Faith that Shares, Solidarity that Sustains
From Our Parish to Sénégal: Empowering Local Solutions for Lasting Food Security
After the 9:30 a.m. Mass on 22 February, parishioners from both Good Shepherd and Gut Hirt communities came out in strong numbers to support the Lenten Fastensuppe and solidarity in the fight against hunger. A heartfelt thanks to all who attended and generously donated to the project as well as to engaged volunteers from the Croatian-speaking and English-speaking missions of Good Shepherd and the Gut Hirt parish.
Kalebassen – the Power of Solidarity
In partnership with the Catholic international organization Fastenaktion, Good Shepherd and Gut Hirt showcased its support for Lenten Project 2026 helping community-based food programs across Sénégal, called “Kalebassen”, which protect communities against cyclical hunger. Ms. Vreni Jean-Richard, Fastenaktion Project Manager, presented the Kalebassen project to a parish audience of over 50 people who had just been served a simple Lenten soup made by the volunteers of both parish communities. Proceeds of the soup supported the Lenten project.
Mutual Aid or “Taranga”: a Cornerstone of Senegalese Culture
Operated by 85,000 women in collaboration with over 15 local and country-wide affiliated organizations, Kalebassen are community storage facilities holding grain and seeds so families have access to a sustainable food supply during the cyclical dry months called “Soudure”. Though practiced for centuries, the approach became particularly robust in the 1970s after Sahelian droughts. In the past ten years, Ms. Jean-Richard has seen it rapidly take root across Sénégal. The strength of the Kalebassen lies in the solidarity of local people and their commitment to organizing sustainable food supply solutions and effectively managing monetary resources to prevent hunger.
Peer-to-Peer
“They operate and give peer-to-peer” she says despite being of different ethnic and religious communities and social classes. She also explained that while many NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) focus on chronic hunger, very few focus on cyclical hunger. Though not uncommon, Ms. Jean-Richard said this problem is seldom addressed by NGOs. By choosing Kalebassen as its Lenten Project, the Good Shepherd and Gut Hirt parish communities support a unique project responding to real needs that foster sustainable “local solutions for local problems with local means”.
If you, too, would like to support the project, please click Einzalungschein Fastenprojekt Senegal 2026 for a QR-Code including the following note “Fastenprojekt Senegal 2026”. Thank you!
M.Kyrou
Photo: Fastenaktion
