Édouard Mendy becomes patron of school in Senegal | OneFootball

On the 31st of May, former Stade Rennais and Chelsea FC goalkeeper Édouard Mendy (33) travelled to his parents’ hometown of Keur Massar in Senegal, where he was inaugurated as the patron of the Yakar School. The Yakar School, built by the association of the same name in 2024, has been an institute committed to providing free access to high-quality education for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The school was set up to be a symbol of hope for the young in Keur Massar, and due to Mendy’s involvement, the school of over 500 students will soon be able to increase its year groups from 60 students to 200.  Meaning that they will be able to offer even more opportunities to provide the tools for success to the youth of one of the poorest zones in Dakar.

Photo credit: Illiasse Bams

Mendy’s involvement is far from simply symbolic; the footballer has used his investment and role as ambassador in the digital education platform PowerZ, as well as his support for the start-up Revibe, to help provide computers and iPads equipped with PowerZ to the school, with the aim that the students will be embracing technology from an early age.

The Senegalese international spent the day touring the facilities, talking with the teachers, and trying out the new technology as he played educational games with the students. The day ended with Mendy discussing his career and his hope of leaving a future for the children of his parents’ hometown that is both ambitious and accessible. His message at the end was clear: “Being better than yesterday shouldn’t be an option, but an obligation.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland