Developing Plans for 2008 in Senegal

Dakar, Senegal - Secretary General Mbaye DIOP gave a general report of UPF activities in the world, in Africa and in Senegal and also about a UPF conference in Mauritania the previous September. Twenty-two Ambassadors for Peace attended the meeting at the UPF headquarters.

Dr. NDONGO, UPF National Chairman, has been appointed International Chairman for Civil Society in West Africa, with an office in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. He gave a report about his activities in West Africa as an Ambassador for Peace and encouraged Ambassadors for Peace to work to make the Universal Peace Federation well known throughout Senegal in the coming year.

Dr. DA VEIGA was one of the two Ambassadors for Peace from Senegal who attended the UPF conference in New York the previous November as a representive of Cape Verde. He gave a moving report and exhorted all Ambassadors for Peace to attend UPF conferences in order to increase their understanding and education.

Mr. SENE, Director of Education for the Ministry of Technical Teaching and Professional Training, expressed gratitude for his appointment and promised to appoint more Ambassadors for Peace from his Ministry.

Mr. NIASSY, a Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Technical Teaching and Professional Training, also expressed his gratitude for his appointment and appreciation for the JAMOO School project. He promised to involve his children in the Youth Federation for World Peace.

Elder Mbaye GUEYE Anna, a personal friend of President Abdoulaye WADE and well known in Senegal, suggested organizing a national seminar on UPF teachings to help all Senegal Ambassadors for Peace understand the UPF principles more deeply.

Mrs. Maria Theresa DIAGNE, a leader of a large religious group, expressed interest in introducing UPF to her group. She also expressed a sincere desire to learn more about UPF core principles.

Honorable Abdoul Aziz NDOYE, a religious leader and technical advisor to President Abdoulaye WADE, explained that an Ambassador for Peace should be someone who is able to represent UPF to the entire nation, and he challenged people to think the kinds of people who could be appointed to this role.

Mr. Dethie DIOUF, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Sport and Chairman of Youth Citizenship Action and Korea-Senegal Youth Friendship, reported about the UPF conference he attended in Korea. An expert in the management of associations, he gave a positive report and recommended establishing a Preparatory Committee for a general assembly in Senegal of Ambassadors for Peace. He offered to help create a UPF-Senegal website and organize a national luncheon of UPF the after general assembly and invite President Abdoulaye WADE to attend it.

A Preparatory Commmittee of 12 Ambassadors for Peace has begun meeting every Saturday to plan for such an assembly. One group will organize press conferences, and other groups will handle invitations, sponsorships, and fund raisng. Among the ideas for raising funds is to sell works by Japanese artists.