CALUNA non-profit
CANCER & CHILDREN. A connection that is difficult to make and yet…
it is the basis for CALUNA’S FOUNDATION’s commitment to the fight against childhood cancer. Every child has the basic right of “access to the necessary medical care”, regardless of his or her origin, skin colour, religion, life circumstances or parents’ economic situation.
it is the basis for CALUNA’S FOUNDATION’s commitment to the fight against childhood cancer. Every child has the basic right of “access to the necessary medical care”, regardless of his or her origin, skin colour, religion, life circumstances or parents’ economic situation.
Who are we ?
CALUNA Belgium was founded in 2008 in response to the increase in world poverty and the deterioration of our environment, as well as the many personal testimonies we heard during our travels.
For the past ten years, CALUNA has devoted itself each and every day to taking humanitarian and social action on behalf of the most vulnerable.
CALUNA has a constant desire to help disadvantaged children, who live in the shadows and who are not responsible for their living conditions, family situation, physical state or other circumstances. This injustice touches us deeply and feeds our permanent hunger to help and our desire to intervene or invest.
We adhere to four pillars that are essential for ensuring a better future for the world’s children: water, food, education and medical care. These pillars form the basis for the fight against poverty. Investing in a child’s future is an investment in an entire family, an entire community. It also benefits our own future and that of the planet, when we consider sustainable solutions.
For a better overview of our philosophy, our completed projects or other information, please visit our website at: www.caluna-world.com.
CALUNA is very proud of all of its accomplishments over the past ten years. Our success has only been possible thanks to the assistance of many donors, loyal friends, volunteers and others who have faithfully supported us for all these years.
We have been active in Senegal since 2010, providing assistance to individuals, villagers in remote regions, the deaf, the physically handicapped (through both small and large investments), talibés (street children) and orphans. Since then, Senegal has come to occupy a special place in our hearts and we continue to concern ourselves with the fate of this African people.
To date, our biggest accomplishment has been the construction of a school for deaf children in Warang (M’Bour). During one of our study trips in 2013, it became clear to us that while Senegal is investing a lot in traditional education, this education is not accessible to children with special needs, such as those who have Down’s syndrome or those who are deaf, blind, autistic or handicapped.
A large group of children is being excluded from society and from the family core, stigmatised by their community and living in the shadows in complete isolation. Far too often, they suffer physical and emotional trauma in silence. This situation has had a profound impression on us!
Thousands of children (1% of the Senegalese population is deaf or hard of hearing) grow up without any basic knowledge, and without the opportunity to discover their potential or to develop themselves socially, emotionally or cognitively. We often find ourselves having to repeat that “they should not be disregarded because their eyes or feet don’t work. To the contrary, a deficiency in one area very often leads to strengths in other areas”.
CALUNA has chosen to provide these special needs and deaf children with opportunities and a dignified future by teaching them how to read, writing and communicate through sign language, as well as to discover their manual talents and in so doing learn a profession. All of this is provided in a safe environment, where they can blossom among other deaf children. Bringing them out of their isolation is the key to helping them attain happiness in their personal life, their future, their family and their community.
With this specific goal in mind, CALUNA made investments and built a school in 2013. Since then we have provided permanent support to this school ((Les Graines de Cajou) for 80 deaf children in Warang. The school is made up of six classes, six teachers who have been trained in Dakar. We provide transportation, meals, school materials, creative workshops, educational excursions, training courses in Dakar and judo lesson and a full-time male nurse on an annual basis. The primary goal is for the children to learn how to live independently!
During our travels, we continue to be touched (you might say we are extra sensitive) by the needs of all these wonderful, forgotten children. Our permanent desire to help – a kind of sixth sense – has since helped us discover other urgent needs
Accordingly, in 2017, CALUNA embarked on an ambitious new project: the construction of an approximately 3,000 m2 Paediatric Oncology department at the Etablissement Public de Santé hospital in M’Bour (hereafter referred to as EPS M’Bour), Senegal. This will be not only the largest centre for childhood cancer in Senegal, but also the largest of its kind in all of Africa. And we are very proud of this!
For the past ten years, CALUNA has devoted itself each and every day to taking humanitarian and social action on behalf of the most vulnerable.
CALUNA has a constant desire to help disadvantaged children, who live in the shadows and who are not responsible for their living conditions, family situation, physical state or other circumstances. This injustice touches us deeply and feeds our permanent hunger to help and our desire to intervene or invest.
We adhere to four pillars that are essential for ensuring a better future for the world’s children: water, food, education and medical care. These pillars form the basis for the fight against poverty. Investing in a child’s future is an investment in an entire family, an entire community. It also benefits our own future and that of the planet, when we consider sustainable solutions.
For a better overview of our philosophy, our completed projects or other information, please visit our website at: www.caluna-world.com.
