Child Protection Senegal Project #10053

Hope for begging talibe children, St-Louis Senegal

by Maison de la Gare

Project Report | Dec 28, 2024
The Streetlight

By Robbie Hughes, Student | Volunteer with Maison de la Gare since 2014

Robbie illuminates the hidden world of Maison de la Gare’s children

I am sitting on my balcony in South Orange, a small town in New Jersey, USA. An empty parking lot across the street catches my eye, bathed in the cold radiance of a single flickering streetlight. I have seen this streetlight every evening as I relax at the end of my day.

Tonight, my thoughts drift far from the peaceful evening I am enjoying. They are drawn instead to the image of a talibé child in Senegal standing in a parking lot not too different from the one before me. He has run away from his daara for the first time in search of a distant home. I see him standing beneath a similar streetlight, grappling with a decision that no child should ever have to make: do I sleep under the exposed glow of this streetlight where everyone can see me, or do I hide in the shadows where no one can find me? If I were that talibé, running from a life of exploitation and abuse, what would I choose… the streetlight, or the shadows?

There he is, dazed and tired in the middle of the night, wondering whether he should hide or remain visible. Sleeping under the light brings with it the dread of being found by the very marabout he has just fled. And yet, hiding in the darkness would come with its own terrors … the fear of the unknown. The fear that if somebody with nefarious intentions did find him, nobody would be there to save him.

Then, a heartbreaking realization would strike; visibility wouldn’t matter. Every day this child is visible. Every day, people see him on the streets, exposed and vulnerable. While nobody looks in his eyes, they see the bruises, the torn clothes, the empty begging bowl. They see suffering and they walk by, indifferent to his pain. Every day, people conscious of his suffering go about their lives, and no one stops to help. Why would tonight be any different? If they wouldn’t intervene during the daylight when he is forced to beg in plain sight, why would they now, under the cover of night? The light will not save him. He will still be alone.

There is no greater crime than the crimes we commit against our own children. The talibé children - our children - are subjected to a brutal system of forced labor and abuse, and far too many of us turn a blind eye. This is not just a crime against that individual child; it is a crime against humanity itself. How can we look away when the most vulnerable among us are crying out for help?

The streetlight, often associated with bringing things into the light for clarity and understanding, serves here as a reminder of the injustices we choose to ignore. Instead of being a beacon of hope, it exposes the shadows of indifference that envelop our society.

We often associate light with a force that uncovers truths, exposing wrongdoing so it can be addressed. Yet, in this context, the light casts a harsh glare on the inaction that defines the talibé system, exposing one of humanity's many collective failures. Rather than illuminating paths to safety and justice, it exposes the painful reality that many in our communities can see the suffering but remain unmoved to act. It forces us to confront the bitter irony that, while the light reveals the truth, it also exposes our collective apathy.

The streetlight stands as a powerful metaphor for our moral obligation.

It compels us to reflect on our role in this ongoing tragedy and challenges us to turn awareness into action. If we are to bring something into the light, let it be our commitment to change, our refusal to look away, and our determination to protect those who have been forced to choose the shadows for far too long.

In the end, whether the child chooses the light or the shadows, the outcome remains the same… he is abandoned, left to fend for himself in a world that refuses to see his suffering. The talibé system is not just a tragedy of circumstance. It is a betrayal of our most fundamental duty to protect our most vulnerable. No longer can we live in a world where a child must decide between the light and the darkness, knowing that either choice will lead to the same heartbreaking isolation.

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Canadian Robbie Hughes is a Masters student in Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University, New Jersey. A black belt at age 13, he started Maison de la Gare’s karate program in 2014. He has recently returned from his seventh visit to Saint Louis.

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Nov 27, 2024
Stories of Hope from the Mbaye Aw Schools

By Cheikh Diallo | Shoemaker, and founder of the Mbaye Aw schools

These schools keep 100s of boys from becoming begging talibés and save girls from child marriages.

Maison de la Gare and its generous donors have supported the schools of Mbaye Aw for many years. These schools play a crucial role in the lives of 100s of vulnerable children.

Shoemaker Cheikh Diallo, himself a former talibé, dreamed of building schools in his home village and nearby communities. He was determined to keep the boys from being sent to daaras in the large cities, and the girls from being forced to marry as young as 12 years old. Cheikh and the villagers established “The Association for the Retention of Children in their Villages and the Reduction of Child Marriage,” a name that reflects perfectly their humanitarian mission.

