West Africa: English Center

The Engage English Learning Community (“Engage”) is a long-standing outreach in Dakar, Senegal, using high-quality English instruction as a platform to share the gospel. Senegal’s population is over 90% Muslim, and though it is considered an open country where ministry can happen publicly, choosing to follow Christ still comes at a significant personal cost.

For 15 years, Engage has been building bridges through English education. The center primarily serves university students and young professionals seeking English fluency to improve their employment prospects in a country with high unemployment. While the practical benefit is clear, Engage’s ultimate mission is spiritual.

The curriculum is designed to include Scripture in every class, giving students—many of whom have never read the Bible—a chance to encounter God’s Word. Those who desire to learn more are invited to a Bible study, where deeper conversations take place and the gospel is clearly shared.

Currently, Engage operates out of a converted three-bedroom apartment. With 226 students enrolled this year, the space is overcrowded. Classes fill quickly, students spill into hallways, and Bible studies compete for limited space. The current facility can no longer support the ministry’s growth.

A new center would allow Engage to expand its reach—welcoming more students, offering multiple classes and Bible studies simultaneously, and providing a quieter, more comfortable environment for learning and discipleship. It would also enable the team to host on-site events that deepen relationships and foster spiritual growth.

Avant has launched a project to help cover the next two and a half years of rent for the new Engage center, advancing Engage’s mission to plant gospel seeds, disciple students, and connect new believers to the local church.