Édouard Mendy has taken a bold step in transforming the educational landscape in Keur Massar, Senegal, by backing a major expansion of the Yakar School, a project close to his heart and rooted in his family’s community.
The Yakar School, which was originally designed to offer free, quality education to 60 underprivileged children, will now welcome up to 200 students from next academic year.
This remarkable growth is made possible through the support of Mendy and his partners, including innovative startups PowerZ and Revibe, who share the vision of using digital tools to bridge educational gaps.
The school’s infrastructure will also see the addition of a multi-functional sports complex, reinforcing the role of physical education as a foundational element in the school’s philosophy.
“Studies and sports will be at the heart of our priorities,” stated project founder Jonathan Szwarc. With Mendy lending his name and influence to the project, that mission gains powerful traction.
Returning to Keur Massar—a place deeply tied to his family—was an emotional experience for the Senegalese international and former Chelsea goalkeeper.
“I am moved to know that my family, when they go to the market, will pass by a school with my portrait. It is powerful. It is very powerful,” Mendy shared, visibly touched by the symbolic weight of his contribution. This wasn’t simply charity—it was a meaningful message to the local community and beyond.
Mendy’s rise in football is itself a testament to perseverance.
His path was riddled with obstacles, and his professional career nearly ended before it began.
But he persisted. “Why did I always keep hope? Because I wanted to make the people around me proud. Failure wasn’t an option. I had to succeed, no matter what,” he said, addressing students and community members alike.
That same spirit of resilience now lives within the Yakar School.
“When I saw the children in the classrooms, learning, we are completely in the definition of the word ‘Yakar.’ And it fills me with emotion, because we are in what we want to transmit,” Mendy reflected.
Technology is also central to this educational renewal.
With PowerZ’s interactive learning games now available on iPads supplied by Revibe, students are introduced to global-standard digital education in an engaging and accessible format.
These tools are more than gadgets—they are vehicles for opportunity.
For Mendy, the school is more than bricks and books.
It’s a reflection of his belief that “being better than yesterday shouldn’t be an option, but an obligation.
” Those words, now etched into the school’s wall, embody the legacy he is building—not only through football, but through transformative action.
