................22

Pre-Service Training............................................................................................................22

Technical Training...............................................................................................................22

Language Training ..............................................................................................................24

Cross-Cultural Training ......................................................................................................25

Health Training ...................................................................................................................25

Safety Training ....................................................................................................................26

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service .................................................................26

Your Health Care and Safety in Country ...............................................................................27

Health Issues in Country.....................................................................................................27

Helping You Stay Healthy...................................................................................................27

Maintaining Your Health ....................................................................................................28

Women’s Health Information ..............................................................................................29

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit.............................................................................................30

Medical Kit Contents ...........................................................................................................30

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist...............................................................................30

Safety and Security: Our Partnership ....................................................................................32

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk .........................................................................32

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime..........................................................................33

Support from Staff ...............................................................................................................34

Crime Data for Country.......................................................................................................34

Volunteer Safety Support in Country..................................................................................34

Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues.......................................................................................36

Overview of Diversity in Country........................................................................................36

What Might a Volunteer Face?............................................................................................37

Possible Issues for Female Volunteers ............................................................................37

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color ............................................................................37
Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers ..............................................................................37

Possible Issues for Married Couple Volunteers.................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers...............................................38

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers .........................................................................38

Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities.............................................................38

Frequently Asked Questions ...................................................................................................40

How much luggage am I allowed to bring to Country?....................................................40

What is the electric current in Country? .........................................................................40

How much money should I bring?....................................................................................40

When can I take vacation and have people visit me? ......................................................40

Will my belongings be covered by insurance?..................................................................41

Do I need an international driver’s license? ....................................................................41

What should I bring as gifts for Country X friends and my host family? .......................41

Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and how isolated will I be? ..41

How can my family contact me in an emergency? ...........................................................41

Can I call home from Country? ........................................................................................42

Should I bring a cellular phone with me? ........................................................................42

Will there be email and Internet access? .........................................................................42

Should I bring my computer? ...........................................................................................42

Welcome Letters from Country Volunteers ............................................................................43

Packing List.............................................................................................................................46

General Clothing ..............................................................................................................46

Shoes.................................................................................................................................46

Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items ..............................................................................47

Miscellaneous ...................................................................................................................47

Pre-Departure Checklist .........................................................................................................50

Family...............................................................................................................................50

Passport/Travel ................................................................................................................50

Medical/Health .................................................................................................................50

Insurance ..........................................................................................................................50

Personal Papers................................................................................................................50

Voting................................................................................................................................51
Personal Effects................................................................................................................51

Financial Management ....................................................................................................51

Contacting Peace Corps Headquarters ...................................................................................52
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

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CORE EXPECTATIONS 

FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

In working toward fulfilling the Peace Corps Mission of promoting world peace and 

friendship, as a trainee and Volunteer, you are expected to:

1. Prepare your personal and professional life to make a commitment to serve abroad 

for a full term of 27 months 

2. Commit to improving the quality of life of the people with whom you live and work; 

and, in doing so, share your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed 

3. Serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of hardship, if 

necessary, and with the flexibility needed for effective service 

4. Recognize that your successful and sustainable development work is based on the 

local trust and confidence you build by living in, and respectfully integrating 

yourself into, your host community and culture 

5. Recognize that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your personal 

conduct and professional performance 

6. Engage with host country partners in a spirit of cooperation, mutual learning, and 

respect 

7. Work within the rules and regulations of the Peace Corps and the local and national 

laws of the country where you serve 

8. Exercise judgment and personal responsibility to protect your health, safety, and 

well-being and that of others 

9. Recognize that you will be perceived, in your host country and community, as a 

representative of the people, cultures, values, and traditions of the United States of 

America 

10. Represent responsively the people, cultures, values, and traditions of your host 

country and community to people in the United States both during and following 

your service
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PEACE CORPS/SENEGAL

HISTORY AND PROGRAMS

History of the Peace Corps in Senegal

The Peace Corps program in Senegal began in 1963 with the assignment of 15 English 

teachers to secondary schools around the country. In the ensuing years, the program has 

evolved to better address the changing needs of the Senegalese people. Currently, 

approximately 150 Volunteers work throughout the country. The 3,000 Volunteers who 

previously served in Senegal have left in place a positive legacy that will help those who 

will follow to benefit from the respect and positive perceptions of being a Peace Corps 

Volunteer in Senegal.

History and Future of Peace Corps Programming in Senegal

In the beginning, the predominant Peace Corps project was teaching English as a foreign 

language (TEFL), while rural development played a secondary role. Current programming 

efforts integrate the goals of the government of Senegal with the goals of the Peace Corps, 

placing special emphasis on meeting basic human needs. Currently, Peace Corps/Senegal 

has projects in small enterprise development, ecotourism, agroforestry, agriculture, and 

health education. 

Peace Corps/Senegal assigns Volunteers primarily to small-scale activities aimed at 

training rural individuals or communities to tackle their own development problems and 

priorities. Some Volunteers are also placed in more urban settings and may help coordinate 

the efforts of Volunteers with nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners. This policy 

reflects Peace Corps/Senegal’s adherence to a philosophy of grassroots sustainable 

development and coincides with a growing recognition by the government of Senegal that a 

centralized, top-down development approach is neither effective nor affordable. Much of our 

work focuses on helping communities achieve progress on meeting the Millennium 

Development Goals adopted by the government of Senegal.

As Senegal’s population has grown at an annual rate of 2.5 percent, the number of children 

seeking to attend school has risen dramatically. The population of Senegal is young, with 

an average age of 21.8 years for men and 22.6 years for women. School enrollment has 

grown to more than 80 percent, and though boys’ enrollment still outnumbers girls, that 

gap is decreasing. The government devotes 40 percent of its national expenditures to 

support education, but the needs remain greater than the progress being made. In 

particular, the demand for qualified and adequately-trained teachers exceeds the supply. 

Many teachers are placed in front of classes with inadequate preparation and lacking the 

resources and materials to effectively teach. 
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Peace Corps Volunteers have worked in primary schools since 1994 through the 

environmental education project, and the results have been very encouraging. There is an 

important need to accelerate teacher training, provide increased materials and resources 

for schools—especially in rural areas—and to update and revise curricula. 

The AIDS pandemic strikes across all social strata in many Peace Corps countries. The loss 

of teachers has crippled education systems, while illness and disability drains family 

income and forces governments and donors to redirect limited resources from other 

priorities. The fear and uncertainty AIDS causes has led to increased domestic violence and 

stigmatizing of people living with HIV/AIDS, isolating them from friends and family and 

cutting them off from economic opportunities. Though Senegal has a relatively low 

incidence of HIV/AIDS, as a Peace Corps Volunteer, you may confront these issues on a 

very personal level. It is important to be aware of the high emotional toll that disease, 

death, and violence can have on Volunteers. As you strive to integrate into your community, 

you will develop relationships with local people who might die during your service. Because 

of the AIDS pandemic, some Volunteers will be regularly meeting with HIV-positive people 

and working with training staff, office staff, and host family members living with AIDS. 

Volunteers need to prepare themselves to embrace these relationships in a sensitive and 

positive manner. Likewise, malaria and malnutrition, motor vehicle accidents and other 

unintentional injuries, domestic violence, and corporal punishment are problems a 

Volunteer may confront. You will need to anticipate these situations and utilize supportive 

resources available throughout your training and service to maintain your own emotional 

strength so you can continue to be of service to your community.
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COUNTRY OVERVIEW:

SENEGAL AT A GLANCE

History 

Senegal has a rich and colorful history. Many African empires gained prominence in the 

region, the most important of which was Tekrur, a powerful trading state along the Senegal 

River that flourished from the 10th through the 12th centuries. Islam first entered the 

region through these contacts. The groups residing in the region sent slaves and gold north 

across the desert in exchange for salt and weapons. 

Europeans began to arrive in the mid-15th century, beginning with the Portuguese and 

followed later by the French, English, and Dutch. The Europeans competed intensely for 

Senegal’s lucrative slave trade, and by the end of the 17th century, the French had 

established forts at Dakar and throughout the Senegal River Valley, while the English had 

seized the mouth of The Gambia River.

Although they established a colony at this early date, the French needed an additional two 

centuries to extend their dominion beyond their forts and coastal cities. They faced stiff 

resistance from African leaders throughout the country, with Islam or traditional kingdoms 

often becoming a rallying point against French domination. By the end of the 19th century, 

France controlled most of Senegal north of The Gambia, but groups south of The Gambia 

continued to resist into the early years of the 20th century.

French colonial rule, as elsewhere in Africa, was primarily a system of political and 

economic exploitation. The French introduced the peanut to Senegal as a cash crop in the 

mid-19th century, and soon Senegal was France’s most profitable African colony. France 

typically ruled peacefully in Senegal until African demands for independence became too 

strong to ignore in the years following World War II.

On April 4, 1959, Senegal and French Sudan (present-day Mali) combined to form the Mali 

Federation, which became fully independent in June 1960. April 4 remains the date that 

Senegal annually commemorates its independence. Because of internal political and 

economic differences, the federation was dissolved when Senegal seceded in August 1960, 

and Senegal and Mali became separate, independent nations.

Senegal’s first president, Léopold Sedar Senghor, was one of the leading figures of the 

independence movement. He was also a highly respected French-language poet and the 

only African ever elected to the prestigious and powerful Académie Française. His writings 

on negritude, a political philosophy that champions the strengths of African ideals, remain 

important in contemporary African political science. 

After a power struggle within the first government, Senghor ousted and imprisoned Prime 

Minister Mamadou Dia in 1962. He passed a new Constitution in 1963 that organized the 
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government as a representative republic with executive power vested in the president and 

legislative power vested in a National Assembly elected by universal suffrage. Senghor also 

instituted the beginnings of local democratic rule in 1972 by establishing a political 

governance system centered on groups of villages called “rural communities.” This remains 

the basis of modern Senegalese democracy. In 1976, the Constitution was amended to 

institutionalize four political parties across the spectrum from right to left. Senghor, the 

head of the Socialist Party, was re-elected in 1978 as a moderate socialist, but he resigned 

on December 31, 1980, passing on the presidency to Prime Minister Abdou Diouf.

President Diouf removed all restrictions on opposition political parties. An overwhelming 

majority returned him and the Socialist Party to power in 1983 in the country’s first 

unrestricted multiparty elections. More than 50 parties are active in Senegal today, with 

the Socialist Party and the governing Democratic Socialist Party among the most 

prominent.

As acting president of the Organization of African Unity in 1985 and 1986, Diouf led the 

international diplomatic battle against South Africa’s apartheid regime. Senegal accorded 

full diplomatic recognition to both Namibia’s South-West Africa People’s Organization 

(SWAPO) and South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC).

On November 14, 1981, Senegal and The Gambia signed an agreement proposing to unite 

the two countries as the Confederation of Senegambia. Various government officials had 

proposed such a union since the early days of independence. The Gambia, a former English 

colony, is nearly completely surrounded by Senegal, a former French colony. The two 

countries share the same ethnic groups and pre-colonial history; the main differences 

between them are their official languages and colonial traditions. 

The agreement was precipitated by an attempted military coup in The Gambia in July 

1981, while Gambian President Dawda Jawara was out of the country on a state visit. 

Fearing regional instability, the Senegalese Army entered the country and suppressed the 

rebellion. After this aborted coup, the two countries tried to implement a confederation. 

Political integration was going faster than economic integration when the two governments 

decided to dismantle the confederation in 1989.

Between 1997 and 1999, Djibo Ka and Moustapha Niasse, both important figures in Diouf’s 

party and longtime government ministers, quit the government and created their own 

parties. Although the ruling party minimized the event’s significance, most observers saw it 

as the beginning of the end of the Socialist Party. On March 19, 2000, President Diouf lost 

to an opposition coalition led by longtime rival Abdoulaye Wade in the presidential election. 

This was a first in Senegal, as the Socialist Party had won all presidential elections for 

more than 40 years.
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Wade benefited from the support of about 20 parties grouped within the Coalition for an 

Alternation of Power. Although the election was not trouble-free, most national and 

international observers considered it fair and democratic.