CALUNA is very proud of all of its accomplishments over the past ten years. Our success has only been possible thanks to the assistance of many donors, loyal friends, volunteers and others who have faithfully supported us for all these years.
We have been active in Senegal since 2010, providing assistance to individuals, villagers in remote regions, the deaf, the physically handicapped (through both small and large investments), talibés (street children) and orphans. Since then, Senegal has come to occupy a special place in our hearts and we continue to concern ourselves with the fate of this African people.
To date, our biggest accomplishment has been the construction of a school for deaf children in Warang (M’Bour). During one of our study trips in 2013, it became clear to us that while Senegal is investing a lot in traditional education, this education is not accessible to children with special needs, such as those who have Down’s syndrome or those who are deaf, blind, autistic or handicapped.
A large group of children is being excluded from society and from the family core, stigmatised by their community and living in the shadows in complete isolation. Far too often, they suffer physical and emotional trauma in silence. This situation has had a profound impression on us!
Thousands of children (1% of the Senegalese population is deaf or hard of hearing) grow up without any basic knowledge, and without the opportunity to discover their potential or to develop themselves socially, emotionally or cognitively. We often find ourselves having to repeat that “they should not be disregarded because their eyes or feet don’t work. To the contrary, a deficiency in one area very often leads to strengths in other areas”.
CALUNA has chosen to provide these special needs and deaf children with opportunities and a dignified future by teaching them how to read, writing and communicate through sign language, as well as to discover their manual talents and in so doing learn a profession. All of this is provided in a safe environment, where they can blossom among other deaf children. Bringing them out of their isolation is the key to helping them attain happiness in their personal life, their future, their family and their community.
With this specific goal in mind, CALUNA made investments and built a school in 2013. Since then we have provided permanent support to this school ((Les Graines de Cajou) for 80 deaf children in Warang. The school is made up of six classes, six teachers who have been trained in Dakar. We provide transportation, meals, school materials, creative workshops, educational excursions, training courses in Dakar and judo lesson and a full-time male nurse on an annual basis. The primary goal is for the children to learn how to live independently!
During our travels, we continue to be touched (you might say we are extra sensitive) by the needs of all these wonderful, forgotten children. Our permanent desire to help – a kind of sixth sense – has since helped us discover other urgent needs
Accordingly, in 2017, CALUNA embarked on an ambitious new project: the construction of an approximately 3,000 m2 Paediatric Oncology department at the Etablissement Public de Santé hospital in M’Bour (hereafter referred to as EPS M’Bour), Senegal. This will be not only the largest centre for childhood cancer in Senegal, but also the largest of its kind in all of Africa. And we are very proud of this!
CALUNA's accomplishments
10 years of Caluna – Global accomplishments
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2008 Guatemala
expansion of a school for 100 pupils in a remote village medical procedures: operations performed on five children with cleft palates start-up of a chicken farm microbusiness family support 2008 - 2015 Cambodia creative workshop at a school for the deaf construction of 15 houses for the homeless in slums of Phnom Penh rice distribution in remote areas construction of a roof for ‘open air’ school medical procedures family support 2010 – 2013 Senegal construction of a well for residents of Ndoukourou Peuhl acquisition of machines for grinding mill in Ndoukourou Peuhl construction of a shower facility for talibés (street children) in M’Bour individual family aid in various areas minibus for the ‘La Pouponnière’ orphanage in M’Bour wheelchairs for the handicapped at various day centres in M’Bour 2013 – 2015 Senegal construction of a school for about 80 deaf children in Warang permanent monitoring and financial support for this project annual teacher training educational excursions for the deaf children creative workshops and judo lessons for the children annual salary for a full-time school nurse medical interventions for the children individual family support 2015 – present Ghana establishment of a soup kitchen: 7 days a week, including 150 meals and drinkable water school fees for 50 children establishment of a football team for 120 children teens club: awareness campaigns for youth on sexuality, contraceptives, (sexually) transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy and other often forgotten, yet highly relevant issues 2016 – present India Radjasthan establishment of a soup kitchen: 7 days a week, including 150 meals and drinkable water (of utmost importance in this region) 2015 – 2018 Senegal financing of a salary for a paediatric nurse at EPS M’Bour for two years. renovation of various departments at EPS M’Bour hospital:
establishment of partnerships with various Belgian hospitals (a paediatric resident from UZ Brussel was sent to EPS M’Bour for one year, of which three months were spent at the Paediatric Oncology department in Dakar). distribution of 30 tonnes of rice in remote villages shipment of containers: delivery of medical supplies to EPS M’Bour establishment of the ‘Naad’ training centre for 20 handicapped women in Dakar publication of the 1st French-language primary education programme for deaf children in all of Africa (E.R.S. Dakar & the Ministry of Education), financed by Caluna 2017- 2020 Senegal preliminary study on behalf of the construction of the Paediatric Oncology department at EPS M’Bour laying of the first stone on 9 November 2018 in the presence of the Minister of Health, among others construction of a 3,000 m2 building to house the Paediatric Oncology department at EPS M’Bour start of construction in 2019 |
Guatemala
Indië
Ghana
Senegal
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The Caluna Association in Senegal
Caluna Senegal was founded in 2016 and officially recognised on 27 June 2018.
