By Sonia LeRoy | Canadian partner of Maison de la Gare
Together, we can keep this bright light shining in a dark world
Earlier this month, we asked for your help in response to the dramatic and unexpected loss of United Nations funding for Maison de la Gare's essential programs, which offer hope and a future for talibé children in Senegal. Long-term Canadian partner Sonia LeRoy spent 10 days with us during this time, and we want share with you her fresh impressions of the magic of this place, and why every one of us must do everything in our power to ensure that it can continue.
_______
Much has changed at Maison de la Gare since our last visit to Saint Louis. But the feeling as I stepped through the gate this morning has not: tranquility, hope, refuge, love.
Children play under the shade of the coconut trees. A few more wash their clothes in the new hygiene area. Yet several more wait for the infirmary doors to open. A stray cat who has adopted the center wanders by, stopping to stretch in front of the classrooms. Three little barefoot boys, empty begging bowls in hand, meander in then run to join their friends on the clean, warm, welcoming sand—begging bowls forgotten for now. All this feels like coming home.
And yet, the space is transformed. A new watcher at the door recorded our names. The old, leaking offices and library are replaced by a new, two-story complex with a balcony overlooking the center, including administrative offices, the microfinance program, a welcome reception area where Noël greets all the talibés who enter and records their names and daaras, a conference room, and Issa’s office. The toilets and wash area have moved, now shaded by the coconut trees and a towering date palm. The classrooms have been refurbished. A new library is being painted and furnished.
The new extension to the emergency shelter serves as a live-in school for 18 talibés who are joined during school hours by seven girls from the local community. This new school, Yaakar (Wolof for “Hope”), is a pilot project to demonstrate to marabouts, to the government, to Saint Louisans, to the world, and to the talibés themselves, that talibés have the same potential to learn and thrive as any other children, so long as they are respected, cared for, have access to education, and the support of a community who care about them.
Kalidou spotted me, rushing over with a warm greeting and an embrace. Kalidou was once a talibé himself. Now he is a teacher, a big brother, and an inspiration to the talibés, demonstrating to them that they need not remain trapped in this life indefinitely. Alagie (“American”) arrived at the infirmary and began treating the steady stream of patients presenting themselves for care.
Dad (Rod LeRoy) and I were invited to a nearby soccer pitch to watch the tournament that Lalla had organized for the talibés children. Four teams from four different daaras. Two matches, forty minutes each. No shoes or boots. Some of the boys wore socks for a little protection. No one held back— effort was 100% as was the glory for the winning teams. But I could tell that all the children felt like they had won. Lalla is so much more than a Maison de la Gare sports animator. She is a coach, a confident, a big sister - family to these boys who have been separated from their own.
We returned to the center for a meeting with the leadership team. The flow of children arriving soon accelerated. Classes were in session. Then, Noël began to organize games— much needed play so kids can enjoy themselves like other children their age and leave the reality of the street behind for a time. It was glorious: joy, camaraderie, mutual support, belonging, fun. Finally, the meal was prepared. As the last light of the day began to dim, the boys lined up, and Rowan (my daughter) handed each child their dinner before they passed out of the gates and into the night, back to something so much less than this.
Issa Kouyaté’s long nurtured vision for this wonderful place is truly manifesting. It thus feels even more cruel that we have lost the United Nations funding, slashed with little warning after the United States government cancelled their financial contributions. This center for the talibé is an oasis for thousands of children living a life of neglect and abuse.
Having experienced the wonder of this place anew today, we all feel a fresh commitment to re-double our efforts to adapt, find new funding sources, and keep this bright light shining in a dark world.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