Senegal’s political stability has, in many ways, been a shining light in what has otherwise 

been a difficult post-independence struggle for most of sub-Saharan Africa. The March 2000 

election was a model for all young democracies. What had been expected to be an election 

surrounded by civil unrest with contested results fortunately turned out to be a transparent 

and peaceful transfer of power from a long-governing political party to another, restoring 

hope among the majority of Senegalese, especially the young. Senegal entered a new phase 

full of hope, as well as uncertainty. 

On December 30, 2004, the president announced that he would sign a peace treaty with two 

separatist factions of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC) in the 

Casamance region, initiating an end to West Africa's longest-running civil conflict. The 

peace treaty appears to be working, as both factions and the Senegalese military continue 

to honor the treaty. With recognized prospects for peace, refugees began returning home 

from neighboring Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. Occasional violence between the separatists 

and the government and banditry along roadways has continued in the Ziguinchor Region. 

Because of these activities and concerns about some remaining landmines in that region, 

Peace Corps/Senegal does not currently place Volunteers in the Ziguinchor Region and 

travel in the zone is restricted.

President Wade was re-elected to a five-year term in 2007. Senegal hosted the international 

Islamic Conference in March 2008, a point of considerable national pride.

Government

The Senegalese government is a republic under multiparty democratic rule. There is 

universal suffrage, with citizens, including the police and the military, eligible to vote at 

age 18.

The president heads the executive branch and appoints a prime minister as the head of 

government. Members of the Council of Ministers, or cabinet, are appointed by the prime 

minister in consultation with the president. The most recent government reorganization 

occurred in November 2006. 

The legislative branch consists of a 150-seat unicameral National Assembly (Assemblée 

Nationale) whose members are elected by direct popular vote for five-year terms. In 

January 2007, a 100-member Senate also was introduced. The legal system is based on 

French civil law. Following a 1992 reform, the judicial branch is composed of a 

Constitutional Court, Council of State, Financial Review Court (Cour des Comptes), Court 

of Final Appeals (Cour de Cassation), and Court of Appeals. The Constitutional Court 

reviews legislative acts, and the Council of State audits the government’s accounting office.
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The country is divided into 14 administrative regions: Dakar (the capital), Diourbel, Fatick, 

Kaffrine, Kaolack, Kedougou, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Sediou,Tambacounda, 

Thiès, and Ziguinchor. These regions are further divided into departments, administrative 

districts (arrondissements), and rural communities.

Economy

Although Senegal has a diversified economy by West African standards, it remains one of 

the poorest of the world’s nations. A major problem over the past 40 years has been 

recurrent drought, which has limited plans to increase agricultural production and expand 

industrialization.

The Senegalese government exerts a great degree of control over the peanut oil and 

phosphate industries, but in most other sectors, foreign ownership (mostly French, 

Lebanese and, increasingly, Chinese) is dominant. The nation’s primary sources of income 

are phosphate mining, fishing, light manufacturing, agricultural processing, and tourism. 

Of these, only tourism has been growing substantially. Fishing has declined in importance 

as fisheries have been depleted by overproduction. Recently, substantial foreign 

investments have been made in developing gold and iron ore mining in the southeastern 

region of Kedougou.

Peanut cultivation and refining have seen a tremendous decline over the past two decades. 

Once the country’s leading foreign currency earner, the peanut industry now accounts for 

only 25 percent of exports. This loss is the result of overcultivation in traditional peanutgrowing regions, drought, and the diversion of peanuts from Senegal into neighboring 

countries for export via the black market. The Senegalese government has taken a number 

of steps to restructure production and marketing systems and to increase domestic prices 

for farmers, but the effects of these steps have yet to be fully evaluated. In the 1980s, poor 

economic performance placed Senegal under sometimes severe economic structural 

adjustment measures. These included drastic reduction of government expenditures for 

social services and led the way to some of the more difficult problems that Senegal is now 

experiencing. 

About 70 percent of Senegal’s population is engaged in agriculture, but the performance of 

the agricultural sector has been steadily worsening, and it now contributes less than 25 

percent of gross domestic product. Sugar production and diversification into nontraditional 

and vegetable crops have been promoted in recent years, but there has been limited success. 

Rice production in the north and south is hampered by both growing and marketing 

conditions. With the population increasing at a nearly 3 percent annual rate and cereal 

production declining in many areas, Senegal is finding it more difficult to attain selfsufficiency in rice crops, although millet and corn production tend to be adequate to meet 

the country's overall needs. Senegal has relied increasingly on imports and transfers of 

money from Senegalese living abroad to satisfy its growing demand for rice and wheat. 
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Helped by better rains than in past years, the 2008 harvest, however, was relatively 

successful.

There is an important herding tradition among some groups in Senegal. Cattle, sheep, and 

goats are found throughout much of the country. Chickens and other fowl are also 

prevalent. In Catholic and animist areas of the country, pigs are raised in limited numbers. 

Camels are also raised in northern parts of the country. 

The New Agricultural Policy (Nouvelle Politique Agricole) and its followup, the Cereal Plan 

(Plan Céréalier), were the centerpiece of government policy in this sector. The major 

objectives were the complete phase out of state-run regional development agencies, 

privatization of the agricultural sector, and progress toward food security. These policies 

did not achieve the desired results and the government is still seeking a way to address its 

agricultural needs.

Continuous cycles of drought and soil depletion problems have been exacerbated by 

sporadic locust infestations, underlining the precariousness of farming in Senegal. Depleted 

soils and lack of timely, affordable inputs and other constraints have seriously impacted 

crop production in most areas of the peanut basin and yields nationwide have been 

consistently low.

People and Culture

While some African countries have hundreds of distinct ethnic groups, in Senegal there are 

only a few principal ethnicities. The Wolof, the largest group, constitutes 36 percent of the 

population. They live predominantly in the western and central regions, north of The 

Gambia, and in urban centers. They have traditionally been Senegal’s leading peanut 

cultivators.

The Pulaar-speaking people (also known as the Fulani) make up 26.5 percent of the 

population. Found throughout West and Central Africa, owing to their nomadic past, in 

Senegal they can be divided into two distinct groups. The Pulafuta (17.5 percent) are 

shepherds or farmers who live all over the country, except in the coastal areas. The 

Toucouleur (9 percent) have traditionally farmed along the banks of the Senegal River, but 

in recent years many have migrated to urban centers.

The Sereer, who constitute 16.5 percent of the population, live primarily in the Thiès and 

Fatick regions. The Diola (9 percent) include a number of distinct linguistic groups with 

similar cultural traditions and live primarily in the Ziguinchor region, south of The 

Gambia. The Mandinka (6.5 percent) are scattered throughout the Kedougou, Kolda and 

Tambacounda regions; they are Mandé, culturally and linguistically related to the Bambara 

of Mali, the Dioula of Côte d’Ivoire, and the Malinké of Guinea. All of these groups are 

primarily sedentary farmers, although those settled on the coast actively fish.
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Smaller ethnic groups include the Bainouk, Balante, Bambara, Bassari, Bédik, Diakhanké, 

Dialonké, Mandjak-Mankagn, and Soninké. Large groups of foreigners, principally French, 

Lebanese, and Cape Verde Islanders, reside in urban centers, especially in Dakar. While 

the predominant religion in Senegal is Islam, the Senegalese take great pride in their

country’s climate of religious tolerance. In fact, the government officially celebrates both 

Muslim and Roman Catholic holidays, even though more than 90 percent of the people are 

Muslim.

Sufism, the type of Islam practiced in Senegal, is based on the teachings of an ancient form 

of Islamic mysticism. Sufism follows the basic tenets of Islam but does not follow all of the 

practices of Sunnite or Shiite Muslims. Some indigenous ethnic groups have been Muslim 

for more than 600 years, while others did not convert until the end of the 19th century. 

About 5 percent of Senegalese are Christian, primarily adherents of Roman Catholicism, 

which was brought to the country by Portuguese and French colonialists in the 15th 

through the 20th centuries. A small percentage of citizens are animists, following 

traditional beliefs centered on the power of supernatural spirits. Animism also profoundly 

influences the practice of Islam and Christianity in Senegal.

Environment

Approximately 40 years of drought in the Sahel has severely impacted natural resources in 

Senegal. Dramatic reductions in plant cover, biological diversity, and land productivity 

have occurred in much of Senegal north of The Gambia. Current tree-planting efforts in the 

sub-Sahara are estimated to be only about 10 to 15 percent of the level required to balance 

losses of wooded vegetation from activities such as land clearing, charcoal production, fuel 

collection, and brush fires. Recent patterns of below-normal precipitation have reduced the 

carrying capacities of affected lands. A new balance must be achieved between a relatively 

drier environment and the ability of the natural resource base to support agricultural and 

pastoral systems.

Efforts by donor groups such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), 

the World Bank, and the United Nations initially focused on an industrial plantation 

approach to remedy deforestation and desertification problems in Africa. Project successes 

were the exception rather than the rule. In a revamped approach, village-level wood lots 

were promoted as the panacea to Africa’s energy crisis, but this approach yielded few 

success stories after considerable donor spending. A third approach is now focusing on a 

variety of interventions (i.e., agroforestry, protection of natural regeneration, and land 

management) at the village and farm levels. These efforts in Senegal are being coordinated 

by the Waters and Forests Agency within the Ministry of Environment and Protection of 

Nature.

Another result of the prolonged drought is the reduction of Senegal’s already limited 

groundwater and surface water resources, which has severely affected agricultural 

production and threatened the health of rural inhabitants. Water tables have dropped an 
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average of 20 inches (50 centimeters) per year in many regions of the country, while 

traditional flood plains and marsh areas have remained dry. Salinization has become a 

serious problem in some areas. A large portion of the government’s water budget goes to the 

country’s rapidly expanding urban centers, and the technology for tapping deep aquifers or 

for diverting river water remains prohibitively expensive for most rural communities.

Senegal has undertaken a number of initiatives to satisfy the water needs of the rural 

population and to develop and manage existing water resources rationally. With donor 

assistance, the government has promoted construction of deep bore-hole wells in selected 

rural communities that can provide safer and more reliable water for human consumption 

and promote agricultural and livestock production. The government also provides technical 

advice and equipment to communities to assist them in digging and repairing traditional 

cement-tube wells.

Despite recognition of sufficient rural water supplies as a pressing national priority, 

inadequate water supply continues to be a major problem around which the cycle of poverty 

and poor health revolves. The government is not equipped to solve the problem alone, and 

an infusion of outside funding in this sector remains necessary.
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RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Following is a list of websites for additional information about the Peace Corps, Senegal, 

and to connect you to returned Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in mind that 

although we try to make sure all these links are active and current, we cannot guarantee it. 

If you do not have access to the Internet, visit your local library. Libraries offer free 

Internet usage and often let you print information to take home.

A note of caution: As you surf the Internet, be aware that you may find bulletin boards and 

chat rooms in which people are free to express opinions about the Peace Corps based on 

their own experience, including comments by those who were unhappy with their choice to 

serve in the Peace Corps. These opinions are not those of the Peace Corps or the U.S. 

government, and we hope you will keep in mind that no two people experience their service 

in the same way.