There are now five schools with 572 students, 222 girls and 350 boys. The boys include 194 former talibés who, thanks to these schools, have returned home from the streets to start again on the path of education and hope.

We have reported on the origin and development of these schools several times … this is a recent article. This year, 91 students were ready to travel to the nearest city, Dahra Djolof, to take government exams. Several of the children and parents shared their feelings about how their lives have changed. These are their words:

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“My name is Mohamed. I remember the time when I was a talibé. When I was 10 years old in 2016, I was begging with the other children in the streets. Then, thanks to God, they found me in the streets so I could go to school in French. I’ve been there until now. I believe that I can be someone and help other children. I am one of the first talibés to leave the streets to go to school thanks to this Mbaye Aw project. Thank you to everyone who has helped the children.”

“My name is Coumba. I am very happy to have been able to study with all these children. I have worked hard to get good results so that I will not have to marry too soon. I want to continue studying.”

“I am Deynabou. I am the mother of two boys who died as talibés. I don’t know what to say. This morning, I am very happy as I dreamed that I was with them. It is during these exams that I feel that I am with them as I am preparing food for the children.”

“My name is Mariam, and I am 12 years old. I am very happy and proud of myself. I am celebrating because, next year, I will continue to study. I will not become one of those who must get married at a very young age. Thank you everyone.”

“My name is Samba, and I am 12 years old. I started as a talibé when I was 6 years old. Since returning to the village, I have been able to study. The education at the school makes me very happy. I really want to get good results. Thank you to all of you who have made it possible for us to study as we should.”

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Thank you indeed! It is every one of you, our friends and supporters around the world, who makes it possible for Maison de la Gare to continue its work for the talibés and other vulnerable children.

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Oct 30, 2024
My Unforgettable Experience at Maison de la Gare

By Lucas Lindimer | French volunteer with Maison de la Gare

Lucas teaches two talibe children the ABCs

Maison de la Gare and its work through the eyes of a volunteer

Lucas recently volunteered with Maison de la Gare and the talibé children. His report testifies to the power of a short stay to bring about significant change, both for the children and for the volunteers themselves.

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I arrived in Maison de la Gare’s center in Saint Louis from Aix-en-Provence, France, on a Tuesday morning in July. Maison de la Gare is a non-governmental organization that helps talibé children with their care and education. The organization also helps these young people to become self-supporting adults, offering them apprenticeship training and, for some, microfinance loans to help them start up their own businesses.

I was in regular contact with the center's coordinators before my departure, and they did everything possible to ensure the smooth organization of my stay. I thank them for this support.

I landed in Dakar on a Monday evening. A driver picked me up at the airport took me to a hotel in the town of Thiès, some 30 km from the airport. The night at the hotel went very well, with breakfast included. I met two other volunteers in the hotel, Emma and Soraya from Andorra. The same driver picked the three of us up in the morning to take us to our host families in Saint Louis, a 3½ hour drive through fascinating Senegalese towns, villages and countryside.

Arriving at Maison de la Gare’s center later that day, Adama (the volunteer coordinator) showed me around and introduced me to all the staff. I soon felt right at home.

I was lucky enough to stay with a local host family, a great way to become familiar with Senegalese culture. Every day, Mme Bawo prepared her best dishes and local specialties for me.

It was a 10 to 15 minute walk from her home to the center. I found the people enroute very welcoming and was never bothered on my way. There is a police presence in the town, and I always felt safe.

I supported the talibé children for two weeks, working with the teachers and other staff members. We were asked to be at the center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., from Monday to Friday.

We had many different tasks … teaching children about hygiene and cleanliness, supporting them in the classrooms, helping with medical care, playing with them, preparing snacks, tending the vegetable garden, and much more. Every skill that a volunteer can bring is valuable in helping to improve the living conditions of the talibé children, both at the center and in the daaras where they live.

Ranging in age from 5 to 20, the talibé children have very different needs and expectations. During these few days, we taught the youngest children the alphabet, numbers and colors through games, coloring and fun activities, always striving to keep their full attention. The older talibés are more interested in mastering languages, particularly French and English.

We were free on the weekends to explore Saint Louis. Staff at the center helped us to organize a pirogue trip on the river that runs through the city, and a carriage ride to explore the island of Saint Louis and its extraordinary fishermen’s village.

These two weeks were an extremely enriching experience, and I enjoyed every moment of it so much.

If you care about the situation of the talibé children (how could you not?), I urge you to join Maison de la Gare as a volunteer. They will do everything possible to ensure the success of your stay.

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