OUR ORGANIZATION
Maison de la Gare is a non-profit, non-denominational and non-political non-governmental organization, founded in 2007 by a group of ten young Senegalese men and women driven by a determination to improve the lives of the begging talibé street children of Senegal.
Maison de la Gare's team works to help the talibé children integrate into Senegalese society, through education, professional training, and sports and arts activities
Maison de la Gare provides complete and balanced support for the talibé children
Emotional Support
The talibés often suffer from psychological problems related to their separation from their parents and family. They desperately need a place where they are listened to, and can reclaim their identities as children.
Education
Talibé children rarely have the chance to go to school. Learning to read and write and having access to books and computers gives them a sense of self-worth and helps them to not feel inferior to other children.
Health Care and Hygiene
Maison de la Gare provides the talibés with hygiene support and basic health care.
Sports
Organized sports let the talibé children forget their difficult lives for a few hours and feel a sense of belonging and accomplishment.
Support for Talibé Children in Crisis
Maison de la Gare recovers hundreds of boys each year who have run away and are living on the streets. Their cases are analyzed, and they are reintegrated safely either into their daaras or in their home communities.
Towards self-sufficiency
Lacking formal education, older talibé children must acquire skills to become financially independent. Maison de la Gare has developed apprenticeship activities for them and, when they graduate, has a microfinance program to help them become self-supporting.
Development at the Local Level
Above all, Maison de la Gare is a local development initiative. The organisation lobbies aggressively for the cause of the talibé children, and works to make this a central issue of political debate both within Senegal and internationally. In support of it's objectives, Maison de la Gare's team works to build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with government authorities, other non-governmental organisations, and in particular with the marabouts who are the key to realizing real change.
We are committed to child protection. Please click here for our policies:
- Child Protection Policy
- Code of Conduct
Maison de la Gare
was recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization by the Senegalese Ministry of the Interior on
July 3, 2019, with the number MINT/DGAT/DPONG/DAPI 01642
Board of Directors
Members of Maison de la Gare's Board of Directors are elected for a period of three years by the annual General Assembly. Current directors are:
Maodo Diagne
Founder and Director of Action Femme Enfants, an association working for the most
underprivileged, especially mothers and children
Adama Madame Diarra
Treasurer, Maison de la Gare’s accountant and receptionist
Aïda Dieng
Maison de la Gare teacher since 2011. Formerly employee representative
to the Board
Baye Ndaraw Diop
Secretary General, Coordinator of Maison de la Gare’s
microfinance program
Issa Kouyaté
President and Founder (in 2007) of Maison de la Gare
Rod LeRoy
Partner since 2008, president of Rev. C.F. Johnston
Foundation (Canada)
MDG's Documents