General Information About Senegal

www.pcsenegal.org

This site was developed by currently serving Peace Corps/Senegal Volunteers and 

provides information about Senegal and the Peace Corps in Senegal.

www.countrywatch.com

On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in the capital of Senegal to 

how to convert from the dollar to the Senegalese currency. Just click on Senegal and 

go from there.

www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations

Visit this site for general travel advice about almost any country in the world.

www.state.gov

The State Department’s website issues background notes periodically about 

countries around the world. Find Senegal and learn more about its social and 

political history. You can also go to the site’s international travel section to check on 

conditions that may affect your safety.

www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm

This includes links to all the official sites for governments worldwide.

www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm
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This online world atlas includes maps and geographical information, and each 

country page contains links to other sites, such as the Library of Congress, that 

contain comprehensive historical, social, and political background.

www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp 

This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical information for member 

states of the U.N.

https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

This world fact book provides up-to-date country information.

www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm

This online world atlas includes maps and geographical information, and each 

country page contains links to other sites, such as the Library of Congress, that 

contain comprehensive historical, social, and political background.

www.gouv.sn

The official site of the Government of Senegal and it contains links to many other 

sites (Note that the site is entirely presented in French)

www.africa.upenn.edu/Country_Specific/Senegal.html

University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center offers a comprehensive gateway 

to many useful references on Senegal. 

www.lclark.edu/~nicole/SENEGAL/HOME.HTM

An orientation to Senegal from Lewis and Clark University

www.gksoft.com/govt/en/sn.html

Information on the government of Senegal

www.senegal-online.com/

Practical information targeted towards tourists for getting around the country.

www.worldinformation.com

This site provides an additional source of current and historical information about 

countries around the world.

Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees

www.rpcv.org
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This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made up of returned 

Volunteers. On this site you can find links to all the Web pages of the “Friends of” 

groups for most countries of service, comprised of former Volunteers who served in 

those countries. There are also regional groups that frequently get together for social 

events and local volunteer activities. 

www.PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org

This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers. It is a monthly online 

publication of essays and Volunteer accounts of their Peace Corps service.

http://www.erslah.com/attaya/fosg.asp

This is the website for Friends of Senegal and The Gambia. The group's listserv is 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FriendsofSenegalGambia/.

Facebook.com

Search for Peace Corps/Senegal and join the Facebook group.

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Country

www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/senegal/senenews.html

Provides links to a variety of informative news sites about Senegal

www.seneweb.com/

A Senegalese news Web portal (in French)

http://www.onlinenewspapers.com/senegal.htm

Provides links to several of Senegal's newspapers.

International Development Sites About Country

www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/aag/sen_aag.pdf

World Bank data on Senegal

www.irinnews.org/frontpage.asp?SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=Senegal

Humanitarian news and analysis from the United Nations Office for the 

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 

http://www.plan-international.org/wherewework/westafrica/senegal/

United Kingdom's issues-oriented description of their work in Senegal.
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mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx

The official site for the Indicators associated with the Millennium Development 

Goals.

Recommended Books

• Behrman, Lucy C. Muslim Brotherhoods and Politics in Senegal. Cambridge, Mass.: 

Harvard University Press, 1970. (Also available in a 1999 paperback from 

iUniverse.com.)

• Fagg, William Buller, et al. Yoruba: Sculpture of West Africa. New York: Knopf, 

1984.

• Gellar, Sheldon. Senegal: An African Nation Between Islam and the West. Boulder, 

Colo.: Westview Press, 1995.

• Gordon, Eugene (ed.). Senegal in Pictures. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications, 1989.

(Available from LernerBooks.com.)

• Holloway, Kris. Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali.

Long Grove, Ill.: Waveland Press, 2006.

• Maranz, David E. African Friends and Money Matters. Dallas, Texas: SIL 

International, 2001.

Books About the History of the Peace Corps

• Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs. All You Need is Love: The Peace Corps and the Spirit of 

the 1960s. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 2000.

• Rice, Gerald T. The Bold Experiment: JFK’s Peace Corps. Notre Dame, Ind.: 

University of Notre Dame Press, 1985.

• Stossel, Scott. Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver. Washington, D.C.: 

Smithsonian Institution Press, 2004.

• Meisler, Stanley. When the World Calls: The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and its 

First 50 Years. Boston, Mass.: Beacon Press, 2011.

Books on the Volunteer Experience

• Dirlam, Sharon. Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a Forgotten Place. Santa Barbara, 

Calif.: McSeas Books, 2004.

• Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. Margarita: A Guatemalan Peace Corps Experience. Gig 

Harbor, Wash.: Red Apple Publishing, 2000.

• Erdman, Sarah. Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African 

Village. New York, N.Y.: Picador, 2003.
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

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• Hessler, Peter. River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze. New York, N.Y.: Perennial, 

2001.

• Kennedy, Geraldine ed. From the Center of the Earth: Stories out of the Peace 

Corps. Santa Monica, Calif.: Clover Park Press, 1991.

• Thompsen, Moritz. Living Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle. Seattle, Wash.: University 

of Washington Press, 1997 (reprint).
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LIVING CONDITIONS AND

VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE

Communications

Mail

Few countries in the world offer the level of mail service considered normal in the United 

States. If you expect U.S. standards for mail service, you will be in for some frustration. 

Mail from the U.S. to Senegal often takes about two weeks to arrive; however, it may take 

several more days for it to reach some areas that are further from the capital. Some mail 

may simply not arrive (fortunately, this is not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen). 

Letters may arrive with clipped edges because someone may have tried to see if any money 

was inside (again, this is rare, but it does happen). Advise your family and friends to 

number their letters for tracking purposes and to include "SENEGAL-WEST AFRICA", 

“Airmail” and “Par Avion” on their envelopes.

Despite the delays, we encourage you to write to your family regularly and to number your 

letters. Family members typically become worried when they do not hear from you, so it is a 

good idea to advise them that mail is sporadic and that they should not worry if they do not 

receive your letters regularly.

Your address during training will be:

PCT “Your Name”

Corps de la Paix

B.P. 299

Thiès, Senegal

West Africa

Once you have been sworn in as a Volunteer and are at your permanent site, you will set up 

a postal box (Boite Postale, B.P.) and be able to share your new address with your family 

and friends.

Parcel post and other packages may also be received by trainees and Volunteers. They 

frequently take longer to arrive, even when sent via airmail, and they are subject to 

customs and other fees upon arrival. These fees often begin at $4 (U.S.) per package and 

can go higher, depending on the value of the goods received. It is wise to include (or 

separately send) a list detailing what is in the box when shipped.

Telephones

Landline calls can be made from private telephone shops known as telecenters at 

reasonable prices. Volunteers’ residences typically are not equipped with telephones, but, 

occasionally, neighbors may have a phone, particularly for Volunteers in towns. Telecenters 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

17

are found in most towns but may not exist in small villages. Some villages have solarpowered phone booths. Regional transit houses, which may be available to some Volunteers, 

also are equipped with landline phones. 

Many Volunteers use cell phones for calls and SMS text messaging. Cell phone connectivity 

depends on network availability at the Volunteer's assigned site. About 70 percent of 

Volunteers in Senegal have regular access to the cell phone network. All Volunteers 

purchase locally available cell phones in the first week of training, facilitated by the Peace 

Corps training staff.

Computer, Internet, and Email Access

Many Internet cafes have sprung up throughout Senegal, particularly in regional capitals. 

Some areas are equipped with asymmetric digital subscriber lines (ADSLs). Typically, the 

computers are older models and may not offer speed or reliable connectivity. The cost varies 

from the equivalent of around 50 cents to $4 an hour. Most Volunteers live some distance 

from a regional capital, so few Volunteers have regular access to the Internet. Some 

regional transit houses have DSL Internet access with Wi-Fi. The Peace Corps office in 

Dakar has shared computers for Volunteer use and Wi-Fi access.

Housing and Site Location

Most Volunteers in Senegal are assigned to rural areas, especially those who work in 

agriculture, ecotourism, health, natural resources, and environmental education. For safety 

and cultural reasons, Volunteers are usually housed in family compounds, where 

accommodations range from a cement-block room with a tin roof to a traditional hut with a 

thatched roof. The Peace Corps expects that all housing be equipped with screens to protect 

against mosquitoes and other insects, doors and windows with locks, and a concrete floor. 

Additionally, bathing and toilet facilities must meet Peace Corps standards. Your site will 

be supplied with water through a reliable well water source, a community tap, or a tap in 

your home, depending on where you may be assigned. Volunteers are encouraged to bring 

pictures or other decorations to “make their hut a home.”

Living Allowance and Money Management

The living allowance is deposited into Volunteers’ bank accounts on a quarterly basis and is 

intended to cover the cost of food, household supplies, and work-related travel. The amount 

varies from region to region and whether the site is in an urban or rural area. As the funds 

are issued quarterly, it is important for Volunteers to keep track of their expenditures so 

their allowance will last until the next payment is issued. Volunteers living with host 

families are encouraged to make appropriate contributions to their heads of families to 

cover food and other costs. Each year, Volunteers are encouraged to complete a survey to 

help determine the amount of the living allowance. It is important that Volunteers live at 

the same economic level as people in their community, so supplementing the living 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

18

allowance to enhance your community living standard with additional funds is strongly 

discouraged.

Food and Diet

Senegalese cooking can be considered monotonous by the uninitiated Westerner, but it can 

also be delicious. Rice and millet are the two staples, with millet being the traditional food 

crop in the peanut basin and rice being more prevalent in the river basins. Depending on 

your assignment and the relative wealth of the families with whom you live, you may end 

up eating millet or rice three times a day. Corn and sorghum are also widely prepared. 

Generally, rice is served at lunch and millet at dinner, both with seasonal vegetables, and 

fish when available. The national dish is thiéboudien, a tasty blend of fish and rice 

simmered in tomato sauce and spices, accompanied by various vegetables. Other popular 

dishes are mafé (rice and peanut sauce), yassa (rice, onions, and chicken, beef, or fish), and 

cere neex (millet and bean sauce). Bread was introduced by the French during the colonial 

period and is popular, but is expensive for the average Senegalese since all of its 

ingredients are imported. It has become a breakfast staple in urban areas. On Muslim 

holidays, the standard fare is lamb. A variety of fruits is also available at different seasons, 

including mangoes, papayas, watermelons, mandarins, oranges, and bananas. Fruits are 

more widely available in the south, where more abundant rainfall supports fruit tree 

production. Available vegetables include potatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplant, okra, cabbage, 

beans, turnips, squash, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and carrots.

Transportation

Volunteers are issued bicycles for daily use. Use of helmets is mandatory and you will be 

issued a helmet with your bicycle. Volunteers are not permitted to drive or ride on 

motorcycles or motor scooters. Village-based Volunteers may find themselves passengers on 

charrettes, (horse- or donkey-drawn carts). For intercity transportation, some areas are 

served by Peugeot 504 station wagons called sept-places or taxis-brousse. They are 

frequently unreliable, unsafe, crowded, and uncomfortable. Other zones depend on 

minibuses or vans of various shapes and sizes, which may be even more unreliable, unsafe, 

crowded, and uncomfortable. In Dakar, Volunteers often use city buses or taxis. Peace 

Corps/Senegal regularly reminds Volunteers to examine the condition of a vehicle and its 

driver before purchasing a ticket to board any intercity mode of transport. If you find 

yourself in a vehicle you believe to be unsafe, you should demand that the driver let you out 

immediately. Vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death of Americans in Africa. In 

Senegal, since 1963, one Volunteer and one staff member have died in an automobile 

accident.
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Geography and Climate

Senegal, a semiarid country with a population of more than 12 million, is one of America’s 

most important partners in sub-Saharan Africa. Occupying an area approximately the size 

of South Dakota, it shares borders with Mauritania, Mali, The Gambia, Guinea, GuineaBissau, and the Atlantic Ocean, and it is the westernmost country on the African continent. 

Because of its geographic location and deep-water port, Dakar, the capital, serves as the 

western gateway to the African continent. 

The landscape consists of monotonous flat plains in the middle of the arid, sandy Sahel. The 

only significant elevations are in the far southeast along the Guinea border, the northern 

tip of the Fouta Djalon plateau, and farther east along the Malian border.

The Senegal River originates in the Fouta Djalon and forms the border with Mauritania. 

Saint-Louis, an old colonial city, is at the river’s mouth. The wide flood plains, cultivated 

with peanuts and millet, are among the country’s most productive areas. Senegal is very 

important to migrating birds, particularly waterfowl, which return in large numbers each 

winter from Europe. Djoudj Park, one of the most important bird reserves in the world, is to 

the north of Saint-Louis.

