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About Us
No young person should lose education, confidence, care or hope because of stigma.
That belief is where LABESE began — and it still shapes how we work today.
Our Story
From one community response to a wider health platform
LABESE was established in Dakar in 2016 with a simple belief: no young person should lose education, confidence, care or hope because of stigma. Our early work focused on students and female school dropouts living with or affected by HIV-related stigma. We listened to young people, caregivers, teachers, peer supporters and health providers and learned that health barriers are often social as well as medical.
Today, LABESE uses that experience to support broader community health. We bring trusted information, prevention, psychosocial support, advocacy, safeguarding and referral into schools and communities. We do not replace hospitals or licensed professionals. We help communities understand, act, speak up and connect with appropriate services.
Our Mission
To improve health and wellbeing in Senegal through community health education, prevention, stigma reduction, rights-based advocacy, psychosocial support, safe referral and strong partnerships.
Our Vision
A Senegal where every person has the knowledge, dignity, voice and support needed to protect their health and access inclusive, respectful and quality services.
Our Values
What guides our work
Dignity
Every person deserves respect, privacy and freedom from stigma.
Community Leadership
People affected by health challenges help shape the response.
Equity
We prioritise people who face the greatest barriers to information and care.
Safety
Safeguarding, consent, confidentiality and do-no-harm practice guide our work.
Accountability
We listen, measure, learn and act on community feedback.
Partnership
We work with communities, schools, providers and public institutions.
Who We Serve
Programmes that prioritise those facing the greatest barriers
Children and adolescents
Young people and women
People living with or affected by HIV
People experiencing mental health stigma
People with disabilities
Communities facing poverty, exclusion or barriers to care
How We Work
Our process, from community to service
- 1
Community-led design and youth participation.
- 2
Clear health education and behaviour-change communication.
- 3
Safe peer support and psychosocial first-line support within trained roles.
- 4
Rights-based advocacy and community accountability.
- 5
Confidential referral and follow-up.
- 6
Partnership with qualified health, education and protection actors.
- 7
Monitoring, learning and continuous improvement.
Get to know our full programme framework.
See how our story translates into practical, community-led health work across Dakar.