Diapalante is a UK‑registered charity that works in partnership with Association Diapalante in Kaolack, Senegal. Together we support the Diapalante Community Education Centre in Kaolack, providing free learning opportunities for children, young people and adults.
How we work
Our work is based on listening, long-term relationships, and supporting practical, achievable initiatives that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
We believe that lasting change is most effective when it is led by local communities.
Our role in the UK is to support and strengthen work led by our local partners.
In practice, this involves working closely with our partners to identify priorities, supporting agreed projects financially, and maintaining regular contact to review progress and development.
Since 2010 and for the foreseeable future our focus is the Diapalante Community Education Centre in Kaolack, Senegal, which provides free learning opportunities for hundreds of children, young people and adults each year.
We work in partnership with Association Diapalante, the locally based organisation that leads the day‑to‑day running of the Community Education Centre.
This partnership-based approach ensures that projects are shaped by local knowledge and remain grounded in the needs of the community.
Governance and structure
Diapalante is a small UK charity with no paid staff. It is run entirely by volunteers.
The charity is overseen by a board of trustees who are responsible for:
All trustees serve on a voluntary basis and receive no payment for their work.
Funds raised in the UK are directed towards supporting the work of the Centre in Kaolack, including staffing, resources and the running of the programme.
This structure allows us to remain flexible, keep administrative costs low, and direct support to where it is most needed.
Introducing the Trustees
Elizabeth (Liz) Chandler
Trustee and Co-founder
Liz led the establishment of Diapalante in 2005 and has guided its development as Chair ever since. With a professional background in IT support and as a Microsoft Office Specialist trainer, she brings practical experience in communication, organisation and project development.
Liz has long been interested in international development and believes strongly in locally led approaches that enable communities to identify and achieve their own goals. She remains closely involved in fundraising, communications and the ongoing development of the Diapalante Community Education Centre in Kaolack.
Ian Chandler
Trustee and Co-founder
Ian helped establish Diapalante in 2005 following his daughter’s volunteering experience in Mauritania. A retired IT consultant specialising in systems analysis and design, he has been closely involved in the charity’s development ever since.
Ian contributes to strategic planning, Health and Safety, Risk Assessment and the New Centre project, and has visited Senegal many times. He believes in supporting long-term partnerships that create opportunities for people to learn, grow and improve their future prospects.
Pamela Brannigan BEM
Trustee and Co-founder
Pamela helped establish Diapalante in 2005 and has remained closely involved ever since. Following a career as a primary school teacher, headteacher and school inspector, she brings a wealth of educational experience to the charity.
Pamela has a particular interest in safeguarding and has worked with Mamadou Kane to develop safeguarding training and policies for the Community Education Centre. She continues to oversee safeguarding matters and supports the charity’s fundraising efforts, helping to ensure that learners can benefit from a safe and welcoming environment.
Alan Muhr
Trustee and Co-founder
Alan helped establish Diapalante in 2005 and has supported the charity ever since. A retired engineer and materials scientist specialising in natural rubber, he brings a scientific and practical perspective to the board.
Alan has a particular interest in climate change and sustainable development and encourages the charity to consider the long-term environmental impact and sustainability of its work. Following a visit to Senegal in 2008, he remains committed to supporting locally led initiatives that help individuals and communities create lasting opportunities for the future.
Emily Charlton Gooch
Trustee
Emily has been a trustee since 2019, although her connection with Diapalante stretches back much further. During her gap year in Mauritania in 2004–05 she met Mamadou Kane, founder and Coordinator of the Community Education Centre in Kaolack. Emily has been interested in the development of the project ever since.
As a landscape architect, Emily specialises in designing for climate resilience and sustainable futures. She brings creativity, innovation and a thoughtful approach to listening and learning, and is passionate about supporting development that is shaped by local priorities and knowledge.
Jack Poole
Trustee
Jack worked at the Community Education Centre in Kaolack as a full-time volunteer through Project Trust in 2015–16. While studying at SOAS, he returned to Senegal for two further volunteer placements. Living alongside learners, volunteers and staff gave him a deep appreciation of the Centre’s role within the local community.
Jack is studying for a PhD in Political Science. He brings valuable insight into Senegalese culture and society, together with first-hand knowledge of the Centre itself. He joined the Board in 2024 and is passionate about supporting the Centre’s future growth while ensuring it remains rooted in the needs and priorities of the community it serves.
Patricia Thorpe
Trustee
Patricia joined the Board of Trustees after retiring from a career in personal assistant roles in both the health service and industry. Looking for a meaningful way to use her organisational and administrative skills, she became involved with Diapalante and quickly became an invaluable member of the team.
Patricia has a remarkable ability to encourage others while quietly ensuring that important tasks are completed efficiently and on time. She has met Mamadou Kane in England and through numerous online meetings and is a great believer in the value of the work being carried out by Diapalante Senegal. Her positive approach and commitment to teamwork help keep the charity moving forward.
Christine (Chris) Lloyd
Trustee
Christine joined the Board of Trustees in 2025, having supported Diapalante for many years as a volunteer fundraiser. A retired teacher and carer, she has helped organise fundraising events and raise awareness of the charity’s work.
Christine brings patience, reliability and a calm, practical approach to the trustee team. She supports both fundraising and safeguarding activities and is motivated by seeing the difference that every donation can make to learners in Kaolack. Having met Mamadou Kane during his visits to England, she has developed a strong appreciation of the Centre’s educational value and remains committed to supporting its future development.
Samantha Chamberlain
Trustee
Samantha joined the Board of Trustees in 2025. She works in Human Resources and has experience of governance in an educational setting. She brings strong organisational and financial skills to the charity, helping trustees understand the charity’s finances through clear and accessible reporting.
Samantha has known about Diapalante since meeting Mamadou Kane during his first visit to England in 2007. Having watched the Centre develop over the years, she was delighted to discover that she could contribute her own skills to a cause she has long admired. She remains committed to supporting a project whose value she has seen grow since childhood.
Through long-term partnership, shared values and local leadership, Diapalante continues to support learning opportunities that help people build brighter futures in Kaolack.