Senegal is biologically diverse, with more than 550 animal species. Certain species of 

wildlife, however, such as giraffes, have disappeared altogether. The increasing 

desertification of the northern part of the country and the salt intrusion in coastal zones 

has created concern about the viability of much of the wildlife found there.

Social Activities

Social activities vary from region to region. Baptisms and weddings are big events in all 

areas. Some of West Africa's best-known musicians are from Senegal, including Youssou 

Ndour and Baaba Maal. Soccer, called football in Senegal, is a major preoccupation 

throughout the country and basketball is becoming more popular. Traditional wrestling 

tournaments and the ceremonies surrounding them are important sources of entertainment 

throughout the country. Dakar is home to a softball league consisting of both Senegalese 

and ex-pat teams.

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior

Senegalese, with rare exception, appear in public neatly dressed. While an unkempt or 

sloppy appearance may be an expression of individuality in the United States, in Senegal it 

is viewed as demeaning and disrespectful. Thus, Volunteers are expected to dress neatly 

and be well groomed at all times. Male Volunteers who wear shorts risk being treated as 

schoolboys, since generally only schoolboys wear shorts in Senegal. Female Volunteers 

should not wear anything above the knee, including shorts, in public. Long hair, 

unconventional hairdos, blatant tattoos, and piercings are considered unusual and may 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

20

attract attention or cause ridicule or harassment. They are considered inappropriate and 

should not be worn during Volunteer service. If you have any of these appearance 

characteristics, a decision to go without them for the duration of your Peace Corps service 

should be made prior to accepting the invitation to serve in Senegal. 

These recommendations for dress are consistent with Peace Corps policies established to 

ensure the safety and well-being of Volunteers and with the wishes of the Senegalese 

government. As guests of the government, Volunteers should not abuse the hospitality of 

their host by showing disregard for local norms. Peace Corps Volunteers are expected to set 

good examples for the young people of Senegal, in addition to providing technical 

assistance. The respect they earn by virtue of their education, relative affluence, and status 

as representatives of the United States is easily lost by improper behavior or dress. 

Note that the use of drugs, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, and participation of any 

kind in Senegalese political affairs by Volunteers are strictly forbidden and will result in 

immediate termination from the Peace Corps.

Personal Safety

More detailed information about the Peace Corps’ approach to safety is contained in the 

“Health Care and Safety” chapter, but it is an important issue and cannot be 

overemphasized. As stated in the Volunteer Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer 

entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment (oftentimes 

alone), having a limited understanding of local language and culture, and being perceived 

as well-off are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers 

experience varying degrees of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and 

burglaries are not uncommon, and incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, 

although most Country Volunteers complete their two years of service without incident. 

The Peace Corps has established procedures and policies designed to help you reduce your 

risks and enhance your safety and security. These procedures and policies, in addition to 

safety training, will be provided once you arrive in Country. Using these tools, you are 

expected to take responsibility for your safety and well-being.

Each staff member at the Peace Corps is committed to providing Volunteers with the 

support they need to successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, 

and productive service. We encourage Volunteers and families to look at our safety and 

security information on the Peace Corps website at www.peacecorps.gov/safety.

Information on these pages gives messages on Volunteer health and Volunteer safety. 

There is a section titled “Safety and Security – Our Partnership.” Among topics addressed 

are the risks of serving as a Volunteer, posts’ safety support systems, and emergency 

planning and communications.
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

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Rewards and Frustrations

The cultural adaptation Volunteers must undertake while serving in Senegal is substantial. 

Customs and practices, such as polygamous and early marriages, reliance on extended 

families, and subsistence farming require Volunteers to re-evaluate their own attitudes and 

values. The slower pace may be a pleasant contrast to the American rush at breakneck 

speed, but can also be a source of frustration when things do not get done as quickly as one 

is accustomed to. 

In addition, Volunteers are considered rich by Senegalese, an image that is hard for 

Volunteers to accept, particularly when beggars or representatives of charitable causes 

constantly approach them. It is important to remember that even though Volunteers work 

without a salary, in actuality their living allowance is far more than the income of the 

average village family. You will have to learn how to say no with discretion.

West Africa is known for its friendly and generous people, and the Senegalese exemplify 

these characteristics. Most Senegalese want to be friends with Volunteers and visit them 

continually. Volunteers are likely to attract attention wherever they go and be stared at 

simply because they are different and interesting. Some Senegalese may have never seen 

an American up close. The typical American's desire for privacy also will seem strange to 

Senegalese. Volunteers may find it difficult to have times of solitude and seeking privacy or 

"alone time" may be viewed as anti-social behavior. Volunteers will need to find a balance 

between making time for themselves and integrating into their community.
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

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PEACE CORPS TRAINING

Pre-Service Training

Pre-service training (PST) is an essential part of Peace Corps service. The objective is to 

provide you with solid technical, language, and cross-cultural knowledge to prepare you for 

living and working successfully in Senegal. The training uses an experiential approach 

wherever possible; thus, rather than reading or hearing about Volunteer activities, you will 

practice, process, and evaluate actual or simulated activities. Senegal's pre-service training 

is very intensive and occurs during an 8 1/2-week period. 

A welcome committee led by the Peace Corps country director and other staff will meet you 

at the airport. The committee will help you collect your baggage, go through customs 

formalities, and load your baggage on rented buses. Because trainees’ baggage has 

occasionally been left somewhere en route, we advise you to carry essential items, toiletries, 

and enough clothing for three days in your carry-on luggage. Be certain to clearly and 

securely label all your baggage before checking it at the airport. 

After leaving the airport, you will take a two-hour bus ride to Thiès, the location of the 

training center. You will stay at the center for your first three days in-country, when 

training will focus on an orientation to living with a host family; survival language classes; 

safety issues; a medical orientation; language placement interviews; and “getting to know 

you” activities.

The training plan is designed to provide trainees with the knowledge, skills, and experience 

necessary to make them linguistically capable, culturally aware and adapted, and 

technically informed to successfully begin Volunteer duties and to live confidently and 

safely. There is a lot to learn in eight weeks. Training will be intense and the training staff 

will work hard to make the learning environment as supportive as possible. PST will 

consist of four components: language, technical, cross-cultural, and personal health care. 

Safety training is integrated into all of these components, particularly in the cross-cultural 

and health care components. Please note that, in the training model used by Peace 

Corps/Senegal, you will not be completely trained technically until after your in-service 

training (IST), which occurs three months after you become a Volunteer. 

Most activities and learning during the PST period will take place in the communities 

where trainees are hosted. About one-third of the 56 days of pre-service training will be 

with the entire training class at the Thies Training Center. The remainder of training will 

occur in the villages and small towns surrounding Thies, where groups of three to eight 

trainees, along with one or two of our Senegalese staff language and cross-cultural 

facilitators, will live with host families in the community. Focus in this setting will be on 

language learning (either French or local languages, such as Wolof, Pulaar, Mandinka or 

Sereer) and cross-cultural integration. Every one or two weeks, trainees will be brought 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

23

together as a group for technical training, and safety and security, administrative, and 

medical briefings.

To facilitate language acquisition, national languages are expected to be spoken at the 

training center (except during technical, medical, or cross-cultural sessions). This is what 

we call language immersion (practice makes perfect!). Please do all you can to improve 

your French before arriving, including using the online Rosetta Stone French you will be 

provided. The better you speak French, the easier it will be for you to focus on learning the 

local language that will help you become culturally more integrated.

You will receive focused formal language instruction during PST. Additionally, you will 

have ample opportunity outside of classes to practice your language skills, especially in 

your homestay environment. We encourage you to respect language immersion. It is the 

fastest way to acquire the language skills that you will rely on during your Peace Corps 

service.

The cross-cultural program, in broad terms, comprises two components: the hands-on 

homestay experience, and a more theoretical aspect that comprises sessions on various 

topics to help you develop insights and deeper understanding of the cultures of the 

Senegalese people with whom you will work. Most cross cultural training will be integrated 

into the days you spend in your host communities, rather than in class settings at the 

training center.

Technical training consists of classroom sessions and hands-on community-based training 

activities. Please note that in the current training model, PST technical training is 

designed to provide you with an understanding and overview of the program in which you 

will work. During IST, and during periodic technical conferences, such as the all-Volunteer 

conference and regional and sectoral summits, you will receive a more detailed treatment of 

specific techniques and skills required for successful service. 

Personal health care training is designed and delivered by the Peace Corps medical officers 

(PCMOs). The PCMOs will also provide immunization and curative care throughout 

training and your Volunteer service.

For one week during PST, trainees, usually in groups of one to three, will visit current 

Volunteers at their sites to learn more about Volunteer work in the field. Generally, you 

will be visiting Volunteers working in the same program to which you are assigned and in a 

community where you will be able to practice your local language. This will help you gain 

firsthand exposure to the typical working and living conditions of Volunteers. This visit will 

provide an excellent opportunity for you to better understand the environment in which 

Peace Corps Volunteers serve in Senegal and to enhance your language, cross cultural, and 

technical understanding. 
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24

The training staff will be available for support throughout the program and will provide 

feedback on your progress. You must meet required technical competencies and a defined 

language ability to be sworn in as a Volunteer. 

During training, when you are not doing field work, you will be expected to wear neat, 

clean, and conservative clothing. Pants, shirts (including T-shirts), skirts, and dresses are 

fine, but shorts are appropriate only for recreational activities (e.g., jogging or soccer). 

Clothing that reveals stomachs, backs, or undergarments is not appropriate for Volunteers 

or trainees. Such appearance is not professional or culturally acceptable and can provoke 

unwanted attention and even harassment. Peace Corps/Senegal strongly advises that 

trainees and Volunteers adopt sensible and appropriate means of dressing throughout their 

Peace Corps service. 

You can receive mail at the training center’s post office box, but the center’s telephone is for 

official business only. You can make calls to the United States at the post office for 

approximately $2 per minute. Volunteers generally buy cellphones (about $40) during their 

first week of training. Mail will be collected from the post office once a day on workdays. 

You will have to pay customs taxes of $2 or more for any packages, depending on the items’ 

value. 

Peace Corps service is not for everyone. Training is a time for you to re-evaluate your 

commitment to two years of service. Although training is very intense, it can also be a lot of 

fun. Be flexible and maintain a good sense of humor and you will have a rewarding and 

enjoyable training experience.

Technical Training

Technical training will prepare you to work in Country by building on the skills you already 

have and helping you develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the 

country. The Peace Corps staff, Country experts, and current Volunteers will conduct the 

training program. Training places great emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you 

have to the community in which you will serve as a Volunteer. 

Technical training will include sessions on the general economic and political environment 

in Country and strategies for working within such a framework. You will review your 

technical sector’s goals and will meet with the Country agencies and organizations that 

invited the Peace Corps to assist them. You will be supported and evaluated throughout the 

training to build the confidence and skills you need to undertake your project activities and 

be a productive member of your community.

Language Training

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills are key to personal and 

professional satisfaction during your service. These skills are critical to your job 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

25

performance, they help you integrate into your community, and they can ease your personal 

adaptation to the new surroundings. Therefore, language training is at the heart of the 

training program. You must successfully meet minimum language requirements to 

complete training and become a Volunteer. Country language instructors teach formal 

language classes five days a week in small groups of four to five people.

Your language training will incorporate a community-based approach. In addition to 

classroom time, you will be given assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with 

your host family. The goal is to get you to a point of basic social communication skills so you 

can practice and develop language skills further once you are at your site. Prior to being 

sworn in as a Volunteer, you will work on strategies to continue language studies during 

your service.

Peace Corps Volunteers in Senegal are very proud of their mastery of local languages, in 

addition to French. In many cases, when Senegalese discover you are a Volunteer, they 

automatically will switch to speaking a local language. This mastery of languages begins at 

pre-service training and becomes a proud pursuit for each Volunteer throughout his or her 

service.

Cross-Cultural Training

As part of your pre-service training, you will live with a Country host family. This 

experience is designed to ease your transition to life at your site. Families go through an 

orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the purpose of pre-service training 

and to assist them in helping you adapt to living in Country. Many Volunteers form strong 

and lasting friendships with their host families.

