Over 14,000 talibe boys in Saint-Louis, Senegal, are forced to beg on the streets, recognised by the UN as victims of modern slavery. As a volunteer, I've seen their resilience, but they desperately lack a safe space to learn and rest. This project will create The Talibe Library (la Bibliotheque des talibes) at Maison de la Gare's centre. It will be a calm, comfortable library offering hundreds of children a sanctuary for reading, learning, and regaining their dignity and independence.
Tens of thousands of talibe boys spend their days begging, living in overcrowded daaras, and suffering abuse. Maison de la Gare provides essential support, but facilities are strained. Classrooms are crowded, resources are minimal, and there is no quiet, dedicated space for children to study, read, or reflect independently. The children sit outside on old tires in the heat. They are eager to learn, yet lack the safe environment needed to turn their curiosity into educational progress.
We will transform an unused room into The Talibe Library - a functional, inviting library and reading space. The $3,500 goal covers renovation, furniture, warm lighting, three handcrafted bookshelves, and an initial collection of books. The room will feature a large mural painted with the children's help, celebrating their identity. The library will be central to the centre's life, hosting volunteer-led reading sessions and quiet study periods for hundreds of children each week.
The Talibe Library will offer a calm, secure environment that many of these trauma-affected children have never experienced, allowing them to rest and read freely. Over time, this safe space will significantly strengthen MDG's education programmes, helping hundreds of children develop literacy, confidence, and curiosity. I plan to continue support from the UK by sending donated books and raising further funds. This project can also serve as a model for creating similar safe learning spaces.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
