A Contractor with a Horse Cart

Pierre Faye - Posted on February 2, 2009

This is a moving story of a former seaman who believes in the development of his village. After receiving some training through the facilitation of World Vision, he started his own business as a construction contractor. We made a visit to see how Pierre Senghor is coming along the in the Tattaguine community headquarters where he was responsible for some of the recent renovation work.

Pierre Senghor was born in 1970. He is married to Marie Louise Sarr and he has five children. He stopped his studies when he met many difficulties finding a host family, a place to live during his studies, in Mbour. Then, he moved to Dakar, the capital, to work as a fish trader. In the capital, he learned about sophisticated techniques for the selection of fish to meet the requirements of the European fish market.

“In everything I am doing, I am looking for high performance and great achievement. I had the chance to go on board a ship sailing all over the world, but finally I decided to resign after working there eight years,” Pierre says.

“I believe definitely that the sea was not my world and as a farmer I had to go back to my village and to preserve the inheritance of my forefathers: the lands,” he adds

This was a turning point in the life of Pierre, who with ambition and faith took the road back to his village. When he got there and settled, he did not waste time. He immediately started to organize people sharing his vision as a young dedicated leader. In 2003, he was elected in the rural council which is the highest level of the local political board.

So, when World Vision came to his village, in 2003, and was looking to meet the community leaders, Pierre was the representative of the youth. This is how Pierre got to be in contact with World Vision.

World Vision underlined the importance for the community to be organized and structured through the use of community organizations. This is how the village development committees came up, with the support of World Vision.

Right after the organizational step, they expressed the need to be trained.

“When you are a leader, you should have knowledge to manage people and the funds. That’s why we asked to World Vision to help us enhance our skills in the area of management,” Pierre says.

After the training, Pierre felt that the skills he got trough the capacity building provided by World Vision was enough to allow him start his business.

“With my skills in management and accounting, I thought it was now, the right time, to open my business. Today, have three senior staff: one engineer, one technician, three masons, one carpenter and one painter. This is not easy for a beginner like me to manage. But, the training I received is very helpful,” Pierre says.

World Vision published a bidding to choose a contractor for the renovation of the community board headquarters, Pierre sent in his application. He was chosen to renovate the three offices, one meeting hall, and one store a job worth a total of $16,000.

When asked about the qualities of a good contractor, Pierre says: “he should deliver quality work, respect deadlines, and be an example.”

Pierre does not have a car, he drives a horse cart. “I don’t have any inferiority complex; I believe that I can deliver a work with quality, like the best contractors. I am making my way in this new business little-by-little. Thank you World Vision for giving a chance to newcomers like me,” Pierre says.

“Every day, I pray God that young people start their businesses instead of going to the capital. We can stay here in the village and make a good living if we have the motivation and the will,” Pierre says.

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