Hope and Home
Amid dreams of space colonisation, desert communities are working to preserve humanity’s future on Earth.
Published in RPS Journal Winter 2024
Working in collaboration with the NGO SOS Sahel
Supported by the PA/Royal Photographic Society Environmental Bursary in 2023
Writing by Rachel Segal Hamilton
Gerald Simpa Dioussé, Technical Agent for the Forests Department, stands before saplings destined for the 'Great Green Wall'
New Saplings growing at the Forests Department - destined for the 'Great Green Wall'
A new crop of Radish at a community garden near Labgar
Adama H Diop, Président de l'Unité Pastorale de Labgar, waters newly planted saplings in a new area of the 'Great Green Wall'
A path through burned forest near Kédougou
Neem berries growing on a tree in an area protected from roaming animals
Aminata, the mother of my guide, holds fibrous bark from the village baobab tree that is used to make rope. Villages in Senegal often have a symbiotic relationship with Baobab trees.
A makeshift structure built to protect a young tree from the sun.
Saplings growing in a recently burned garden.
A successful crop of onions at a community garden near Podor
Water in a garden pool that arrived too late to save a crop of Aubergines
Amadou with a new crop of Aubergines after his last crop was blighted by drought due to a water pump failure
A group of women display their produce in community garden near Labgar
A community garden with veils to protect plants from the suns rays
Coumba Gueye clutches vegetables grown in a community garden at a welcome ceremony
Coumba Gueye clutches vegetables grown in a community garden at a welcome ceremony
A makeshift structure built to protect a young tree from the sun.
Women tending a community garden near Podor. This garden is lusher than most gardens in Senegal due to its proximity to the River Podor.
