AmSar Joyful Dreams and the municipality of Malicounda are joining forces to build a space of joy and inclusion

The municipality of Malicounda hosted the official presentation ceremony for the Malicounda Family Park project this Wednesday, an initiative led by the AmSar Joyful Dreams International Foundation in partnership with the Malicounda City Hall.

This ambitious project aims to create an inclusive, educational, and recreational community space dedicated to children, families, and people with disabilities.

The event brought together several prominent figures and members of the foundation, including Mr. Carlton Neely, President and co-founder of the AmSar Joyful Dreams International Foundation, a renowned entrepreneur and community leader in the United States; Ms. Kawonnia Neely, Vice-President and co-founder, an entrepreneur committed to the inclusion and empowerment of women; Mr. Mouhamadou Dioum, co-president of the Senegal chapter and co-owner of AfroMillennial Enterprises; and Ms. Kiné Diong Riquet, treasurer of the Senegal chapter and fashion designer behind the brand Femm by Kiné. as well as Ms. Queen Haynesworth, media officer for the Senegal chapter, teacher and speaker specializing in empowerment.

On the municipal side, the Malicounda delegation was led by Mr. Maïssa Faye, Deputy Mayor, in the presence of Mr. Mor Fassa Ndiaye, Chief of Staff to the Mayor, and several municipal councilors.

The AmSar Joyful Dreams Foundation is an international non-profit organization working to create inclusive spaces where children and families can learn, play, and grow together.

Its Senegalese chapter extends this mission across Africa, with a focus on equity, empowerment, and community well-being.

Its main areas of focus include:

■ the construction of inclusive and safe playgrounds adapted for children with disabilities;

■ the development of sustainable community infrastructure (parks, performance spaces, walking paths, etc.);

■ the promotion of reading and learning through libraries and educational circles;

■ ecological sustainability through the use of renewable energy and recycled materials;

■ the creation of local jobs, particularly during the construction and operation phases.

The Malicounda Family Park will be built on an area of ​​1.6 hectares. It will include:

● an inclusive playground adapted for children with special needs,

● a community garden,

● a reading and storytelling area,

● a half-basketball court,

● a community swimming pool and splash pad,

● an ice rink, bumper cars,

● picnic areas, and an outdoor stage for shows and cultural events.

The project aims to create 100 jobs, including 50 permanent positions, with 80% of recruitment reserved for Malicounda residents.

This is the region’s first large-scale inclusive family park, a symbol of a strong partnership between the African American diaspora and local Senegalese communities.

In his address, Mr. Carlton Neely expressed his gratitude to the municipality of Malicounda and emphasized the symbolic significance of the project:

“This is a true pleasure for our family community in Malicounda. We want to make this town not just a place to pass through, but a destination, a joyful space where parents and children come together. I invite our brothers and sisters in the diaspora to return and create lasting memories here. This park is proof that when vision meets collaboration, dreams take root in the soil of Senegal.” “

For his part, Mr. Maïssa Faye, deputy mayor, praised this innovative cooperation between Malicounda and the diaspora:

“This project aligns with the mayor’s vision of making Malicounda an attractive and sustainable community. Decentralized cooperation with our American partners is a strategic lever for realizing this ambition. We will do everything in our power to formalize this partnership through a memorandum of understanding that guarantees the interests of our community.”

The Malicounda Family Park embodies a bold vision: that of an inclusive and collaborative Senegal, where the diaspora and local communities work together for sustainable and participatory development. Built with local materials and the participation of the local population, the project demonstrates a successful synergy between the public, private, and non-profit sectors.

This future living space will symbolize the union of peoples, education, and creativity—a true “shared joy,” faithful to the philosophy of the AmSar Joyful Dreams Foundation.

Africa space