Cross-cultural and community development training will help you improve your 

communication skills and understand your role as a facilitator of development. You will be 

exposed to topics such as community mobilization, conflict resolution, gender and 

development, nonformal and adult education strategies, and political structures.

Health Training

During pre-service training, you will be given basic medical training and information. You 

will be expected to practice preventive health care and to take responsibility for your own 

health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are required to attend all medical 

sessions. The topics include preventive health measures and minor and major medical 

issues that you might encounter while in Country. Nutrition, mental health, setting up a 

safe living compound, and how to avoid HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases 

(STDs) are also covered.
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Safety Training

During the safety training sessions, you will learn how to adopt a lifestyle that reduces your 

risks at home, at work, and during your travels. You will also learn appropriate, effective 

strategies for coping with unwanted attention and about your individual responsibility for 

promoting safety throughout your service.

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service

In its commitment to institutionalize quality training, the Peace Corps has implemented a 

training system that provides Volunteers with continual opportunities to examine their 

commitment to Peace Corps service while increasing their technical and cross-cultural 

skills. During service, there are usually three training events. The titles and objectives for 

those trainings are as follows: 

• In-service training: Provides an opportunity for Volunteers to upgrade their 

technical, language, and project development skills while sharing their experiences 

and reaffirming their commitment after having served for three to six months.

• Sector conferences: Meetings of all Volunteers in a particular sector, such as health, 

Environmental education, agroforestry or others, with a focus on sharing best 

practices, reviewing goals, and improving technical skills. 

• Regional strategy sessions: Meetings of all Volunteers in particular regions of 

Senegal to develop and hone their plans for working together, with the government 

of Senegal, and with nongovernmental organizations active in the area, to achieve 

defined goals, particularly aligned with Millennium Development Goals.

• Technical education seminars: Periodic seminars on technical subjects, such as tree 

grafting, beekeeping or other subjects of interest to particular groups of Volunteers.

• All-Volunteer conference: An annual conference in which staff, Volunteers, and 

partners network and share information and best practices.

• Close-of-service conference: Prepares Volunteers for the future after Peace Corps 

service and reviews their respective projects and personal experiences. 

The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted to country-specific needs 

and conditions. The key to the training system is that training events are integrated and 

interrelated, from the pre-departure orientation through the end of your service, and are 

planned, implemented, and evaluated cooperatively by the training staff, Peace Corps staff, 

and Volunteers.
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27

YOUR HEALTH CARE AND

SAFETY IN COUNTRY

The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the good health and safety of every 

Volunteer. Peace Corps medical programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the 

curative, approach to disease. The Peace Corps in Senegal maintains a clinic with a fulltime medical officer, who takes care of Volunteers’ primary health care needs. Additional 

medical services, such as testing and basic treatment, are also available in Senegal at local 

hospitals. If you become seriously ill, you will be transported either to an Americanstandard medical facility in the region or to the United States.

Health Issues in Country

All water in Senegal is considered contaminated. This includes tap water in Dakar and 

other cities. Visitors should drink only bottled or treated (boiled or chemically treated) 

water or brand-name bottled or canned beverages, such as Coca-Cola, Fanta, etc. Ice cubes 

in restaurants are not safe and mixing alcohol with contaminated water will not purify the 

water. If visitors plan to travel to villages where safe bottled water may not be available, 

they should plan to carry an adequate water supply or chemical additives with them. 

Peeled fruit and vegetables are safe to eat, as are unpeeled fruit and vegetables that have 

been well cooked. Salads can be dangerous, even in “good” restaurants, since lettuce and 

other vegetables may have been washed with contaminated water. Food should be 

thoroughly cooked, freshly prepared, served hot, and should not have been exposed to 

contamination by flies or other insects. All raw seafood should be avoided. Meat should be 

ordered well-done, “bien cuit” in French.

Helping You Stay Healthy

The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary inoculations, medications, and 

information to stay healthy. Upon your arrival in Senegal, you will receive a medical 

handbook. At the end of training, you will receive a medical kit with supplies to take care of 

mild illnesses and first aid needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this chapter. 

During pre-service training, you will have access to basic medical supplies through the 

medical officer. However, you will be responsible for your own supply of prescription drugs 

and any other specific medical supplies you require, as the Peace Corps will not order these 

items during training. Please bring a three-month supply of any prescription drugs you use, 

since they may not be available here and it may take several months for shipments to 

arrive.

You will have physicals at midservice and at the end of your service. If you develop a 

serious medical problem during your service, the medical officer in Senegal will consult 

with the Office of Medical Services in Washington, D.C. If it is determined that your 
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28

condition cannot be treated in Senegal, you may be sent out of the country for further 

evaluation and care.

Maintaining Your Health

As a Volunteer, you must accept considerable responsibility for your own health. Proper 

precautions will significantly reduce your risk of serious illness or injury. The adage “An 

ounce of prevention ...” becomes extremely important in areas where diagnostic and 

treatment facilities are not up to the standards of the United States. The most important of 

your responsibilities in Senegal is to take the following preventive measures:

Vaccinations. Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into Senegal. Polio and 

measles-mumps-rubella are recommended and will be administered during staging, 

prior to departing for Senegal. Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus and diphtheria, 

rabies, influenza, and meningococcal vaccines also are recommended and will be 

administered during pre-service training. 

Due to the possibility for a rapid spread of avian flu, the Office of Medical Services 

(OMS) in Washington, D.C., has directed that ALL Peace Corps Volunteers/trainees 

worldwide receive the flu vaccine this year (unless there are medical 

contraindications).

Malaria. You are scheduled to serve in an area where malaria, a mosquito-borne 

disease, is prevalent. Senegal is an area where chloroquine-resistant falciparum 

malaria (CRFM) is reported. Approved malaria prophylaxis medications are 

prescribed to suppress attacks of malaria. In the absence of absolute 

contraindication, the current recommended prophylaxis in Senegal is Mefloquine, 

250 mg. taken in tablet form, once a week throughout your stay and for one month 

after your close of service. Side effects such as lightheadedness, dizziness, 

gastrointestinal disturbances, and insomnia are not uncommon when first starting 

mefloquine, but these side effects are typically general, mild and short lived, 

diminishing with continued use of the drug. 

The medical officer will offer you an intensive review of these prophylactic 

recommendations and will provide you with country-specific information to assist 

you in determining your best prophylactic regimen. In addition, to eradicate any 

remaining malaria parasites you may have acquired, you will be given another antimalarial drug to take when you terminate your Peace Corps service (primaquine, 

two tablets daily for 14 days).

No single or combined malaria prophylactic regimen is 100 percent effective. 

Avoidance of mosquito bites is imperative! Using bed nets, wearing appropriate 

clothing, and applying insect repellent to exposed skin will greatly reduce your risk 

of exposure to mosquito bites. Malaria, if contracted, can be effectively treated, if 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

29

prompt medical attention is sought. A good “rule of thumb” to remember: consider 

all unexplained fevers as possible malaria. 

Other health concerns. There may be health risks at medical facilities in Senegal, 

which have standards that are not comparable to medical facilities in the United 

States. Peace Corps medical staff cannot care for family members or friends who 

require medical attention while in Senegal. 

It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the health unit for scheduled 

immunizations, and that you let your medical officer know immediately of 

significant illness and injuries.

Many illnesses that afflict Volunteers worldwide are entirely preventable if proper food and 

water precautions are taken. These illnesses include food poisoning, parasitic infections, 

hepatitis A, dysentery, Guinea worms, tapeworms, and typhoid fever. Your medical officer 

will discuss specific standards for water and food preparation in Senegal during pre-service 

training.

Abstinence is the only certain choice for preventing infection with HIV and other sexually 

transmitted diseases. You are taking risks if you choose to be sexually active. To lessen 

risk, use a condom every time you have sex. Whether your partner is a host country citizen, 

a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else, do not assume this person is free of HIV/AIDS or other 

STDs. You will receive more information from the medical officer about this important 

issue.

Volunteers are expected to adhere to an effective means of birth control to prevent an 

unplanned pregnancy. Your medical officer can help you decide on the most appropriate 

method to suit your individual needs. Contraceptive methods are available without charge 

from the medical officer. 

It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the medical office or other 

designated facility for scheduled immunizations, and that you let the medical officer know 

immediately of significant illnesses and injuries.

Women’s Health Information

Pregnancy is treated in the same manner as other Volunteer health conditions that require 

medical attention but also have programmatic ramifications. The Peace Corps is 

responsible for determining the medical risk and the availability of appropriate medical 

care if the Volunteer remains in-country. Given the circumstances under which Volunteers 

live and work in Peace Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps’ medical and 

programmatic standards for continued service during pregnancy can be met. 
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30

If feminine hygiene products are not available for you to purchase on the local market, the 

Peace Corps medical officer in Senegal will provide them. If you require a specific product, 

please bring a three-month supply with you.

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit

The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit that contains basic items 

necessary to prevent and treat illnesses that may occur during service. Kit items can be 

periodically restocked at the medical office.

Medical Kit Contents

Ace bandages

Adhesive tape

American Red Cross First Aid & Safety 

Handbook

Antacid tablets (Tums)

Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Neomycin/

Polymycin B)

Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner 

(Hibiclens)

Band-Aids

Butterfly closures

Calamine lotion

Cepacol lozenges

Condoms

Dental floss

Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg (Benadryl)

Insect repellent stick (Cutter’s)

Iodine tablets (for water purification)

Lip balm (Chapstick)

Oral rehydration salts

Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit)

Pseudoephedrine HCL 30 mg (Sudafed)

Robitussin-DM lozenges (for cough)

Scissors

Sterile gauze pads

Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine)

Tinactin (antifungal cream)

Tweezers

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist

If there has been any change in your health – physical, mental, or dental – since you 

submitted your examination reports to the Peace Corps, you must immediately notify the 

Office of Medical Services. Failure to disclose new illnesses, injuries, allergies, or pregnancy 

can endanger your health and may jeopardize your eligibility to serve. 

If your dental exam was done more than a year ago, or if your physical exam is more than 

two years old, contact the Office of Medical Services to find out whether you need to update 

your records. If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant has recommended that you 

undergo dental treatment or repair, you must complete that work and make sure your 

dentist sends requested confirmation reports or X-rays to the Office of Medical Services.

If you wish to avoid having duplicate vaccinations, contact your physician’s office to obtain 

a copy of your immunization record and bring it to your pre-departure orientation. If you 

have any immunizations prior to Peace Corps service, the Peace Corps cannot reimburse 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

31

you for the cost. The Peace Corps will provide all the immunizations necessary for your 

overseas assignment, either at your pre-departure orientation or shortly after you arrive in 

Senegal. You do not need to begin taking malaria medication prior to departure.

Bring a three-month supply of any prescription or over-the-counter medication you use on a 

regular basis, including birth control pills. Although the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you 

for this three-month supply, it will order refills during your service. While awaiting 

shipment – which can take several months – you will be dependent on your own medication 

supply. The Peace Corps will not pay for herbal or nonprescribed medications, such as St. 

John’s wort, glucosamine, selenium, or antioxidant supplements.

You are encouraged to bring copies of medical prescriptions signed by your physician. This 

is not a requirement, but they might come in handy if you are questioned in transit about 

carrying a three-month supply of prescription drugs.

If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with you – a pair and a spare. If a pair breaks, the 

Peace Corps will replace them, using the information your doctor in the United States 

provided on the eyeglasses form during your examination. The Peace Corps discourages you 

from using contact lenses during your service to reduce your risk of developing a serious 

infection or other eye disease. Most Peace Corps countries do not have appropriate water 

and sanitation to support eye care with the use of contact lenses. The Peace Corps will not 

supply or replace contact lenses or associated solutions unless an ophthalmologist has 

recommended their use for a specific medical condition and the Peace Corps’ Office of 

Medical Services has given approval.

