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