Chance For All in an African Magical Classroom

Who am I in my society? What is my real place in this world?

Why have I been brought into the world to live in these sad and bad conditions? Sometimes I am wondering why my life is so different from the other children.

Indeed, they live in house and have parents, they have nice clothes and shoes, also, schools are open to them and they have good food in the right time, but why not me?

Am I responsible for what happens to me? In which world do we live in? Why do people ignore us talibés?

Oh yes, sometimes we are ignored, even if we used to annoy them to have alms or food because we are hungry. They categorically refuse to help us, even if they see the distress in our little faces. If we don’t give money to our marabouts everyday, he will beat us; he doesn’t care about our hunger, our thirst or our clothes. People know that and nobody says a word. Nobody can help us.

 Sometimes we are seen, because they need us (in some circumstances) and it is just to sweep their homes, take out the trash or when they need God to grant one of their wishes, in such case, they give us offerings.

Otherwise, we have nothing from people around us. Nowadays, it’s common to see groups of activists (opinion leaders, a political candidate…), in Senegal fighting for the high cost of living (especially food, rent and transportation).

Other groups are talking about parity, Women’s rights and every day they are in the media, shouting loud and clear in order to force an immediate reaction of the Senegalese government. How come? What about the fight for the children’s right? Normally, the situation of the talibés should be a priority over all the others anyway? Is there any humanity left in this life?

Instead of that, we are abandoned in the cold, the heat, the hunger or in the floods, without it shocks anyone. We are raped by predators because we are vulnerable and accessible to everyone; we are victims of car accidents all the time. Just because we don’t have real parents, and we do not belong to anyone so we have to face all dangers.

The community offered us to all winds. Society accepts to deliver us to all dangers. And every evening, people keep us out of their memory and then they hide in their home, eyes and ears blocked so that they no longer see us, no longer hear us.

Nevertheless, when we beg for food outside doors, or when we are beaten at night, our howls pierce the silent night. But since men now have hearts of stone, it is very rare to see someone coming to save us. Until when?

However, we didn’t fall from sky, we have parents and they are the first responsible for the hell we live in. Why having children and leaving them at the age of three? It’s necessary to solve the problem by starting from the roots. Find our parents in the villages and repress them so that it stops forever.

When will the day come when our cause will be defended? Major international organizations should think of the talibés of Senegal who suffer in silence

Even if many associations and foreigners are helping us by providing talibés with food, clothes and medication, our issue remains the same. We need to get back to our villages, see our parents and live our normal life. In the meantime, we will try to survive while waiting for Senegal government to take strict measures against child begging and labour.

                               There is a big gap between just thinking of it and doing it.

The Spirit of sharing is a great life lesson, a great moment of friendship and fun.

In these tough economic times, Associations around Saint-Louis town are facing many challenges, due to the pandemic. Of course, it is understandable that donors are facing hard times in their country but, they never forget Senegal and little kids. 

There is an old saying that: ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’ and that proverb makes sense nowadays. In fact; many organizations, agencies or institutions are receiving help and support from their government or foreign NGOs, except local Associations in Saint-Louis.

Sometimes you need to know a distinguished politician in order to get a grant. Unfortunately, we don’t know ways to apply for subsidy, which is quite sad or unfair, but that’s our daily life.

 Luckily, we have longlife friends living far from Senegal, but having their heart and soul with us. They always worry about children situation and associations members. They kept calling us from time to time to have an update regarding the current situation of street children. For example, how they are surviving in these times? How can they have good food? How they can be treated if they are sick or injured?

 Despite the fact that those donors are also vulnerable and are confronted with the pandemic, lockdown, job loss, anxiety, safety distance, injections and so on. They still have time to think about us to undertake actions in order to rescue us.

For that purpose, they sent us money to support our activities in Saint-Louis and allowed us to organize a great program of Meals sharing and distribution. Of course in Africa, eating is one of the greatest pleasures of life. Sharing and enjoying meals with people, friends or family is a special time.

 That’s why we decided to do it with talibés and kids in neighborhoods.  Since eating is important for us and knowing that’s never easy for our little ones to enjoy a suitable food, we took time to involve them in decision and all of them really appreciated to share meals together.

The sharing spirit is a great life lesson to teach to children. In that regard, we arranged several days and in different areas (4 neighborhoods in Saint-Louis town and one in Dakar, because we are collaborating with other local groups of young people) to carry out those activities and we relied on other association members to help in food distribution.

We prepared either breakfasts for some or lunch and dinner for others, depending on the circumstances. Everyone (street children, nice marabouts, kids in poor neighborhoods, teenagers and local people) enjoyed meals and hoped that life will return to normal soon.

 It was a great occasion of reunions, as if we were back to our life before the Corona virus. We could notice in kids face a sense of relief and we realized that they needed that. In fact, since the pandemic we lived with fear and concern, so getting back together was like a fraternal meeting and made us feel free and happy.

Thanks again to our two special friends Fred and Nancy, for supporting, coaching and advising us in these hard times. We hope to see them in Senegal in the near future.