If you are eligible for Medicare, are over 50 years of age, or have a health condition that 

may restrict your future participation in health care plans, you may wish to consult an 

insurance specialist about unique coverage needs before your departure. The Peace Corps 

will provide all necessary health care from the time you leave for your pre-departure 

orientation until you complete your service. When you finish, you will be entitled to the 

post-service health care benefits described in the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook. You 

may wish to consider keeping an existing health plan in effect during your service if you 

think age or pre-existing conditions might prevent you from re-enrolling in your current 

plan when you return home.
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32

SAFETY AND SECURITY:

OUR PARTNERSHIP

Serving as a Volunteer overseas entails certain safety and security risks. Living and 

traveling in an unfamiliar environment, a limited understanding of the local language and 

culture, and the perception of being a wealthy American are some of the factors that can 

put a Volunteer at risk. Property theft and burglaries are not uncommon. Incidents of 

physical and sexual assault do occur, although almost all Volunteers complete their two 

years of service without serious personal safety problems.

Beyond knowing that Peace Corps approaches safety and security as a partnership with 

you, it might be helpful to see how this partnership works. Peace Corps has policies, 

procedures, and training in place to promote your safety. We depend on you to follow those 

policies and to put into practice what you have learned. An example of how this works in 

practice – in this case to help manage the risk of burglary – is:

• Peace Corps assesses the security environment where you will live and work

• Peace Corps inspects the house where you will live according to established security 

criteria

• Peace Corps provides you with resources to take measures such as installing new 

locks

• Peace Corps ensures you are welcomed by host country authorities in your new 

community

• Peace Corps responds to security concerns that you raise

• You lock your doors and windows

• You adopt a lifestyle appropriate to the community where you live

• You get to know neighbors

• You decide if purchasing personal articles insurance is appropriate for you

• You don’t change residences before being authorized by Peace Corps

• You communicate concerns that you have to Peace Corps staff

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk 

There are several factors that can heighten a Volunteer’s risk, many of which are within 

the Volunteer’s control. By far the most common crime that Volunteers experience is theft. 

Thefts often occur when Volunteers are away from their sites, in crowded locations (such as 

markets or on public transportation), and when leaving items unattended.

Before you depart for Senegal there are several measures you can take to reduce your risk: 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

33

• Leave valuable objects in the U.S.

• Leave copies of important documents and account numbers with someone you trust 

in the U.S.

• Purchase a hidden money pouch or "dummy" wallet as a decoy

• Purchase personal articles insurance

After you arrive in Senegal, you will receive more detailed information about common 

crimes, factors that contribute to Volunteer risk, and local strategies to reduce that risk. 

For example, Volunteers in Senegal learn to:

• Choose safe routes and times for travel, and travel with someone trusted by the 

community whenever possible

• Make sure one’s personal appearance is respectful of local customs

• Avoid high-crime areas

• Know the local language to get help in an emergency

• Make friends with local people who are respected in the community 

• Limit alcohol consumption

As you can see from this list, you must be willing to work hard and adapt your lifestyle to 

minimize the potential for being a target for crime. As with anywhere in the world, crime 

does exist in Senegal. You can reduce your risk by avoiding situations that place you at risk 

and by taking precautions. Crime at the village or town level is less frequent than in the 

large cities; people know each other and generally are less likely to steal from their 

neighbors. Tourist attractions in large towns are favorite worksites for pickpockets.

While whistles and exclamations may be fairly common on the street, this behavior can be 

reduced if you dress conservatively, abide by local cultural norms, and respond according to 

the training you will receive. 

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime

You must be prepared to take on a large degree of responsibility for your own safety. You 

can make yourself less of a target, ensure that your home is secure, and develop 

relationships in your community that will make you an unlikely victim of crime. While the 

factors that contribute to your risk in Senegal may be different, in many ways you can do 

what you would do if you moved to a new city anywhere: Be cautious, check things out, ask 

questions, learn about your neighborhood, know where the more risky locations are, use 

common sense, and be aware. You can reduce your vulnerability to crime by integrating 

into your community, learning the local language, acting responsibly, and abiding by Peace 

Corps policies and procedures. Serving safely and effectively in Senegal will require that 

you accept some restrictions on your current lifestyle.
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34

Support from Staff

If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety incident, Peace Corps staff is prepared to 

provide support. All Peace Corps posts have procedures in place to respond to incidents of 

crime committed against Volunteers. The first priority for all posts in the aftermath of an 

incident is to ensure the Volunteer is safe and receiving medical treatment as needed. After 

assuring the safety of the Volunteer, Peace Corps staff response may include reassessing 

the Volunteer’s worksite and housing arrangements and making any adjustments, as 

needed. In some cases, the nature of the incident may necessitate a site or housing transfer. 

Peace Corps staff will also assist Volunteers with preserving their rights to pursue legal 

sanctions against the perpetrators of the crime. It is very important that Volunteers report 

incidents as they occur, not only to protect their peer Volunteers, but also to preserve the 

future right to prosecute. Should Volunteers decide later in the process that they want to 

proceed with the prosecution of their assailant, this option may no longer exist if the 

evidence of the event has not been preserved at the time of the incident. 

Crime Data for Senegal

Crime data and statistics for Senegal, which is updated yearly, are available at the 

following link: http://www.peacecorps.gov/countrydata/senegal. Please take the time to 

review this important information.

Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of serious crimes and crimes that do occur overseas 

are investigated and prosecuted by local authorities through the local courts system. If you 

are the victim of a crime, you will decide if you wish to pursue prosecution. If you decide to 

prosecute, Peace Corps will be there to assist you. One of our tasks is to ensure you are 

fully informed of your options and understand how the local legal process works. Peace 

Corps will help you ensure your rights are protected to the fullest extent possible under the 

laws of the country.

If you are the victim of a serious crime, you will learn how to get to a safe location as 

quickly as possible and contact your Peace Corps office. It’s important that you notify Peace 

Corps as soon as you can so Peace Corps can provide you with the help you need.

Volunteer Safety Support in Senegal

The Peace Corps’ approach to safety is a five-pronged plan to help you stay safe during your 

service and includes the following: information sharing, Volunteer training, site selection 

criteria, a detailed emergency action plan, and protocols for addressing safety and security 

incidents. Senegal’s in-country safety program is outlined below.

The Peace Corps/Senegal office will keep you informed of any issues that may impact 

Volunteer safety through information sharing. Regular updates will be provided in 

Volunteer newsletters and in memorandums from the country director. In the event of a 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

35

critical situation or emergency, you will be contacted through the emergency 

communication network. An important component of the capacity of Peace Corps to keep 

you informed is your buy-in to the partnership concept with the Peace Corps staff. It is 

expected that you will do your part in ensuring that Peace Corps staff members are kept 

apprised of your movements in-country so they are able to inform you.

Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety and security issues in Senegal. 

This training will prepare you to adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle and exercise 

judgment that promotes safety and reduces risk in your home, at work, and while traveling. 

Safety training is offered throughout service and is integrated into the language, crosscultural aspects, health, and other components of training. You will be expected to 

successfully complete all training competencies in a variety of areas, including safety and 

security, as a condition of service.

Certain site selection criteria are used to determine safe housing for Volunteers before their 

arrival. The Peace Corps staff works closely with host communities and counterpart 

agencies to help prepare them for a Volunteer’s arrival and to establish expectations of 

their respective roles in supporting the Volunteer. Each site is inspected before the 

Volunteer’s arrival to ensure placement in appropriate, safe, and secure housing and 

worksites. Site selection is based, in part, on any relevant site history; access to medical, 

banking, postal, and other essential services; availability of communications, 

transportation, and markets; different housing options and living arrangements; and other 

Volunteer support needs.

You will also learn about Peace Corps/Senegal’s detailed emergency action plan, which is 

implemented in the event of civil or political unrest or a natural disaster. When you arrive 

at your site, you will complete and submit a site locator form with your address, contact 

information, and a map to your house. If there is a security threat, you will gather with 

other Volunteers in Senegal at predetermined locations until the situation is resolved or the 

Peace Corps decides to evacuate.

Finally, in order for the Peace Corps to be fully responsive to the needs of Volunteers, it is 

imperative that Volunteers immediately report any security incident to the Peace Corps 

office. The Peace Corps has established protocols for addressing safety and security 

incidents in a timely and appropriate manner, and it collects and evaluates safety and 

security data to track trends and develop strategies to minimize risks to future Volunteers.
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DIVERSITY AND

CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES

In fulfilling its mandate to share the face of America with host countries, the Peace Corps is 

making special efforts to assure that all of America’s richness is reflected in the Volunteer 

corps. More Americans of color are serving in today’s Peace Corps than at any time in 

recent history. Differences in race, ethnic background, age, religion, and sexual orientation 

are expected and welcomed among our Volunteers. Part of the Peace Corps’ mission is to 

help dispel any notion that Americans are all of one origin or race and to establish that 

each of us is as thoroughly American as the other despite our many differences. 

Our diversity helps us accomplish that goal. In other ways, however, it poses challenges. In 

Senegal, as in other Peace Corps host countries, Volunteers’ behavior, lifestyle, background, 

and beliefs are judged in a cultural context very different from their own. Certain personal 

perspectives or characteristics commonly accepted in the United States may be quite 

uncommon, unacceptable, or even repressed in Senegal.

Outside of Senegal’s capital, residents of rural communities have had relatively little direct 

exposure to other cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical 

American behavior or norms may be a misconception, such as the belief that all Americans 

are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes. The people of Senegal are justly known for their 

generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of the community in which you will 

live may display a range of reactions to cultural differences that you present. 

To ease the transition and adapt to life in Senegal, you may need to make some temporary, 

yet fundamental compromises in how you present yourself as an American and as an 

individual. For example, female trainees and Volunteers may not be able to exercise the 

independence available to them in the United States; political discussions need to be 

handled with great care; and some of your personal beliefs may best remain undisclosed. 

You will need to develop techniques and personal strategies for coping with these and other 

limitations. The Peace Corps staff will lead diversity and sensitivity discussions during preservice training and will be on call to provide support, but the challenge ultimately will be 

your own. 

Overview of Diversity in Senegal

The Peace Corps staff in Senegal recognizes the adjustment issues that come with diversity 

and will endeavor to provide support and guidance. During pre-service training, several 

sessions will be held to discuss diversity and coping mechanisms. We look forward to 

having male and female Volunteers from a variety of races, ethnic groups, ages, religions, 

and sexual orientations, and hope that you will become part of a diverse group of Americans 

who take pride in supporting one another and demonstrating the richness of American 

culture. 
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What Might a Volunteer Face?

Possible Issues for Female Volunteers

The roles that women play and the skills that women have in Senegal are quite different 

from those of American women in general. Most often, the work responsibilities of female 

Volunteers in Senegal are different from the roles of traditional Senegalese women. 

Further, the attitudes and actions of some Senegalese men, partly because of how American 

women have been portrayed in films and the general media, may be quite offensive to an 

American woman. Sometimes, the way women dress or carry themselves send signals of 

“availability.” Sometimes it seems as though a woman has to constantly prove, especially to 

Senegalese women, that she is a real woman. For example, a female Volunteer explained 

that she felt she had to spend hours pounding grain or going to the well to transport water 

just to prove to the women of her village that she could “cut the mustard” like a real 

woman. At other times, a woman may need to prove, especially to men, that she is a 

respectable woman. Acceptable behavior and dress are very important means that will help 

a woman attain the level of respect she desires. These and other issues for women will be 

discussed during training and strategies on how to maintain your own sense of self and be 

culturally sensitive will be explored.

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color

African-American Volunteers often are expected to master languages and adapt culturally 

more quickly than other Volunteers. They sometimes may be mistaken for a host country 

national and some Senegalese may not readily excuse or accommodate their lack of 

understanding or “correctness.” 

