About Us

The Burlington and Thiès-Est Sister City Program is a growing partnership rooted in friendship, cultural exchange, and mutual learning between the City of Burlington, Vermont (USA), and Thiès-Est, Senegal (West Africa). It represents a shared commitment to strengthening global connections while promoting local engagement, cross-cultural understanding, and sustainable development.

This Sister City relationship was initiated to create lasting connections between two communities that, while thousands of miles apart, share common values of community service, inclusion, education, and civic participation. This partnership was championed by Ali Dieng, Burlington City Councilor and longtime community leader, who envisioned a bridge between his home region of West Africa and his adopted home in Vermont.

The program is also rooted in the longstanding military partnership established since 2008 between the Vermont National Guard and the Republic of Senegal  Military.

With the support of Burlington and other civic partners, the Burlington–Thiès-Est Sister City Program became official in 2024. It is part of the broader Sister Cities International network, which promotes peace and collaboration through citizen diplomacy.

In August 2025 a delegation from Burlington, including journalists, nonprofit leaders, and citizen diplomats, traveled to Thiès-Est to strengthen the partnership and explore areas of collaboration. The visit focused on community health, education, and cultural exploration. Delegates met with Senegalese local elected officials, education leaders, and health workers. They also attended community gatherings that showcased the hospitality and vibrant culture of Thiès.

A highlight of the trip was a community health discussion, where Vermont and Senegalese representatives shared ideas about ways to improve maternal and child health outcomes, advance local leadership in healthcare access, and strengthen the logistics of the education system

The Burlington–Thiès-Est Sister City Program aims to promote:

• Cultural exchanges: Strengthening understanding through arts, language, and youth engagement.

• Education partnerships: Creating learning opportunities for students and teachers in both cities.

• Health and well-being: Supporting dialogue on community health and family services.

• Climate change mitigation : Encouraging collaboration, raising awareness, and inspiring action through environmental education and public engagement.

The Sister City partnership will continue to grow through community involvement, shared projects, and ongoing communication between both cities. Future plans include virtual cultural festivals, exchange programs, and joint initiatives focused on youth development and environmental awareness.