By Ndeye Aby Ba & El Hadj Abdou Sy | Street Educator & Communications Coordinator, MDG
The story of one of over 200 desperate children lodged in our emergency shelter since 2024
Aliou is from a small Senegalese city south of Dakar, the second of five siblings. His father passed away when he was very young, and he was entrusted to a guardian who decided to send him to Saint Louis to study the Koran in a daara in the Guinaw Rails neighborhood. Separated from the warmth and stability of family life, Aliou’s rebellious spirit and longing for freedom hardened into a tough exterior shaped by pain and neglect.
Life in the daara was harsh. Labeled “deviant” by his marabout, Aliou endured frequent beatings for infractions and unmet expectations. Older talibés, responsible for supervising him, used violence to keep him in line, especially when he tried to escape. He often slept outside, exposed to the elements in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. These repeated trials fueled his growing anger and widened the divide between him and his fellow talibés.
Aliou tried to run away several times from this violent environment. Maison de la Gare sheltered him briefly when he was 10 years old in 2023, but he was returned to the daara where the abuse intensified. Traumatized, he ran away again. Maison de la Gare’s night-rounds team found him by the sea on August 18, 2025, after he had been living on the streets for two months. Exhausted and alone, he had survived without protection or support, and the psychological toll was immense.
This time, Aliou received immediate and sustained care in our emergency shelter. He was given safe shelter, nourishing meals, and clean clothing. Most important, our educators listened to him and gave him a space where he could finally put his experiences into words. He began to express his emotions and to understand that he was not responsible for the violence he had suffered, and that he deserves protection and respect. Gradually, his anxiety diminished, and his sense of security was restored.
Aliou also started to take part in educational and recreational activities. Games, drawing, and sports helped him rediscover his zest for life and form friendships with other talibés. These experiences restored his self-esteem and trust in adults, offering a balm for his painful past.
Maison de la Gare's team organized mediation sessions with his guardian and marabout, to prepare for his return to a more protective family environment. The discussions were frank, reminding everyone of their responsibilities and ensuring that Aliou's well-being was the priority. Once everyone agreed, Maison de la Gare’s street educator Mamadou Gueye returned Aliou to his home community.
A rigorous follow-up plan is in place, including regular home visits and phone calls, to ensure Aliou's continued safety and access to suitable support. Today, he lives again with his loved ones.
Though his scars remain, Aliou is rebuilding confidence in himself and his future. His journey reflects the silent suffering of too many talibé children, and the profound resilience they can show when met with compassion. Thanks to Maison de la Gare’s holistic support, Aliou has found hope and the chance to shape a brighter tomorrow.
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