It also may more difficult for Senegalese to associate Asian Americans, Arab Americans or 

Hispanic Americans as being truly American. There may be stereotypes that Senegalese 

associate with these groups on the basis of the person’s perceived ancestral origin rather 

than his or her nationality. This added difficulty can be moderated if one views it not as an 

offense, but as a lack of understanding and accepts the challenge to teach Senegalese more 

about the diversity of the American population and the wonderful contributions that accrue 

from the differences in its composition.

Volunteers of color sometimes may feel a sense of isolation within the Volunteer 

community, because some Americans, too, may not have been educated about diversity or 

experienced diversity in their home communities. Again, this can be an opportunity for 

these Volunteers to interact with, and help expand, their fellow Volunteers’ understanding 

of American diversity.

Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers

Throughout Africa, older individuals are highly respected, a clear plus for older Volunteers 

serving in Senegal. There is an expectation that these Volunteers have more knowledge and 
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38

experience. Because language acquisition often may be challenging for older Volunteers, 

they may sometimes become frustrated about their ability to communicate, an ability that 

is important to them and their mission. Patience and steadfast determination often 

unleashes a remarkable adaptability to communicate messages, often through 

demonstration, with satisfying results. Additionally, pre-service training can be physically 

challenging to older Volunteers.

Because the vast majority of Volunteers in Senegal are comparatively young, older 

Volunteers may feel a sense of isolation within the Volunteer community. On the other 

hand, some older Volunteers serve as mentors and may be sought out by the younger 

Volunteer community.

Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers

Throughout Senegal, most of the population can be characterized as predominantly 

religious and conservative. Homosexual acts are illegal and there is no tolerance for public 

displays of gay or lesbian behavior in Senegal. Those who openly exhibit these behaviors 

risk being attacked. Over the years, several Volunteers have felt the need to disclose their 

sexual orientation to their host family members. Peace Corps staff discourages such 

confessions due to the discomfort or danger that could follow. Gay and lesbian Volunteers 

have served successfully in Senegal, maintaining discretion and privacy during their 

service. Peace Corps staff and fellow Volunteers are very supportive of gay, lesbian, and 

bisexual Volunteers and have participated in periodic Volunteer-organized conferences to 

share approaches and best practices in dealing with different issues.

A recommended resource for support and advice prior to and during your service is the 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender U.S. Peace Corps Alumni website at 

www.lgbrpcv.org.

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers

As stated earlier, Senegal is more than 90 percent Muslim, the rest of the population being 

Christian or Animist. There is considerable religious tolerance in this country. Occasionally 

you may find a friend who encourages you to explore or convert to Islam. Generally, there is 

very little knowledge of religions other than Islam and Christianity and, to a lesser extent, 

Judaism. Volunteers are free to exercise their personal religious beliefs, but may not engage 

in religious proselytizing.

During one recent training session, a Jewish trainee discussed her experience with her 

training group and trainers. She stated that even though she explained to her Muslim 

friends and host family that she was Jewish, their relationships did not change and she felt 

just as comfortable with their friendships.

Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities
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39

There is no city in Senegal, including the capital, and few buildings, that has facilities to 

accommodate the needs of individuals with physical handicaps, blindness or mobilityimpairment. Though Senegalese are very accepting of people with disabilities, many of the 

accommodations one is accustomed to in the United States are absent here. Thus, everyday 

life would be difficult for people who depend on such conveniences.

That being said, as part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps Office of Medical 

Services determined that you were physically and emotionally capable, with or without 

reasonable accommodations, to perform a full tour of Volunteer service in Senegal without 

unreasonable risk of harm to yourself or interruption of service. The Peace Corps/ Senegal

staff will work with disabled Volunteers to make reasonable accommodations for them in 

training, housing, jobsites, or other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Senegal and is based on their 

experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that each 

experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You obviously cannot bring everything on 

the list, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and 

professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, 

keep in mind that you have a 100-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can 

get almost everything you need in Senegal.

How much luggage am I allowed to bring to Senegal?

Most airlines have baggage size and weight limits and assess charges for transport of 

baggage that exceeds those limits. The Peace Corps has its own size and weight limits and 

will not pay the cost of transport for baggage that exceeds these limits. The Peace Corps’ 

allowance is two checked pieces of luggage with combined dimensions of both pieces not to 

exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and a carry-on bag with dimensions of no more 

than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 100 pounds total with a maximum 

weight of 50 pounds for any one bag.

Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take pets, weapons, explosives, radio 

transmitters (shortwave radios are permitted), automobiles, or motorcycles to their 

overseas assignments. Do not pack flammable materials or liquids such as lighter fluid, 

cleaning solvents, hair spray, or aerosol containers. This is an important safety precaution.

What is the electric current in Senegal?

It is 220 volts, 50 cycles.

How much money should I bring?

Volunteers are expected to live at the same level as the people in their community. You will 

be given a settling-in allowance and a monthly living allowance, which should cover your 

expenses. Volunteers often wish to bring additional money for vacation travel to other 

countries. Credit cards and traveler’s checks are preferable to cash. If you choose to bring 

extra money, bring the amount that will suit your own travel plans and needs. 

When can I take vacation and have people visit me?

Each Volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of service (excluding training). Leave 

may not be taken during training, the first three months of service, or the last three months 

of service, except in conjunction with an authorized emergency leave. Family and friends 

are welcome to visit you after pre-service training and the first three months of service as 

long as their stay does not interfere with your work. Extended stays at your site are not 
Peace Corps │ Senegal Welcome Book

41

encouraged and may require permission from your country director. The Peace Corps is not 

able to provide your visitors with visa, medical, or travel assistance. 

Will my belongings be covered by insurance?

The Peace Corps does not provide insurance coverage for personal effects; Volunteers are 

ultimately responsible for the safekeeping of their personal belongings. However, you can 

purchase personal property insurance before you leave. If you wish, you may contact your 

own insurance company; additionally, insurance application forms will be provided, and we 

encourage you to consider them carefully. Volunteers should not ship or take valuable items 

overseas. Jewelry, watches, radios, cameras, and expensive appliances are subject to loss, 

theft, and breakage, and in many places, satisfactory maintenance and repair services are 

not available. 

Do I need an international driver’s license?

Volunteers in Senegal do not need an international driver’s license because they are 

prohibited from operating privately owned motorized vehicles. Most urban travel is by bus 

or taxi. Rural travel ranges from buses and minibuses to trucks, bicycles, and lots of 

walking. On very rare occasions, a Volunteer may be asked to drive a sponsor’s vehicle, but 

this can occur only with prior written permission from the country director. Should this 

occur, the Volunteer may obtain a local driver’s license. A U.S. driver’s license will facilitate 

the process, so bring it with you just in case.

What should I bring as gifts for Senegalese friends and my host family?

This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient. Some gift suggestions include 

knickknacks for the house; pictures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs from 

your area; hard candies that will not melt or spoil; or photos to give away.

Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and how isolated will I be?

Peace Corps trainees are not assigned to individual sites until after they have completed 

pre-service training. This gives Peace Corps staff the opportunity to assess each trainee’s 

technical and language skills prior to assigning sites, in addition to finalizing site selections 

with their ministry counterparts. If feasible, you may have the opportunity to provide input 

on your site preferences, including geographical location, distance from other Volunteers, 

and living conditions. However, keep in mind that many factors influence the site selection 

process and that the Peace Corps cannot guarantee placement where you would ideally like 

to be. Many Volunteers will be assigned within half a day's travel from another Volunteer, 

though some sites require a 12- to 16-hour drive to get to or from the capital.

How can my family contact me in an emergency?

The Peace Corps’ Office of Special Services (OSS) provides assistance in handling 

emergencies affecting trainees and Volunteers or their families. Before leaving the United 
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42

States, instruct your family to notify the Office of Special Services immediately if an 

emergency arises, such as a serious illness or death of a family member. During normal 

business hours, the number for the Office of Special Services is 855.855.1961, then select 

option 2; or directly at 202-692-1470. After normal business hours and on weekends and 

holidays, the OSS duty officer can be reached at the above number. For non-emergency

questions, your family can get information from your country desk staff at the Peace Corps 

by calling 855.855.1961. 

Can I call home from Senegal? 

Yes. International calls to most countries can be dialed directly. To call the United States, 

first dial “00” and wait for a continuous tone (different from the regular tone). Then dial “1” 

plus the area code and the number. If you prefer to call through an operator, dial “16.” Calls 

can be made at businesses known as telecenters and at cabines téléphoniques (phone 

booths). At a telecenter, a clerk will present you with a bill after you have completed the 

call. Many Volunteers use cellphones to place or receive international phone calls and SMS 

text messages. However, cellphones do not operate everywhere in the country.

Should I bring a cellular phone with me?

Cellular phones are widely used in Senegal but do not function in all parts of the country. 

Volunteers are advised to purchase them in Senegal after ensuring that cellphones will 

work at their sites. Training staff facilitates this purchase. Note that the cost of cellphones 

and service is the personal responsibility of the Volunteer.

Will there be email and Internet access? Should I bring my computer?

There is email and Internet access at the many Internet cafes across Senegal, particularly 

in regional capitals. Careful consideration should be given before bringing a computer to 

Senegal. Many Volunteers do not have electricity in their homes, and security and 

maintenance of personal computers cannot be guaranteed. If you do bring a computer, it is 

imperative that you purchase personal property insurance because the Peace Corps does 

not reimburse trainees or Volunteers for the loss of personal items. Internet access with WiFi is available at the Peace Corps office in Dakar and at some of the regional transit houses.
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43

WELCOME LETTERS FROM

SENEGAL VOLUNTEERS

Dear Peace Corps trainee:

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, it is mind boggling to think about where you once were, where 

you are now, and what still lies ahead of you once here in Senegal. Every new day provides 

a different set of challenges and rewards. The obstacles that once seemed difficult and 

unbearable typically become easier and more enjoyable as your service moves forward.

As a second-year urban agriculture Volunteer living and working in Dakar, a multinational 

city of about 2.5 million people, I still remember all the questions and worries I had the first 

several months here. I struggled trying to figure out how to integrate into this large, 

diverse city, feel a sense of community that seems to come so naturally in a village, and 

make this my home for the next two years. While the Peace Corps/Senegal community was 

here to help, the only way to answer the questions I had was to try different approaches 

and see what worked well for me. There is no formulated response on how you should 

approach your service other than that it is up to you to make it work.

Now a year into my Peace Corps service, the efforts I made have truly started to pay off and 

the struggles faced early on are now only faint memories. This city that once seemed so 

large and intimidating is now smaller and manageable. The individuals who make up 

Dakar have gone from just faces to friends, co-workers, and mentors.

Looking back on some of the highlights that helped me get to this level of comfort, I often 

laugh and even question what I was thinking at the time. I do not think I can count on one 

hand the number of times I would get on the wrong bus and then just ride the entire route, 

hoping it would go to where I was going. After awhile, I just started walking everywhere, 

until I figured things out better and then realized an eight-mile walk home from work could 

be entertaining, but was far from practical. 

For the two years that you will be here, you are going to experience one of the most 

enriching times of your life. The stories you will be able to share, the memories that will 

impact your life, and the friends you will make truly make your presence here worthwhile. 

Congratulations and welcome to Peace Corps/Senegal. All of us here wish you the best of 

luck and are here to support you throughout your journey.

Justin Land
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Dear Peace Corps trainee:

I first heard of the Peace Corps from my high school world history teacher. He was a 

grumpy and bitter old man, overdue for retirement, but he had been a Peace Corps 

Volunteer. He was my original inspiration. 

Ultimately, I joined the Peace Corps to see the world for myself. When I was younger, I 

really thought I could save the world; now I'm a little more humble and cynical. In a way, 

being a Volunteer is an extremely selfish thing—we have been given this incredible 

privilege to live a life that so few Americans could ever even dream of, and it's all paid for 

by Uncle Sam (not that every day you are happy to be here!). One of my college professors 

talked about how the Volunteer is the one who ends up being developed, and I really feel 

that way.