Given that Caluna has been active since 2010 in Senegal and plans to complete various projects in the coming years, it was a logical step for Caluna to be recognised as an association/NGO in Senegal. As such, the Caluna Senegal Association came into being on 27 June 2018.
Our non-profit organisation develops and supports projects that provide a better future to disadvantaged individuals. After performing the requisite preliminary research, and in consultation with local organisations and partners, we invest in various areas, depending on the local needs and specifications. In doing so, the well-being of children always remains our number one priority. We feel a permanent desire to help disadvantaged children – the poorest and most vulnerable, who have not chosen their difficult circumstances. Injustice continues to have a profound impact on us! Investing in their future is investing in the future of an entire community. This is the reason we have launched a whole programme of projects on behalf of the EPS M’Bour hospital.
Members of the Caluna Senegal Association:
Luc Van De Wiel – Business Manager of the Association and the Caluna Non-Profit Organisation
Dr. Fatou Diop – Director of EPS M’Bour and representative of Caluna
Régine M. Wechsler – Project Coordinator
Given that Caluna has been active since 2010 in Senegal and plans to complete various projects in the coming years, it was a logical step for Caluna to be recognised as an association/NGO in Senegal. As such, the Caluna Senegal Association came into being on 27 June 2018.
Our non-profit organisation develops and supports projects that provide a better future to disadvantaged individuals. After performing the requisite preliminary research, and in consultation with local organisations and partners, we invest in various areas, depending on the local needs and specifications. In doing so, the well-being of children always remains our number one priority. We feel a permanent desire to help disadvantaged children – the poorest and most vulnerable, who have not chosen their difficult circumstances. Injustice continues to have a profound impact on us! Investing in their future is investing in the future of an entire community. This is the reason we have launched a whole programme of projects on behalf of the EPS M’Bour hospital.
Members of the Caluna Senegal Association:
Luc Van De Wiel – Business Manager of the Association and the Caluna Non-Profit Organisation
Dr. Fatou Diop – Director of EPS M’Bour and representative of Caluna
Régine M. Wechsler – Project Coordinator
EPS M’Bour Renovations and other support
In 2014, we came into contact with the Etablissement Public de Santé (EPS) in M’Bour, specifically with the Physical Therapy department, to whom we donated equipment such as crutches and wheelchairs. Over the course of time, we developed a closer relationship with the hospital management. Since then, we have invested in various renovations, expansions, deliveries of medical supplies and other improvements on behalf of the patients, the medical team and the entire local community.
EPS M’Bour is located in the governmental department of M’Bour, 80 kilometres away from Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
A former medical centre, it has now made the transition into a full-fledged hospital and has a capacity of 136 beds.
It sits on 6.5 hectares of land, of which only one-fourth has been built on. It is within walking distance of the sea, and is situated between the Cap-Vert peninsula and the Point of Sangoma, a very favourable location for the population of the south.
EPS M’Bour is located in the governmental department of M’Bour, 80 kilometres away from Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
A former medical centre, it has now made the transition into a full-fledged hospital and has a capacity of 136 beds.
It sits on 6.5 hectares of land, of which only one-fourth has been built on. It is within walking distance of the sea, and is situated between the Cap-Vert peninsula and the Point of Sangoma, a very favourable location for the population of the south.
The department of M’Bour has over a million inhabitants, with a very high birth rate. EPS M’Bour is the only meaningful medical facility for the entire region.As such, the geographical location of this hospital is highly suitable for receiving children with cancer, not only from the local region but from far beyond its borders.
Caluna’s investments in EPS M’Bour include financing the salary of a nurse in the Paediatrics department for two years, renovating the Urgent Care unit, expanding the Physical Therapy department by 100 m2, renovating and expanding the Lab, renovating the General Medicine department, installing overhangs outside the Paediatrics department and the general reception, renovating the roof and painting the Secretarial Office, designing the 4th operation block, expanding the Pharmacy by 100 m2, delivering containers with hospital supplies and making many other small alterations.
Caluna’s investments in EPS M’Bour include financing the salary of a nurse in the Paediatrics department for two years, renovating the Urgent Care unit, expanding the Physical Therapy department by 100 m2, renovating and expanding the Lab, renovating the General Medicine department, installing overhangs outside the Paediatrics department and the general reception, renovating the roof and painting the Secretarial Office, designing the 4th operation block, expanding the Pharmacy by 100 m2, delivering containers with hospital supplies and making many other small alterations.
