For Dr. Juliette Faye, Chief Medical Director of Keur Djiguene Yi, education is the source of all opportunity. Education allowed her to fulfill her childhood dream of becoming a doctor, and education now guides her work every day as she serves women and families in Dakar. “Knowledge improves lives by giving people the chance to be their best,” Dr. Faye says. For more than a decade, she has made it her mission to share the power of teaching and learning with the women who walk through the doors of the center.

At Keur Djiguene Yi, medical care and education are inseparable. Dr. Faye understands that prevention is often the most effective form of medicine, particularly in communities where access to consistent healthcare can be limited. Her goal is not only to treat illness, but to equip women with the information they need to live healthier, happier, and more productive lives—long after they leave the exam room.

Every patient receives a dose of Dr. Faye’s wisdom alongside her medical care. During prenatal visits, women learn about the importance of balanced nutrition during pregnancy and how it affects both mother and child. New mothers are taught proper hygiene practices for newborns, including safe bathing and feeding techniques. Patients also receive practical guidance on disease prevention, such as the importance of sleeping under mosquito nets to reduce the risk of malaria. These conversations may be informal, but their impact is lasting, often influencing family habits and community practices beyond the clinic walls.

From the very beginning, Dr. Faye envisioned Keur Djiguene Yi as more than a health center. She wanted it to be a place of learning, exchange, and empowerment. Soon after the center opened, she began offering structured classes and seminars for women, transforming the reception area into a classroom filled with conversation, questions, and shared experiences. Women now travel from neighborhoods across Dakar to attend sessions on topics ranging from nutrition and maternal health to financial literacy and small business development.

One of the most popular programs focuses on maternal nutrition. In these sessions, Dr. Faye meets with pregnant women to explain how healthy eating directly supports fetal development. She emphasizes accessible, local foods—iron-rich leafy greens commonly found in Senegalese markets, and peanuts, a familiar staple that provide an affordable source of protein. By structuring her lessons around ingredients women already know and use, she ensures the information is both practical and sustainable.

Education at Keur Djiguene Yi has continued to evolve alongside Dr. Faye’s own professional development. After receiving specialized training in caring for infants born with developmental disabilities, she immediately recognized the lack of support available to mothers facing these challenges. In response, she created a dedicated support group that meets weekly over a ten-week period. These sessions provide mothers with practical tools, emotional support, and a safe space to share experiences and best practices.

The success of the program quickly attracted attention from Dr. Faye’s peers. Recognizing the broader need, Dr. Faye expanded the initiative to include training sessions for doctors, nurses, and childcare providers, ensuring that knowledge reached beyond the center and into the wider healthcare community. Through this collaborative approach, more children and more families are now benefiting from informed, compassionate care.

Another powerful extension of Keur Djiguene Yi’s educational mission has been its support for women’s economic independence. Working with young mothers eager to contribute financially to their households, Dr. Faye developed a small income-generation program with the help of a donation from a supporter of Keur Djiguene Yi. The initial funds were used to purchase small, saleable goods for roadside stands. Participants learned basic bookkeeping, inventory management, and customer service—skills that allowed them to earn income, then to reinvest and grow their businesses. Today, twelve women are running their own small enterprises, bringing additional financial stability to their families.

“I think it is never too late to learn a new skill,” Dr. Faye says. “Many of the women I meet were forced to leave school at a very young age and have had little control over their lives. I want to give some of that control back—whether that means teaching them how to care for their bodies, their children, or how to earn an income. In the end, it’s all the same. They feel stronger, more confident, and more independent.”

At Keur Djiguene Yi, learning is not an extra service—it is the heart of the work. Through education, women are gaining the tools to protect their health, support their families, and shape their own futures.