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 was planted on the island of Eloubalile in the Casamance River about ten years ago. More recently, an outreach to the village of Mpack has resulted in a new church. The possibilities for church planting in Senegal are limitless but workers are too few.

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. ARM-Senegal has also sponsored the training of two nurses, two midwives and a laboratory techician. Currently, our personnel consists of a doctor (Dr Bethan Manga, wife of Ténébou), three nurses, a midwife, a lab technician, an accountant and several assistants. We have an urgent need for a midwife and a dentist. In the future we hope to start a mobile clinic service to villages where there is no medical provision.

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, was completed in 2009. A new house for the Orphanage has just been completed. It will accommodate up to 34 children.

Primary school

In October 2015, Roger opened a primary school adjacent to the orphanage, which caters not just for our younger orphans but also for village children. For the time being, the Bible school buildings are being used, but purpose-built premises are under construction.

Talibé Work

In 2002 we started a work with street boys known as Talibés, who had 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.

At its peak up to 200 boys aged from 4 to 17 came 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.

In 2017 the Senegalese government outlawed the Talibé system and our project is now closed.