Africacriesout

Just a few weeks ago, I returned from a once-in-a-lifetime experience as a volunteer with the Africa Cries Out group in Senegal. I first heard about the trip from my uncle, Dr. Haibin Wang, and my cousin, Alex, who had gone in 2023. He shared pictures of the villages he visited and told me about the patients who touched his heart. At the time, I was still deciding between dental and medical school, but I knew I had to go to Senegal as soon as I had the chance. After graduating from college, I took a gap year to work on [...]

After months of meticulous preparation and through the generous support of compassionate individuals worldwide, the first wave of "Africa Cries Out" medical mission team gathered at New York's JFK Airport this afternoon, departing at 7 PM enroute to Senegal with hearts ablaze. This extraordinary volunteer corps - comprising of physicians in their prime, high school students radiating youthful vitality, university professors, and construction workers wielding both compassion and tools - represents a beautiful tapestry of nationalities from the United States, Canada, Germany, and China. United by their sacred purpose, these modern-day Good Samaritans gathered beneath the airport's soaring arches, bound together [...]

In 2025, I met Dr. Wei Li again in Senegal. He was packing medicines with his daughter Victoria. I asked him, "How many times have your family come to Senegal?" He told me that he and his wife, Dr. Shao Yuan, had come with their daughter four times. I asked curiously, "Why do you have to come together every time? Isn't it okay to let your daughter come by yourself?" He replied, "There is an old saying in China, "If you don't correct yourself, how can you correct others?".  You have to do first what you want your child to do. [...]

At about 3:00 in the morning, we were awakened by the rough braying of donkeys in the village. In order to fall back to sleep, Sarah suggested that we pray together - the God who could make Balaam's donkey speak, couldn't He make the donkeys in the village shut up? Sure enough, after praying, we slept until 6:00 in the morning. When we walked into the dining hall in the morning where rays of the hot African sun was shining through, most of the volunteers were already enjoying breakfast.                         [...]

In a little over a month, I will be traveling to Senegal to participate in the “Africa Cries Out” medical mission. It has been two years since I last went to Africa. I got involved in the volunteer medical mission trip because of a very touching article I read a few years ago by Dr. Xu Jun about Dr. Faye who gave his life selflessly offering his medical services. Since then, I have volunteered and left my footprints in Haiti, Cambodia, and Senegal. At the end of 2022, as I was preparing for that first trip to Senegal, my oldest son, [...]

 My Adventure and Experience      “Welcome back!” Two words that eventually changed my entire perception of service and purpose. The man who spoke carried my suitcase into a large building, already overflowing with bags. Our team brought a bountiful amount of luggage this year – over forty duffel bags, all filled with medicine and donations. In fact, my carry-on luggage was so heavy and overpacked, so I had to leave out many of the donations I received. As blessed as we were to make another successful trip to Senegal, I still could not believe I had returned. The missionary base remained [...]

Africa Cries Out previously reported a story about a boy with no anus - El Haji, a 6-month-old baby who underwent anal reconstruction surgery at the Kentagou Provincial Hospital in Senegal, has received the attention and blessings of many caring people. On December 19, 2024, when I visited the family in their village again, I learned the sad news that the child had passed away.                                                                         [...]

A Life Was Born Recent photo of El Haji   On December 25, 2023, a little life was born in Fatige, a remote leprosy village in Senegal. Farin Drameh welcomed his second son with joy. The child's eyes were big and round, and his cry was like an eagle in the wilderness of Senegal. He named this beautiful boy El Haji Saidou Drameh. However, the sky of joy was soon shrouded in shadows. The midwife told Farin solemnly: "Your son was born without an anus. This is anal atresia." The bad news was like a bolt from the blue, and the [...]

Recently, the Obstetrics and Gynecology clinic of the "Africa Cries Out" Base Hospital was given two awards. Our midwife, Elizabeth Tine, was given the "Excellent Obstetrics and Gynecology Midwife" certificate issued by the community. She is an enthusiastic and responsible medical staff. She treats patients like her own relatives and works tirelessly to deliver babies day and night. Her dedication and efforts have been recognized and rewarded by mothers and the community we serve.     Aside from the certificate award for our midwife, Elizabeth, the "Africa Cries Out" Base Hospital also received the community's "Excellent Service Award."   The "Africa [...]

Since ancient times, parents have emphasized on their children the value of good education, hence they encourage their children to study hard, hoping to help them change their fate and live a better life. There are many stories such as "Mother Meng’s Multiple Relocations", and there are also classics such as "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai" and "Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate" illustrating the importance of education, especially in Chinese parents’ mind. The blood of the ancient people still flows in our bodies and is passed down, and it is this blood that ignites us to help "African children" bring [...]