PROJECT: a 3.000 m2 Paediatric Oncology department
“The dream of one person can change the lives of hundreds of children!”
We are proud to present our current project.
The construction of a Paediatric Oncology department of approximately 3,000 m2, with a capacity of 60 beds for children with cancer at the EPS M’Bour hospital.
It will be the second and largest centre for treating children with cancer in Senegal,but also the largest of its kind in all of Africa!
On 9 November 2018, the first stone was laid on the premises of EPS M’Bour in the presence of the Minister of Health and Social Work, the mayor of M’Bour, the president of the Department of M’Bour, Dr. Fatou DIOP (director of EPS M’Bour), Prof. Claude MOREIRA (head of the Paediatric Oncology department at the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital) in Dakar and many others.
The start of construction is scheduled for the first trimester of 2019. The department will have a capacity of 60 beds, which includes: an outpatient clinic for 15 children, 20 rooms with toilet facilities for long-term stays, 12 isolation rooms with toilet facilities, eight rooms for palliative stays, a pharmacy, a fully equipped professional kitchen, three consultation rooms, stockrooms, a meeting room, a staff room, an administration room, waiting rooms and an outdoor toilet for visitors. The entire structure will be surrounded by green zones in order to create a peaceful setting for the children, with sufficient shadow for the rooms.
The choice was made to include a dedicated kitchen in the designs in order to provide the children with well-balanced and fortifying meals. When it comes to cancer, it is essential that we do everything to prevent potential infection. Nausea and loss of appetite will occur as a result of the intensive treatment. Strengthening the children through meals is an important component of the recovery process.
The palliative care department is an unfortunate part of reality. Some families will be confronted with the loss of their child. This trying period should be able to take place in a serene setting.
Caluna is forward-looking in its approach and tries to take many factors into account in order to optimise the circumstances in which the children find themselves and to lighten their stay as much as possible by providing toys, entertainment and excursions. It is important to us that they are treated appropriately from a pedagogic perspective, mindfully, with a focus on their experience and feelings, by giving them the necessary mental and medical support to endure their ordeal.
The construction of a Paediatric Oncology department of approximately 3,000 m2, with a capacity of 60 beds for children with cancer at the EPS M’Bour hospital.
It will be the second and largest centre for treating children with cancer in Senegal,but also the largest of its kind in all of Africa!
On 9 November 2018, the first stone was laid on the premises of EPS M’Bour in the presence of the Minister of Health and Social Work, the mayor of M’Bour, the president of the Department of M’Bour, Dr. Fatou DIOP (director of EPS M’Bour), Prof. Claude MOREIRA (head of the Paediatric Oncology department at the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital) in Dakar and many others.
The start of construction is scheduled for the first trimester of 2019. The department will have a capacity of 60 beds, which includes: an outpatient clinic for 15 children, 20 rooms with toilet facilities for long-term stays, 12 isolation rooms with toilet facilities, eight rooms for palliative stays, a pharmacy, a fully equipped professional kitchen, three consultation rooms, stockrooms, a meeting room, a staff room, an administration room, waiting rooms and an outdoor toilet for visitors. The entire structure will be surrounded by green zones in order to create a peaceful setting for the children, with sufficient shadow for the rooms.
The choice was made to include a dedicated kitchen in the designs in order to provide the children with well-balanced and fortifying meals. When it comes to cancer, it is essential that we do everything to prevent potential infection. Nausea and loss of appetite will occur as a result of the intensive treatment. Strengthening the children through meals is an important component of the recovery process.
The palliative care department is an unfortunate part of reality. Some families will be confronted with the loss of their child. This trying period should be able to take place in a serene setting.
Caluna is forward-looking in its approach and tries to take many factors into account in order to optimise the circumstances in which the children find themselves and to lighten their stay as much as possible by providing toys, entertainment and excursions. It is important to us that they are treated appropriately from a pedagogic perspective, mindfully, with a focus on their experience and feelings, by giving them the necessary mental and medical support to endure their ordeal.
Every child needs your support!
Plan for the Paediatric Oncology department
CALUNA Belgium - Senegal
Team Belgium
Luc VAN DE WIEL Business manager Non-profit organisation & Fund |
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Régine M.WECHSLER Project Coordinator |
Team Senegal
Prof. Claude MOREIRA Head Ped. Onco. UZ. Aristide Dantec - Dakar. 
Dr. Fatou DIOP Director EPS – MBour |
Dr.Fatou-Binetou -AKONDE Head Ped. Onco. UZ. Aristide Dantec - Dakar. 
Dr. A.Magib CISSE Head Ped. Onco. EPS - MBour |
Dr. Dakar 
Dr. Paediatric surgeon EPS - MBour |
