Talibé Youth Assume Responsibility

Transition to an independent life

The talibé children served by Maison de la Gare are boys, often as young as age four, who live in horrific conditions in daaras and are forced to beg or work for monetary quotas as well as their own needs. Maison de la Gare offers hope to these children by providing an oasis of safety and caring, as well the key to a better life through education. Some talibés, despite a life dominated by discrimination and forced begging, attend Maison de la Gare’s classes and programs for years, achieving a level of literacy and skill that will enable them to lead a successful independent life, be enrolled in the formal school system, and realistically aspire to higher education.

Some talibés who have long been involved with Maison de la Gare’s programs have taken the initiative to provide guidance and support for younger talibés and involve themselves in the operation of the centre, while developing an admirable commitment to Maison de la Gare’s objectives. Some are still tied to their daaras with forced begging commitments, while others are old enough to be released by their marabouts but have no place else to live. Despite their developing competencies, these boys are not ready for full independence due to on-going education, not yet having fully gained the necessary tools, and lack of any family support.

Several of these particularly competent older talibés of long association with Maison de la Gare are being involved formally in the operation of the centre and its programs.

Kalidou Baldé is Sports Animator. Originally from the Casamance in the south of Senegal, Kalidou attended the first literacy classes offered in the old railway station in September 2008. He is one of the talibés who has succeeded in building a successful life blending the obligations of his daara with education at the center and learning tailoring, while at the same time developing computer skills. Kalidou has assumed responsibility for guiding the younger talibé in sports activities, and animating the regular soccer tournaments.

Arouna Kandé serves as Assistant to the Administrator. From the Kolda region of Senegal, Arouna has attended classes and participated in Maison de la Gare’s programs for many years. Arouna's perseverance and recognition of the importance of education as the key to a better life has led him to successfully navigate formal public schooling. He has struggled with discrimination at school, the death of both parents, and living conditions which have made studying near impossible, and yet he persists. And, thanks to Maison de la Gare, Arouna is currently registered in the fourth level of secondary school. He is determined at any price to complete his education. Arouna is well known and admired among the talibés, and continues to be a shining example for them. He is always on the lookout for talibés in difficuly and has long been willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed.

Mamadou Kandé is working as Site Manager of Maison de la Gare’s centre. An older talibé, also from the Kolda region, he was neglected by his family and has been in Saint Louis for many years. In 2012 a friend in Mamadou's daara suggested he visit Maison de la Gare. He began attending classes daily and has been making progress in learning French. He took a particular interest in the garden and it soon became apparent that he has a natural affinity with plants and horticulture. He has become known as "Mamadou jardin". Mamadou has a very gentle and supportive manner with the younger talibés. Due to his reliable nature, Maison de la Gare's team had been entrusting him with increasing responsibilities at the centre, leading to him taking on this new role.

Ablaye Mbalo is Maison de la Gare’s Maintenance Manager. He is one of the centre's pioneers, and has been involved with Maison de la Gare since its beginniings in the former train station in 2008. There, he attended French classes and participated in other activities such as sport and wrestling. Ablaye has become a quiet but constant presence at Maison de la Gare. He has a strong mechanical aptitude, and he has assisted Mamadou for several years in the development and care of the garden, helping to make it the oasis it is today.

Souleymane Ndiaye assists Maison de la Gare’s medical staff with health care and hygiene. He was introduced to Maison de la Gare in 2012 when he needed to be hospitalized for anemia. Maison de la Gare paid for his treatment and followed his progress when his marabout left him on his own. Souleymane has lived in a daara for many years, but has found the time to attend Maison de la Gare’s literacy classes regularly. Souleymane’s medical history has led him to take an interest in the health care and hygiene programs at the centre, and he has assumed leadership of a tooth brushing program for the younger talibés. He works in collaboration with the nurses to improve the children's oral hygiene, and otherwise in support of the healthcare programs.


Your donation can support these senior talibés as they settle into their roles in Maison de la Gare’s leadership team. Inviting older talibés to take responsibility in this way is a natural next step in realizing our hopes for them. After all, what better example could be set for young talibés grasping for hope and meaning? And, who could have a better appreciation for Maison de la Gare’s objectives or a more fastidious commitment to achieving those objectives than the very people this centre was created to help?

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