It is from this beach in Thiaroye and other shores in Senegal that young men risk their lives crossing the high seas on rickety fishing boats, trying to reach Spain's Canary Islands and other destinations in search of a better life.
Ofeibea Quist-Arcton is an award-winning broadcaster from Ghana and is NPR's Africa Correspondent. She describes herself as a "jobbing journalist"—who's often on the hoof, reporting from somewhere.