Brief History

African Revival Ministries was founded in 1987 by the late David Ndaruhutse in Burundi . Within a short time the Ministry was operating in other East and Central African countries. David visited Senegal in 1995 and in 1997 a new branch of ARM was established in the Casamance (the area of Southern Senegal sandwiched between Gambia and Guinea-Bissau).

Our aim has been, and is, to enhance the lives of those we encounter, but within the environment and culture in which they live. We also aim to have all our projects led and managed by Senegalese people - something which we have now largely achieved.

A church, the Eglise Vivante, was established in Ziguinchor (the capital of the region) and premises built in 1999-2000. It is reaching out to other areas of the Casamance and a church has recently been planted on the island of Eloubalile in the Casamance River. The possibilities for church planting in Senegal are limitless but workers are too few.

Maison d'Acceuil

The Maison d'Acceuil is a home run by our Assistant Pastor and his wife to provide a safe haven for young Christians who because of their faith have been ostracised or persecuted by their families. Additional accommodation has just been completed to provide temporary housing for relatives or guest workers, who will pay a low rent which will help to finance the project.

Medical Work

ARM-Senegal's first project was a clinic - Le Bon Samaritain - which provides simple healthcare, advice and training about hygiene and nutrition, preventative medicine and pre- and post-natal care. Through individual sponsorship, Ténébou Manga, a young member of the church, went to university, qualified as a nurse, and now directs the clinic. Three others are currently studying - one as a nurse and two as midwives. We are in desperate need of a doctor with some tropical knowledge, to enable the work to expand and improve; in particular we want to introduce a mobile clinic which can visit outlying villages where there is even less access to medical services than in Ziguinchor.

Talibé Work

In 2002 we started a work with street boys known as Talibés, who have been sent away by their parents, often as young as 3 or 4 years, to live with a Marabout [a sort of Islamic teacher] and learn about Islam. They are sent far from their own district, often to a different country, so have no way of returning home. They usually live in very poor conditions, are sent out every day by the Marabout to beg, and receive no education. We started by providing fresh bread and warm milk in the mornings at the Maison d'Acceuil, another of our projects, dressing the boys' sores and wounds, and providing simple opportunities to play and learn; but it quickly became apparent that the demand was so great, that we needed to acquire land and build purpose-made premises. We now have two classrooms, a 5-a-side football pitch, simple showers and clothes washing facilities and kitchen. Up to 200 boys aged from 4 to 17 come five days per week to play, have lessons in literacy and numeracy, wash and have wounds and illnesses attended to, play, and eat a hot meal. Recently, we have started welding workshops for some older boys. It costs around £800 per month to keep this project going.

Orphanage

In 2007, our National Director, Roger Sambou, and his wife Rachel began to realise a long-held vision to construct an orphanage near their home in Bourofaye, a village not far from Ziguinchor. Abandoned and parentless children are a major problem in Senegal. The first building, to house up to 8 babies and 2 houseparents, has been completed. Catering will be done initially in Roger and Rachel's house, but as additional units are built, eventually it will have its own kitchen and staff. Eventually, they also wish to build a primary school which will serve the village as well as the orphanage, thus ensuring that the children are integrated in community life.

Bible School

On adjacent land, our founders constructed simple buildings for a training school for indigenous pastors and Christian workers in 1997/08. Unfortunately, because of a rebellion, the school could not open until 2007, when the first courses were run after substantial repairs to the buildings. Finally, on the same site, we intend to start a project for older Talibé boys who have left their Marabout, where they will learn vocational skills such as welding, carpentry and horticulture, as well as the French which is essential to anyone wanting to find stable employment in Senegal.