Claire Amitié Internationale
Think Human Fund
Mission & History
Founded in France in 1946 by Thérèse Cornille, Claire Amitié was established to support young girls and women in distress by providing them with a nurturing, family-like environment. Despite losing her sight in 1962, Cornille continued her mission alongside Christiane Muller, broadening the organization’s impact. Claire Amitié offers a welcoming environment, support, and comprehensive training for young women, especially those with children. The organization focuses on creating small communities where women receive assistance with personal balance, vocational training, and reintegration into society or the Church. The goal is to restore dignity, foster self-awareness, and empower individuals to make free and responsible choices.
Country Information
Senegal, a Sahelian country, underwent political reform in 1996, enhancing local authorities’ resources but facing financial challenges. The 557 municipalities struggle with low tax revenues and economic issues exacerbated by:
– Economic Decline: The COVID-19 pandemic caused growth to plummet from 7% in 2020 to -0.7%, with a projected 5.2% growth in 2021.
– Rising Living Costs: Increases in fuel, electricity, and food prices.
– Low Farmer Incomes: Particularly affecting peanut farmers.
– Widespread Poverty: Present in both urban and rural areas.
In Kaolack, a major commune in western Senegal, economic issues are intensified by reliance on agriculture and climate change. The area’s youth, especially young women, face significant challenges. Claire Amitié Kaolack provides a safe space to help these young people develop skills and integrate into society.
The Need
Claire Amitié Internationale seeks to reduce poverty and support the professional integration of young women by addressing their financial, material, and educational challenges. Many of these young women are out of school. The initiative aims to begin in January 2025, following three months of preparation starting in October 2024. This program addresses the lack of daycare and appropriate qualifications in the Kaolack region, which hinders personal development.
The Project We Fund
The project aims to establish a new early childhood training sector offering a comprehensive 2-year program, culminating in a state certificate. This initiative will create new socio-professional opportunities in the Kaolack region. The training will include:
*Theoretical Courses: French, mathematics, IT, drawing, crafts.
*Practical Courses: Childcare, nutrition, medico-social science, general biology.
*Personal Development: Support for internships.
They will accommodate those facing financial hardships, with some assistance from volunteers. Participants who struggle financially, including those with additional challenges such as absent fathers, will receive support. There is also a potential plan to open a nursery where trained women can work and gain practical experience.
The Result
To assess its impact, the organization tracks several key metrics: graduation rates help understand the percentage of participants who complete the program successfully; securing and monitoring internships ensures that participants not only secure placements but also complete them skillfully; and alumni engagement is continuously monitored to facilitate graduates’ integration into the professional environment, further extending the program’s influence through active involvement with the alumni association.
2025 Midterm Report
A transformative mission in Senegal, targeted the acute social need of providing education and skill development to precarious women suffering from domestic abuse or living in poverty. According to statistics, only a small number of women and children have access to quality education and vocational training in similar circumstances. Recognizing this gap, the organization implemented a new training program in early childhood care, directly benefiting three women and impacting an additional 20 individuals within their communities.
The initiative not only delivered much-needed skills in areas like early childhood education and personal development but also empowered the beneficiaries to pursue job opportunities and gain economic independence. The project saw the establishment of an application school, which serves children from the neighborhood and young mothers, thereby increasing the number of beneficiaries and setting a foundation for long-term community impact.
Testimonies
“Our commitment to this training was our own choice. Being brave women and aware that today’s world does not favor lazy people. And to tell the truth, we have not regretted our choice in coming to the Claire Amitié center because we experienced good things during the training (learning to read, write, human development training, personal development, child psychology, music, childcare, nutrition, teaching methods, pedagogy, and many other things…). We also benefited from sponsorship to help us cover the tuition fees. In conclusion, we are well supported by the trainers and we are delighted.” -Amsatou-
“I come from Foundiougne, a city located 60 km from Kaolack. I came specifically to enroll in early childhood education because I love this profession. I want to learn how to take care of young children for their education and, above all, to love them and support them in their development. This field opens up a new opportunity for socio-professional integration for us.
Our activities include: The first thousand days of a child’s life, which helps us understand how a child develops and what actions to take at different ages. Child psychology, which allows us to understand the various needs of children, their reactions, and how to meet their needs. Human development training, a training program dear to Claire Amitié, which is its hallmark. It helps us understand who we are and how to live a good life. We learn about family life, personal life, and social life. We also focus on acquiring eight key competencies: Teaching methods and pedagogy, to have a good grasp of the education system and how to support children. Computer science, as everything is computerized these days, and we must not be left behind in the job market. Nutrition, the different elements of diet, especially for young children. French and English, to be able to read and express ourselves well in these languages. After my training, I plan to find a job and integrate into the workforce, especially in supporting young children, or to open a daycare center to support the children in my village.” -Rosalie-
“I am married with no children. I came from Mbam for early childhood education training. I have difficulties in my household and I want to have a profession to support myself. It was my sister-in-law who told me about this training, and I came specifically to train in early childhood education. I love children very much and I want to help them grow. I would like to work in a daycare center after my training.”
