Senegal’s Next Steps
Contributed by Justin and Patricia Fleischman.
Following the successful 2018 Senegal Summit in Dakar, Senegal, Unificationists have focused their efforts toward a multitude of projects.
Senegal Unificationists successfully organized and administered three major events in the beginning of 2019. First, Youth and Students for Peace (YSP) was implemented in a massive event, then the Marriage Blessing Ceremony was held for 27 couples, including the Deputy Mayor of Gorée Island (an island off the coast of Senegal), and finally Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) held a continental conference in which Senegalese President Macky Sall attended.
As mentioned above, Senegal Unificationists are also working on numerous endeavors. These include the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), Professors World Peace Academy (PWPA), service projects, youth outreach workshops, Blessing campaigns through Tribal Messiahship efforts, and the Jamoo Training Center, a Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) project.
For their next steps, Unificationists in Senegal are looking to complete three major goals. The first goal was already accomplished when President Sall attended the FFWPU conference. The second goal is to have a national level Marriage Blessing Ceremony co-hosted by President Sall, and the final goal is the national inauguration of the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP). With the support of religious leader Cheikh Mansour Diouf, Senegal Unificationists are confident that President Sall will be involved in the remaining two events. The African FFWPU leadership, FFWPU leaders in Senegal and other national religious leaders are working to orchestrate these ceremonies and conferences.
“Senegal is a moderate Muslim nation,” said former Unificationist Missionaries Justin and Patricia Fleischman. “Because of several prepared Muslim religious and political leaders, including President Sall who demonstrated very positive support for True Parents and the Unification movement, True Mother chose Senegal. She saw Heavenly Parent’s hand opening a door in Senegal through which to reach out to the 1.8 billion Muslims in the world.”
Mr. and Mrs. Fleischman are still looking to raise funds for a minivan and a passenger car for the Senegal Unificationist community: they hope to cut down travel time to further their initiatives. Through GoFundMe.com, Mr. and Mrs. Fleischman have already raised an incredible $23,550 and counting. Also, other Unification organizations have made pledges totaling $20,000. Right now, they are still looking for additional funds to reach their reduced goal of $35,000.
“The Unificationists in Senegal do not consider life without vehicles a handicap,” said Mr. and Mrs. Fleischman. “They soldier forward toward the goal doing whatever it takes. However, they would be so grateful and appreciative to possess these vehicles.”
You can support the cause by donating any amount on the GoFundMe page here.
Thank you to the whole team in Senegal, and Mr. and Mrs. Fleischman, for your wonderful accomplishments!