It’s great to be home, but I so miss the kids and staff from Maison de la Gare, along with my host family. My time in Senegal really meant a lot to me, though I think I’m only beginning to realize how much.

Overall Experience – I felt so welcomed by the people at Maison de la Gare. All of the staff is so kind and really appreciates having volunteers come to help out and learn more about the center. The work that they are doing in Saint Louis is really incredible, and this is something you can sense from the moment you walk through the gate.

Did I make a Difference? – It’s hard for me to feel like I truly made a difference overall because the plight of the talibés is such a systemic issue. However, I have no doubt that, on an individual basis, I did make a difference, just as many of the people at Maison de la Gare, staff and talibés alike, definitely impacted me. This impact was a two-way street, as many people certainly touched my life, and I hope I touched others as well.

Organization and Communication – Though the organization does try, I think communication could be a bit better. It seemed as though at times people were unsure who was responsible for different aspects of running the organization, which could lead to confusion. However, I did feel like I could talk to anyone at the center, and they were all very understanding and wanted to make improvements where they could.

Accommodations – I was so fortunate to stay with a wonderful family who has hosted many past volunteers, and who I am sure will continue to host. I was welcomed into their home and treated like a family member. The food was excellent – definitely a great way to get a taste of local cuisine and family life! The two kids who lived with the family were also lovely, always wanting to play and constantly teaching me new words in Wolof that would facilitate our games. I was so lucky that Issa knew such a wonderful family to place me with.

Safety – I never felt unsafe at the organization or in the city of Saint Louis. There were definitely challenges that come with being a single white woman and, though at times I would find myself in uncomfortable situations, I never felt threatened or in danger. My host family and friends often warned me about being in the city alone, particularly at night, but I never had any issues in my time there.

Maison de la Gare is an incredible place, and I would recommend anyone to volunteer there! The people are incredibly warm and welcoming, and they really want volunteers to experience everything they have to offer. I worked mostly with Noël, who works on tracking the kids using the center, but I also got to spend quite a bit of time in the clinic, learning first aid and getting to connect with many of the kids on a more personal level. All of the older kids were extremely excited about learning English, and teaching my English class was another way I got to know many of the older talibés better.

I would definitely recommend that anyone looking for a meaningful volunteer experience go to Maison de la Gare. I met so many wonderful people in my time there, and really developed a better understanding of the challenges the talibés and Maison de la Gare face in trying to end the exploitation that surrounds the talibé tradition.

Please click here to see a report that Kaylin wrote about her cultural awakening in Saint Louis, with many photos of her time there.