The action “locust plague” started in September 2004 and continued until June 2005.

It was a private support initiative of the NGO FODDE in their battle against the locusts. 

With the donated means,  FODDE bought amongst others sprinkler installations, in order to be better equipped for defence against the locusts in the future…

In Belgium the action was supported by three schools, some parishes and private persons.
Also in Germany there were donations from the Church and individual Gifts.
The British ngo Christian Aid who heard about this private initiative, donated 30 ton of rice. With this rice, food banks were established, amongst others in Diourbel, where, as a consequence of a locust plague, there was no second harvest, and  thus the population was facing the treath of hunger. Thanks to this action, people could get rice at a feasible price for everyone, if needed on credit. Hence there was money to maintain the necessary rice supplies and thus help was offered in a respectful, acceptable and lasting way.

In the mean time, the problem “locust plague” has been included in the “PAISA “program. This is a program, created by the  Belgian Survival fund which, via the ngo Bevrijde Wereld (Liberated World) from Sint Niklaas (Belgium), supports 10 local NGO’s in 3 African countries (Burkina Faso, Mali en Senegal) and which is still going on.

In June 2005, Senegal was no longer the victim of locust plagues, so it was decided to terminate this action. However, the threat still remains for several years to come.

We would like to thank everyone who contributed in one way or another to this action, by sending a substantial or small gift, by sending an e-mail or just by talking about it.

Our special thaks go to Joost Carein who designed the logo van for this action, inspired by the logo of FODDE; and donated it to us and to  Gustaaf Cuyvers who designed and managed the website for free.

Also a warm thank you to the people of Bevrijde Wereld, the ngo from Sint Niklaas who supported this action.

And above all, thanks to the people of the ngo FODDE., who work very hard, often in very difficult circumstances and, this way, make a big difference. Without their help and trust, this action would not have been possible.

Please find more photos about this work visit under the button “photos” – photos- sprinkhanenplaag