Our organization

About Village Pilote

Village Pilote is a non-profit association under the French law of 1901, and an approved NGO in Senegal. It has been defending children’s rights since 1993 through grassroots action and advocacy.

Our missions

In Africa, our mission is to get children off the streets and help them to achieve lasting independence. Every year, we take full responsibility for 400 young people aged between 3 and 25 in the Lac Rose eco-village. We also carry out advocacy work to raise awareness of human rights in civil society.

In Europe, we run initiatives to raise awareness of children’s rights and to educate people about citizenship and international solidarity (ECSI). We also mobilise a network of partners and volunteers to support our work in Senegal to help street children.

Values

Humanism

As the foundation for everything we do.

Inclusion

For everyone in society

Dignity

Every single person, without exception or discrimination.

Solidarity

Which guides us and which we wish to pass on.

Responsability

Exemplary conduct from our leaders, who are role models for our young people.

Collaboration

Because we're stronger together.

Origins of the name

‘It takes a village to raise a child’. This African proverb reminds us that everyone in society is involved in the education of young people.

At the Centre d’Accueil du Lac Rose (Senegal), we have established all the conditions necessary for a child’s healthy development. Our aim is for this place to be an inspiration, a ‘pilot’ that can be adapted throughout the world, to provide a home for children who don’t have one.

‘It takes a whole village to raise a child’.

1993

Creation of Village Pilote, to support disadvantaged families in the suburbs of Dakar: construction and launch of a nursery school for children who do not attend school, setting up of a waste collection centre, creation of a rugby school, support for the Thiaroye multi-purpose centre.

2001

Village Pilote begins by taking charge of minors in conflict with the law, by means of mobile listening sessions (street visits to young people's hangouts).

2004

The 1st Pilot Village Welcome Centre called ‘Le Refuge’ opens its doors to children aged 3 to 12 in Pikine.

2006

Village Pilote is beginning to develop its advocacy activities with Koranic schools (daaras) and other educational establishments.

2008

The 2nd Welcome Centre called ‘Le Tremplin’ opens for young boys aged 17 to 25, near Lac Rose.
The centre is built entirely by the young people themselves, with the aim of teaching them masonry skills.

2013

3 age groups are now catered for in a single centre: the Village Pilote du Lac Rose. Le Refuge for 3-12 year olds. L'Oasis for 12-17 year olds. Le Tremplin for 17-25 year olds.

The first ‘Solidarity Caravan’ takes place in Europe: Village Pilote teams criss-cross the country to raise awareness of children's rights. A first branch is set up in the Rhône-Alpes region (France).

2020

During the COVID pandemic, Village Pilote had to respond to the health emergency by distributing daily meals on the street, enabling it to maintain links with these isolated children, but also to continue to provide care, with the support of other partners and volunteers.

What's next?

We have a number of projects for the coming years, including the creation of a building and space dedicated to women and girls, the construction of a borehole to provide access to running water, and the creation of a new shelter for the youngest children...

The founders

Loic Treguy

Executive Director

Sandrine Tchang

Architect of the Pink Lake Village Pilote & Treasurer

Cherif Ndiaye

Deputy Director

The team

The Village Pilote team is made up of over 60 committed facilitators, who can also count on the support of numerous volunteers in Senegal and Europe.

We're stronger together

Village Pilote works in consortium with other child protection associations.