Meeting Denise McCarthy and her husband Dave, who run a center that helps the Talibe boys in Senegal was quite moving.
During my husband Bob's last trip to Dakar, we were able to tour their center. It was late morning when the boys came walking in carrying their red tin cans they use for begging. In dirty and torn clothes, it was obvious the boys were being neglected.
Hungry and tired they greet Denise and Dave with a smile of relief, for its centers like the McCarthy's that the boys can receive the care they need.
Not a big center, and off a dirt side road void of any visable signs that would give their purpose away for the desperate boys who straggle in daily for care.
Denise gives Bob and I a tour of the center as the kitchen was busy with food preparation for what may be the only meal many of the boys get that day. Carefully prepared by a grandmother like Senegalese woman, with a warm gentle smile in what seems to be a woman the boys have become attached too.
Bob and I began to unpack some supplies that we brought for the boys, many things donated from our church's Christian school from Calvary Chapel.
As we walked around the center we saw four 12x16 rooms used for teaching, parties, and the storing of clothes and much needed supplies. From the way the boys made their selves at home it was obvious they enjoyed their time at the center. Then after our tour Bob began to engage two of the boys in a game of basketball. Then Mouli, a man who became a Christian over a year ago, who is feeling led by the Lord to become a Pastor soon engages the boys in play along with Bob.
Mouli wanted to come with Bob and I because he had never seen, nor heard of an outreach that helps the Talibe kids. Children like Mouli once was having grown up in a Muslim family in Senegal. Who was also sent to live for a time with a Marabou to learn the Koran and Muslim ways.
Today Mouli understands to-well the abuse suffered from the Marabous, and is happy to see a place that many of the children could go to receive compassionate care.
As Mouli joined with Bob in getting the boys to interact with them, it seemed complicated for some, as they have never known any other relationship with an adult male outside the treatment from their Marabou, (Muslim teacher).
Observing the boys myself, I was moved emotionally in seeing how happy they were to be at the center. To be able to take a shower and put on a clean set of clothes, or to enjoy the pleasures of just brushing their teeth; not to mention, receiving a meal. To finally get some proper nutrition for their belly's that sometimes goes without food for days if it were not for care centers like the McCarthy's.
Recently Denise was interviewed about what she and her husband Dave do for the boys, and what she has learned from caring for them. So I've decided to include her interview which she sent to me today. Here in full is that interview, and in it you will see the lives of these boys from a couple who left the comforts of home to live in Dakar to care for them :
Talibés Boys Interview:
How long have you been working with the Talibe boys?
I have been working with talibés since 2002.
What exactly are you doing to help these boys?
Our center uses a holistic approach which encompasses all aspects of the boys’ lives. We provide daily basic hygiene, first aid, at least one meal and free time to play, exercise, relax, sleep, dance(whatever they would like to do like a normal child might do at their own house). Bi-weekly we provide literacy classes, showers and clean clothes and Bible stories. The older boys are also learning a vocational skill to help them be productive adults and be able to support themselves and a family.
What do the centers for the Talibe boys offer?
Most centers try to give the boys a chance to feel loved and show them they are worth something in their society.
Are most of the centers the Talibe Christian affiliates?
I am not aware of all of the facilities for talibés in Senegal . I believe most are run by Christians, but there may be some humanitarian organizations which are only helping their physical needs.
What do you know of how this Talibe system emerged?
Talibe means student of Allah. It was supposed to be a way for the boys to learn the Koran. Originally the parents would send the boys to the teacher’s(marabout) farm and in return for helping the marabout farm, the boys would receive a Koranic education. Sadly, over time due to less than favorable farming conditions and teacher greed, many of the teachers moved to the city with the children and they say they have to send the boys out to beg because they cannot afford to take care of all of them. The boys do go out to beg, but none of the money is used for their care.
What does a typical day for a Talibe boy look like?
All talibés do not have the same schedule so I can only give you our boys’ schedule. I do believe it is similar in most daaras(koranic schools).
Every day the boys wake with the prayer call before sunrise, approx. 5-7am they recite Koranic verses.
