Senegal is a peaceful West African nation with many challenges. It is a home to millions, and a majority lives in despair.

Such an impoverished third-world nation faces many deep-seated social problems, some more difficult to resolve than others.

The country’s nearly 12 million people are spread out over 74,000 square miles. Life expectancy is 57 years. The literacy rate is 39 percent.

Chronic unemployment, juvenile delinquency and drug addiction are rampant in the cities, while poor health conditions prevail in rural areas. Only 48 percent of children are enrolled in school.

According to the United Nations Development Index, which ranks countries by the level of “human development,” Senegal is among the poorest 27 nations in the world.

A grim picture? Certainly, and one a group of seven adventurous Auburn High School students soon will see for itself.

In a once-in-a-lifetime goodwill trip – in collaboration with relief-agency giant World Vision – Auburn’s “Senegal-bound Seven” will visit schools and clinics, help needy families and work with children. They will witness developed and underdeveloped villages. They will observe the human struggle half a world away.

Along the way they will document the compelling experience by producing a take-home video, in hopes of drawing more interest and urging others to follow. They believe more students will extend the gesture and continue the mission, a school-to-community partnership borne out of the group’s Christian faith and values.

The seven students belong to Young Life, a non-denominational, incarnational, parachurch ministry, but the nonprofit organization isn’t sponsoring the trip. Each student’s goal is to raise $2,000 for the trip.

There are many reasons to go, but the main purpose of the Feb. 11-20 adventure is as simple – and perhaps as difficult – as procuring water for villagers.

Many Senegalese must travel extensive distances to obtain potable water. Not everyone in the mostly Islamic state has access to safe drinking water.

“I can walk 10 steps to my bathroom for water. They have to walk a mile and pull water from the ground,” said Erik Olsen, a junior, who will accompany his mother, Kim, on the trip in two weeks. “They have it so much harder than we do.”

The Senegal-bound Seven, escorted by two adult leaders, are working with World Vision and others to tap into the possibilities. The students are separately raising money to support a project – a system that would pipe water from a deep well to a dry village. The local effort is committed to foot half of the $14,900 bill; World Vision will pick up the other half in the partnership.

While the trip promises to bring cultural and social awareness to young minds, it also is about business and practicality.

“It’s an opportunity to see Africa and learn about it, but also contribute to a World Vision project in which we’re going to be able to see resources raised so that a community can have water,” said Torrey Olsen, a World Vision national director in West Africa for 15 years, six of which were spent in Senegal. “And that’s a very exciting part about this.”

For the Olsens, West Africa holds a special place. It was their home for 16 years. Two of Torrey and Kim Olsen’s three children, Christine and Mo, were born in Mali, a neighboring country east of Senegal. Christine, a freshman at Auburn High, will join Erik on the homecoming trip to West Africa. Erik, born in Colorado, moved with the family to West Africa when he was a baby.

The Olsens cared for and eventually adopted Mo, a native Malian, while living there. Today, Mo is a student who excels at Green River Community College and performs missionary work in Africa.

The Olsens decided to return stateside six years ago, settling in Auburn, next door to the World Vision headquarters in Federal Way.

Torrey Olsen continues his work with World Vision. And while he won’t be making the trip to West Africa, his itinerary will remain full, with an expected assignment to earthquake-ravaged Haiti.

For the Olsens, it is all about relief work – and providing a different view of the world.

They want to share it with Auburn youth. Joining the Olsens on next month’s trip will be videographer Ben Johnson (senior), Alyssa Ingham (junior), Matt Knott (junior), Abbie Holmberg (freshman) and Ryley Dozier Carlos (freshman).

Sabrina Coady, an Auburn Riverside High and Pacific Lutheran University graduate, will serve as an escort along with team leader Kim Olsen.

“We want the kids to know they can make a huge impact on the people in the world far away, as well as on kids in their school,” Kim Olsen said. “Auburn is a town of diverse people and economic backgrounds, and yet we can help people abroad who are poorer than we are.

“They can learn about the positive impact they can have on the lives of others,” she said. “We’re doing what we can to help them, and I believe they help us by enriching our lives.”