"A Day in the Life" of Maison de la Gare

"A Day in the Life" at Maison de la Gare

There is very little action at Maison de la Gare first thing in the morning. Lony Mame Diarra, the "house mother" prepares breakfast for the little talibe boys living in the dortoir d'urgence, Just Kalidou and Gorgui at the moment. Mamadou turns on the water and tends the garden. A neighbour notices the water is running and knocks on the still locked door, asking to fill his jug. He is invited in, as usual. Arouna organizes his books and bag for school.

the MDG Garden

Kalidou and Gorgui eventually rise and enjoy their breakfast. Then they kick the ball around, amusing themselves. After all, this is no daara where the talibes are sent out to beg for their breakfast as well as quotas of money with the sunrise.

By 10:00am Noel, the activities manager is positioned with his computer by the front door. He greets each talibe, recording his name and daara, as the boys begin to stream through the now open gate. Some entrust Noel with their begging bowls, little piles of coins collected during morning begging, and their few small treasures, so they can run off and play, hands free.

soccer, anytime...anywhere

Before long the library is full of kids asking Bashir, the librarian, to put on a movie. And, a lively soccer match is underway in the sandy open area. One strong kick injures the already battered bougainvillea. Another, the banana tree. Mamadou winces with the next near miss of his bananas.

Mamadou and his bananas

Then he shrugs and joins the game. Before long, the ball is gone, over the wall due to an over-enthusiastic kick. Someone small and light is launched up onto the roof of the classrooms. Then, he is over the wall. Back comes the soccer ball and the game resumes. A little later the boy has also made
his way back around through the front door again. Many children take advantage of the bank of showers and toilets. They watch  out for each other, passing filthy clothes out to each other to watch over as they bathe.

Children present themselves throughout the morning at the infirmary, arriving in ones and twos. Awa, the Maison de la Gare nurse, tends their wounds, eases their toothaches, examines and redresses their infections and generally spreads much needed TLC.

The MDG Infirmary

At about 11:00 karate begins. the MDG karate kids wait for the door to be opened to the room where the gi's are stored, then they put on their white uniforms and prepare for class. the class lasts a little over an hour, and is divided into beginner and advanced groups. Many more talibe sit watching the karate kids in action, possibly thinking about joining in someday themselves.

MDG Karate Kids

relaxing in the garden, the begging bowl by his side

As the sun rises higher in the African sky more and more kids make their way over to the
library or the garden. There they play, talk, or just lounge around, enjoying doing nothing in the shade.

After a few hours the kids head back out onto the street and the doors of Maison de la Gare close. The boys have begging quotas to fill. And, in many cases they will be expected back at the daara for a little bit of coranic instruction.

Later in the afternoon the gates of Maison de la Gare open once again. Kalidou and Gorgui have been fed and have enjoyed an afternoon nap. Mamadou probably has as well. Arouna returns from school. He has a break for a few hours, time to help out around Maison de la Gare. Arouna, a begging talibe himself until just last year, is an inspiration to so many of the kids. Some of the kids who visited in the morning come back

the talibes doing their laundry

in as their begging quotas have been filled and submitted to their marabouts. But, there is also a different crowd. French classes are taught in the afternoon, and the children who want to learn are gathering, waiting for the teachers to arrive. Games resume. The infirmary is back in action. More children head to the showers or wash their clothes. All the while, kids are keeping an eye out for the arrival of the teachers.

a karate gi, freshly washed

When Bouri, Aida and Abdou unlock the doors to their classrooms children begin to head over. Some of the older ones  who are studying with Bouri are hoping to learn enough to begin in the public school system sometime soon. These boys are eager and diligent. Some of the littlest ones need some encouragement to set aside the ball and head to class. But, many also see the opportunity for what it is and stream right on in.

Bouri with her students

A few kids, the "dojo talibes", bow out of class early and head to the Sor-Karate dojo to train. After class, as the night descends, a meal is handed out to each child. Then, after a bit more socializing, out they go, "Ba souba", "à demain", into the darkness, back to their daaras. Maison de la Gare is quiet once more.