Edward's visit to Senegal
The Earl of Wessex's  trip to Africa - 2004

HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex began his tour of Africa with a visit to Senegal.  The visits are in part for the International Award Organisation, as well as to bring recognition to the work of British aid in the African countries.

The Earl of Wessex arrived at Dakar International Airport on the 3rd of June.  He was met at the airport by Aliou Sow, the Senegal Minister of the Youth and by a delegation from the British Embassy in Senegal..

The first engagement of Prince Edward was a visit to the Island of Gorée.  For over centuries the island served as one of the centres of the Atlantic Slave Trade to the Americas.  Edward was given a tour of the house, built in 1776 and was shown the ground floor of the house where the captured Senegalese were divided up according to their sex, height, age and weight for their selling to the slave ships.  Effort was made to show the Prince the extensive renovation of the World Heritage Site, through donations from UNESCO and France Liberties Foundation. 

Prince Edward than returned to his hotel where he hosted a International Award Award Reception to hand out gold awards achieved by Senegalese youth.  He also visited a school for girls to hand out the awards they had achieved and to thank the volunteers who held facilitate the project.

The last engagement Prince Edward undertook in Senegal was a visit to a Women's centre in Louga.  The project is funded by the British Embassy and aims to help facilitate the social and economic empowerment of women and girls in Senegal.  The Earl of Wessex was also granted an audience with  Abdoulaye Wade, the President of Senegal