Volunteering

1. Bëgg naa liggéey bénévolat

   I want to work as a volunteer

   Usage

   Used to express desire to participate as a volunteer

   Grammar Note

   "Liggéey" is the basic Wolof verb for work. "Bénévolat" is a French loanword. Senegal has many NGOs and community volunteer activities

2. Ndax am na opportunités bénévolat fi?

   Are there volunteer opportunities here?

   Usage

   Used when looking for volunteer opportunities in the community

   Grammar Note

   "Am na" is the declarative form of "to have/exist." "Fi" means here. The French plural "opportunités" is used directly

3. Bëgg naa jàng ak bind xale yi

   I want to teach children reading and writing

   Usage

   Used to express interest in literacy education volunteer work

   Grammar Note

   The plural of "xale" (child) is "xale yi" (written apart, as in the Traveling with Kids category). "Jàng" is to read / learn and "bind" is to write. Note: "to teach" is a different word ("jàngal"); this sentence literally says "I want to read and write with the children"

4. Dimbali ma ci liggéey bi

   Help me with the work

   Usage

   Used to ask for help or collaboration during volunteer work

   Grammar Note

   "Dimbali" is the verb "to help / support" (the noun "ndimbal" = help is a different form). "Ma" is first person object (me). "Bi" is the postposed definite article

5. Yëgël ma lan la ma def

   Tell me what I should do

   Usage

   Used to ask for instructions during volunteer work

   Grammar Note

   "Def" is the all-purpose Wolof verb for do/make. "Lan la ma def" is an indirect question clause meaning "what I should do"

6. Dama bëgg dimbali xale yi

   I want to help the children

   Usage

   Used to express desire to help children through volunteer work

   Grammar Note

   "Xale yi" = "the children" (as in the Traveling with Kids category). "Doom" means someone's son / daughter, not children in general. "To help" is the verb "dimbali" (not the noun "ndimbal"). Senegal has many NGOs focused on child welfare

7. Bëgg naa jàng ak jigéen yi

   I want to learn with the women

   Usage

   Used to express interest in women's empowerment volunteer work

   Grammar Note

   "Jigéen" = woman; "yi" is the plural determiner; "ak" means "with"

8. Dama bëgg wax ci environnement

   I want to talk about the environment

   Usage

   Used to express interest in environmental volunteer activities

   Grammar Note

   "Wax ci" means "to talk about." "Environnement" is a French loanword. Coastal and mangrove protection volunteering is active in Senegal

9. Jërëjëf ci liggéey yi nga def

   Thank you for the work you have done

   Usage

   Used to thank someone for their volunteer contributions

   Grammar Note

   "Nga def" is a relative clause meaning "that you did." "Liggéey yi nga def" = "the works/activities that you did"

10. Xam naa ne bénévolat bii dafa am solo

    I understand that this volunteer work is meaningful

    Usage

    Used to reflect on the meaningfulness of volunteer work

    Grammar Note

    "Bii" is the proximal demonstrative "this" and follows the noun ("bénévolat bii" = this volunteer work). "Am solo" means to have importance or value. "Solo" is Wolof for significance or worth

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