At the Multipurpose Center of Thiaroye, a historic city on the outskirts of Dakar, the Program for Improving Access and Quality of Socio-Educational Child Protection Services (PAQ-SPE) was officially launched. This initiative, funded with three million euros by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by the Ministry of Justice of Senegal, aims to enhance the quality of care and support for vulnerable children.
The center serves as a key facility for providing residential and daytime support to minors in vulnerable situations. The PAQ-SPE program focuses on improving reception and training centers for children in precarious conditions or in conflict with the law. It seeks to rehabilitate and upgrade these facilities to ensure higher standards of safety, hygiene, and accessibility, including specific accommodations for children with disabilities.
The launch ceremony was attended by Senegal’s Minister of Justice, Ousmane Diagne, the Head of AICS Dakar, Giovanni Grandi, children from the Thiaroye, Pikine, and Camberene centers, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Family and Solidarity, and various technical and financial partners.
The initiative is part of a broader plan that includes the construction of three new reception centers, the renovation of four existing ones, and the strengthening of socio-educational services for over 15,000 at-risk children. Special emphasis will be placed on training educators to ensure better educational support and the social and economic reintegration of minors.
This project aligns with international policies on children’s rights, reinforcing the shared commitment of Italy and Senegal to improving child protection and fostering a more inclusive future that upholds human rights.