Where I Live: 

I live in a rural town of about 15,000 on the Sine-Saloum Delta. It's a beautiful region, 

Mangroves grow out of the brackish water; mango, cashew, and baobab trees are 

everywhere; and farmers cultivate millet, corn, sorghum, rice, and cowpeas in the rainy 

season. The region is very ethnically diverse, with Serers, Mandinkas, Pulaars, Dioulas, 

Wolofs and more. Because of this diversity, there are a lot of Catholics and Muslims living 

side by side.

What I Do:

My assignment is as an urban agriculture Volunteer. We run a demonstration garden, 

where we do trainings in micro-gardening and improved gardening techniques (upkeep of 

this garden occupies me every morning). The goal is to increase food security and income for 

households by sharing techniques for growing vegetables in urban spaces. We also 

intervene in small poultry and rabbit raising to increase protein intake, fruit tree planting 

for more vitamins and household income, development of floral and ornamental production 

to generate income, soil amelioration (composting, agroforestry, etc.) and reforestation 

projects. My townmate (an ecotourism Volunteer) and I started a girls' club as a secondary 

project; we meet biweekly with a group of 12 girls in middle school.

My Daily Life:

I love my days. I go to a little breakfast stand and enjoy conversation and a spicy bean 

sandwich on my way to my garden, spend a few hours surrounded by my gardeners and our 

plants, go home for a delicious lunch, and relax a little during the hot part of the day before 

going back out in the late afternoon. By dinner time, I'm usually content and ready for bed.

But my daily life contrasts significantly with any other woman's life. Normally, by my age a 

woman in my village would be married with children. She would have, at best, a middle 

school-equivalent education and would spend her days cooking for a large family. (There 
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45

are between 18 and 25 mouths to feed on any given day.) Women work in the home while 

the men are supposed to go out and make money for the family, but because there are so 

few jobs, the men generally sit under a mango tree and talk and drink tea for hours on end. 

My daily life is quite different from a Senegalese person's, even though I am living at the 

same level. I think a key difference is that I am essentially genderless: I have almost-male 

status, but at the same time am such a sexual object because I am white and, therefore, 

represent power, money, American citizenship, and everything that is so desired but that is 

so out of reach for the typical Senegalese. 

Before I came here, I was really concerned about trying to figure out what I want to do with 

my life. Now, I take things a day at a time; there are so many things I would be happy 

doing and it doesn't so much matter which one pops up first. I think maybe I've learned to 

appreciate the journey of life more than the destination.

New Learned Skills:

How to haggle, how to tell a man that I don't want to marry him, how to take a bucket bath, 

how to be assertive.

I've learned a lot of new gardening techniques (improved beds, micro-garden tables, 

recycled garden containers, hydroponics). I can identify a lot of cool trees and bugs. (The 

bugs are not so cool—they make it really hard to grow anything!). I can tell sorghum apart 

from millet (and even Peace Corps sorghum apart from local sorghum). And I manage to get 

by mostly in Wolof (although I am very grateful for my French). Plus, I've learned greetings 

in Balante, Serer, Diola, Pulaar and Soose.

Why This Matters:

In terms of me intervening to improve the community, that's tricky. I feel like, especially in 

more urban areas, traditional culture is breaking/has broken down. For example, my town 

is full of illegitimate children; teachers complain about today's youth as unwilling to 

cooperate; no one wants to stay in Senegal (this breaks my heart—I came here to help 

Senegal, but many people have given up). What can my role be as an outsider? To me, 

many aspects of my culture are "better"—in terms of economics, in terms of gender, in 

terms of education—than their culture, but who am I to judge? How can Senegal, and other 

developing countries, emerge from this limbo between tradition and modernity without 

experiencing social collapse? When I think about "community" on this broad scale, I feel 

overwhelmed and incapable of action. 

But I guess that's the beauty of the Peace Corps: Any change we achieve is at the scale of 

the individual, and that individual will have the agency to use that personal change to 

affect the community in a culturally appropriate manner. 

Erika Jerme
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PACKING LIST

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Senegal and is based on their 

experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that each 

experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You obviously cannot bring everything on 

the list, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and 

professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, 

keep in mind that you have an 100-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can 

get almost everything you need in Senegal.

General Clothing

• One pair of jeans (expensive to buy locally), but because of the extreme heat, most 

prefer to wear khakis

• Loose cotton tops—some sleeveless and some with sleeves to protect bare shoulders 

from sunburn

• One or two light jackets or a few sweatshirts, sweaters, microfiber garments or 

flannel shirts (after you have been in Senegal a while, 60-degree evenings and 

mornings will seem very cold)

• Underwear—cotton is best

• One or two pairs of shorts (but note that they are inappropriate to wear in most 

contexts, but good for exercising.)

• For women, several skirts or dresses, below knee length (short skirts are 

inappropriate except for at a few places in Dakar)

• For men, two or three pairs of lightweight pants (cotton or cotton blend) 

• Two or more dressy outfits for more formal work or social occasions

• Belt(s)

• One or two hats or caps for sun protection 

• Two or three pairs of socks; Volunteers wear sandals most of the time, but you will 

need them for other shoes

Shoes

• One pair of sturdy sandals and sandals such as Bir-kenstocks, Chacos, Keen, or 

Tevas for daily wear

• Casual shoes with closed toes, such as sneakers or running shoes 

• Dress shoes (one pair should suffice)
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Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items 

• One bath towel (when it wears out you can buy a local one that is not as plush but 

does the job)

• Two pairs of prescription eyeglasses and one pair of prescription sunglasses, if you 

wear them 

• Contact lens solution (although dust is a real problem, some Volunteers wear them; 

note that the Peace Corps does not recommend their use or provide re-placements)

• Sunglasses—the darker, the better 

• Hair conditioner (it is expensive in Senegal, so most Volunteers do without it)

• Hand sanitizer (like Purell) 

• Hair ties or elastics

• Nail clippers (good quality)

• Keeper or Diva Cup (female Volunteers)

Kitchen

• Soft-drink mixes (especially Gatorade powder sold in cans; some Volunteers use 

them to cover the taste of chemically treated water)

• Sturdy water bottle(s) (e.g., Nalgene) or unbreakable thermos to carry clean water 

• Your favorite recipes

• Plastic food storage containers with airtight lids

• Coffeepot, if you prefer real coffee over instant (coffee is available, but expensive)

• Spices

• Can opener (poor quality openers are locally available)

Miscellaneous

Essential Items

• Camera and accessories, such as SD cards or film

• USB flash memory key (at least one, perhaps several)

• Plug adapters from U.S. (two flat prong to European/African; two round prong)

• Flashlight (preferably "shake-up" or "wind-up" kinetic energy models though 

standard battery-operated metal ones are available in Senegal); if you bring a 

Maglite, do not forget to bring extra bulbs 

• Swiss Army knife and small whetstone
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• Daypack or sports bag for weekend trips (suitcases are very inconvenient)

• Pictures of your family and friends to share with Senegalese friends

• One or two bathing suits for beach or pool swimming

• Watch—inexpensive, rugged, waterproof, and dustproof (cheap ones are available 

locally)

• MP3 player and small speakers, as needed

• Battery-operated shortwave radio and a supply of batteries (inexpensive radios are 

available locally)

• Batteries (local batteries are either expensive or of poor quality)

• Three or four bandannas

• Scissors 

• U.S. stamps—to send letters to the States with people going home

• One set of fitted and flat sheets—double size is best (inexpensive flat sheets are 

available in Senegal)

• Light sleeping bag (many Volunteers use them as port-able mattresses)

• Battery-powered alarm clock 

• Calendar or schedule book

Nice to Have but Not Essential

• Rain jacket or poncho

• Books (the Peace Corps office has many, but additions are always welcome)

• Maps

• Musical instrument (if you play one and can tolerate possible damage to it from the 

climate)

• Cosmetics

• Games (e.g., Frisbee, Scrabble, playing cards)

• Sports equipment (e.g., football, softball and mitt, tennis racket)

• Solar calculator (available locally)

• Solar battery charger and/or cell phone charger

• Small stapler and staples

• Warm blanket (some find one to be comforting)

• Sunscreen, at least SPF 15 (non-hypoallergenic varieties are available in Senegal) 
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• Comfortable pillow(s) and pillowcase(s)

• Inflatable neck pillow (for long road journeys)

• Notebooks, pens, envelopes (all available locally, but expensive and of low quality)

• Knitting supplies and patterns

• Packing tape, scotch tape, duct tape
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PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST

The following list consists of suggestions for you to consider as you prepare to live outside 

the United States for two years. Not all items will be relevant to everyone, and the list does 

not include everything you should make arrangements for.

Family

• Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps’ Counseling and Outreach Unit at 

any time if there is a critical illness or death of a family member (24-hour telephone 

number: 1-855-855-1961, then press 2; or directly at 202-692-1470).

• Give the Peace Corps’ On the Home Front handbook to family and friends.

Passport/Travel

• Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork for the Peace Corps passport 

and visas.

• Verify that your luggage meets the size and weight limits for international travel.

• Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after your service ends. (Your Peace 

Corps passport will expire three months after you finish your service, so if you plan 

to travel longer, you will need a regular passport.)

Medical/Health

• Complete any needed dental and medical work.

• If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.

• Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all medications (including birth control 

pills) you are currently taking.

Insurance

• Make arrangements to maintain life insurance coverage.

• Arrange to maintain supplemental health coverage while you are away. (Even 

though the Peace Corps is responsible for your health care during Peace Corps 

service overseas, it is advisable for people who have pre-existing conditions to 

arrange for the continuation of their supplemental health coverage. If there is a 

lapse in coverage, it is often difficult and expensive to be reinstated.)

• Arrange to continue Medicare coverage if applicable.

Personal Papers

• Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.
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Voting

• Register to vote in the state of your home of record. (Many state universities 

consider voting and payment of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)

• Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you overseas.

• Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you overseas. 

Personal Effects

• Purchase personal property insurance to extend from the time you leave your home 

for service overseas until the time you complete your service and return to the 

United States.

Financial Management

• Keep a bank account in your name in the U.S. 

• Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or loan service.

• Execute a Power of Attorney for the management of your property and business.

• Arrange for deductions from your readjustment allowance to pay alimony, child 

support, and other debts through the Office of Volunteer Financial Operations at 

855.855.1961, extension 1770.

• Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks, and bonds—in a safe deposit 

box or with an attorney or other caretaker.
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CONTACTING PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

This list of numbers will help connect you with the appropriate office at Peace Corps 

headquarters to answer various questions. You can use the toll-free number and extension 

or dial directly using the local numbers provided. Be sure to leave the toll-free number and 

extensions with your family so they can contact you in the event of an emergency.

Peace Corps Headquarters Toll-free Number: 855.855.1961, Press 1 or ext. # (see below) 

Peace Corps’ Mailing Address: Peace Corps Headquarters

1111 20th Street, NW

Washington, DC 20526

Questions About: Staff: Toll-Free 

Ext: Direct/Local #:

Responding to an Invitation Office of Placement x1840 202.692.1840

Country Information

Abdul Bala

Desk Officer / (Senegal & The 

Gambia)

Senegal@peacecorps.gov

x2307 202.692.2307

Plane Tickets, Passports, 

Visas, or other travel 

matters:

CWT SATO Travel x1170 202.692.1170

Legal Clearance Office of Placement x1840 202.692.1840

Medical Clearance & Forms 

Processing (includes dental) Screening Nurse x1500 202.692.1500

Medical Reimbursements 

(handled by a 

subcontractor)

Seven Corners N/A 202.692.1538

800.335.0611

Loan Deferments, Taxes,

Financial Operations

Office Of Volunteer and PSC 

Financial Services x1770 202.692.1770

Readjustment Allowance 

Withdrawals, Power of 

Attorney, Staging (PreDeparture Orientation), and 

Reporting Instructions

Office of Staging

Note: You will receive comprehensive 

information (hotel and flight 

arrangements) three to five weeks 

prior to departure. This information 

is not available sooner.

x1865 202.692.1865

Family Emergencies (to get 

information to a Volunteer 

overseas) 24 hours

Office of Special Services x1470 202.692.1470