7-11am they go on the streets and beg for their breakfast and for their 300cfa quota(approx. .75US). M-F our talibés come to our center for breakfast from approx. 9-11am .
11-1 M-W,Fri.- Sun. More Koranic recitation
1-3 Beg for lunch or dinner
3-5 M,Tu, Fri-Sun. More Koranic recitation
5+ Beg for dinner Every day
Sleep on a hard floor or mat with several boys crammed together. Most do not have a roof over their heads to protect them from the rain, bugs or the cold.
Do you think there are any cases in which the boys are better off in this system than if they were to remain with their families?
If the boys come from very poor families, at least in the city they do eat. Many are able to keep the money above the amount of their quota that they collect so they use this to buy food or a few other items that they might want(believe it or not, some have cell phones). They pool their money to buy soccer balls and other toys to share. We have some that give us their extra money for long term savings. They learn at an early age how to count and how to be careful with money
No child should be taken away from their mother usually at 5 years old, but some as young as 3 or 4. These boys have no maternal care at their daaras. It is all male influence only.
These boys miss out on any time of nurturing family life, no grandma or grandpa time, no getting to know their siblings unless their brother happens to be in the same daara with them. They are forced to grow up on their own and fend for themselves on the unsafe, dirty and hot streets.
There are many holidays here in Senegal , but they don’t get to celebrate any of them. Every day is pretty much the same for a talibé for years and years and some are not even allowed to leave the system at the normal age of approx. 16. Many finally runaway from their daaras to escape their plight.
Do you often see cases of abuse and if so how frequently?
Yes, we have seen several cases of the boys being beaten so badly that their backs, arms, heads and/or necks are bleeding and eventually they have very deep and lifelong scars.
Their teachers change during certain seasons and some hit them and some don’t, so we will have times of more incidents because of a cruel teacher, but Praise God we do not see a regular occurrence of abuse in these boys. There are no signs among our boys of sexual abuse either. Their abuse is mostly physical due to lack of nutritional foods or medical care and unclean living conditions and emotional due to being treated like worthless creatures. Most people on the streets do not acknowledge them in any way. Many boys don’t even know basic greetings which a part of their heritage because so few people greet them.
What emotional impact do you think this system is having on the boys?
Emotionally, the boys are more harmed than physically. Their parents “give them away” to a total stranger and many never see their parents again. They are told their lives have to be the way they are to humble them. Even if these boys are in the system for a short time, the emotional damage is probably irreparable in most of them.
What level of education does one of these boys have by the time he is free?
The boys receive no formal education. They do not even know how to read or write their own names or how old they are. They do not learn the language of their country, which is French. We have been working with them for about 2 years and even the most advanced are only at about Kindergarten level.
What happens to the boys once they are out of the system? And is there anyone or organization to help them find a way to provide for themselves other than begging?
Most of the boys that stay in the system eventually become market or street vendors, professional beggars or thieves.
Other than missionaries teaching the boys a vocational skill, I am not aware of any other organizations helping them after they leave the system.
How intertwined is the Talibe system with Islam?
Without Islam there would be no talibé system.
Do you think there is a way to end this system or is it even possible in this culture?
The parents need to be educated and informed that they are mistreating their children by sending them away to these supposed schools. Some of the parents of our boys just recently found out that their boys are sent out to beg and have taken them out of the system. Unfortunately, the Muslim leaders and marabouts in Senegal have much power and no one wants to stand up to them for fear of their lives.
As more people convert to Christianity, the system could eventually fall, but it is so intertwined into their cultural, they have been blinded to its inhumanity. They have been brainwashed into thinking that they need the talibés on the streets to give their alms and sacrifices to.
Praise God He loves these boys immensely and He can change/end this system!
Thank you for caring enough about these sweet boys to want to educate others about their plight.
Blessings in Him,
Denise McCarthy/WorldVenture
Xaley Boroom Bii(Children of our Lord) Center ( COOL )
Dalifort , Senegal
West Africa
If you would like to help the McCarthy's with their center or help sponsor them in their work go to:
Thanks, Patty. I appreciate your love for our boys and your help in caring for them!
Posted by: Denise McCarthy | October 26, 2010 at 04:20 PM