Help the Community of Khar Yalla Reclaim Their Livelihood

Help the community of Khar Yalla Reconnect with their Livelihood

After spending the past several months living and studying in Dakar, Senegal, we have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of climate change on coastal communities. Among them is Khar Yalla, a community of displaced fishermen whose name, in Wolof, means “Waiting for God.”

Once thriving on the waters of northern Senegal, the people of Khar Yalla lost everything when rising seas swallowed their homes and forced them inland. Stripped of their boats and fishing grounds, they have been cut off from their way of life—left to survive miles outside St. Louis, disconnected from their livelihood, and closing off any means of income or stability.

Children living in Khar Yalla have little to no access to proper medical care. They are surrounded by still water, putting them at high risk of malaria, dengue fever, and respiratory issues. Prevented by the municipal government from building mosques, permanent housing, or even a stable school building due to the possibility of further flooding, the community is left to fend for itself miles outside the city of St. Louis.

After a stirring discussion with community leaders, we concluded that the most effective method of supporting the people of Khar Yalla is to support the funding of a local bus network connecting residents to the sea: their livelihood and ancestral home. Although not a permanent solution, a bus will open countless doors for the people of Khar Yalla — creating job opportunities, improving access to medical care, and opening the possibility of an improved living situation.

This is not just about transportation. It’s about dignity. It’s about resilience. It’s about supporting parents in their ability to feed their children, send them to school, and reclaim their future.

Even a small donation can make a difference. As writer Dina Nayeri reminds us, “It is the obligation of every person born in a safer room to open the door when someone in danger knocks.”

Let’s open that door for Khar Yalla. Donate today.

Created by: Lucas Souza, Adam Lahlou, Claire Mattes, Jun Sawada, Jack Willis, and Mike DeAngelo