photos: Wiljo Woodi Oosterom

Development in Dabbe

Dabbe lies on the north side of the Senegal River, the border between Mauritania and Senegal. Most homes are made of loam and branches with a roof of flattened oil drums. It is almost prehistoric. In summer it is often warmer than 50 degrees centigrade and the heat constantly threatens the lives of man and animal. There is no safe drinking water, electricity, education, medical care and medication.
Means of existence cave in as the desert pushes forward. Seven out of ten children die before they are ten. North of Dabbe lies the Sahara which by heavy sand storms tries to swallow Dabbe and the other villages by the river. Many of the 4000 friendly inhabitants, muslims belonging to the proud tribe of Fula (Peul), take off because they don't see a decent future in Dabbe.

Then something special happens. A well travelled and wise imam with a high reputation in Africa, meets a Dutch woman and marries her. Together they form the pivot of 'Silent Work' Foundation. A Dutch organization, supported by d.o.b foundation and others, that works together with the people to help Dabbe have a worthy future. There are many intensive meetings with all villagers about what needs to be done.
They have built a water tower. Safe drinking water has already forced back child mortality and many diseases. The water quality is so good that they consider bottling and selling it. A school and hospital are built. Vegetable gardens are set up where hundreds of families can work and harvest beautiful crops three times a year. One works hard, makes money and hardly suffers from hunger anymore.

Dabbe has changed in a few years. Steadily the loam huts are being replaced by brick houses. People who had left, are coming back to help their families. People from other villages regularly visit Dabbe to see how they work for their future. The next step for Dabbe is to set up an orchard. That will help stop the desert from coming any closer.
In the meantime the neighbouring village Heimadatte has started a similar project. One is studying the possibility to do the same for all the villages on the river, all inhabited by the Fula people. On the one hand to save them from ruin, on the other to stop desertification for good, this has become even more threatening as a result of the climate change.