Community in Dakar Cleans Medina Gounass Elementary School Ahead of New Academic Year

Volunteers and students in Dakar, Senegal, have collaborated to clean Medina Gounass Elementary School in preparation for the upcoming academic year. On Saturday, participants, including pupils, teachers, and members of environmental organizations, swept classrooms, cleared drains, and collected plastic and household waste from the school located in a densely populated suburb of Dakar. The cleanup initiative is taking place just before the 2026-27 school year begins, with staff starting on Monday and students on Tuesday. The area faces challenges such as inadequate waste management, blocked drainage, and overcrowded classrooms, issues that tend to worsen during the rainy season. Organizers of the event stated that the cleanup aims to prepare the school for reopening while also raising awareness among students and residents about the importance of environmental protection and shared responsibility for public spaces.