Maison de la Gare in Full Swing

A week has passed since I left Canada. Yet, it seems there is still so much to do: A report to complete on the medications we brought on our last visit (due to temporary confiscation by local customs officials the medications arrived after my departure), photos to take of the kids responsible for tending the garden plot at Bango, organizing a karate volunteer group trip for next year, a few more articles to write for the Global Giving and Maison de la Gare websites, and a meeting with Master Ignate Ba about advancing the karate program. This list pales compared to my father's own to-do list of reorganizing budgets and bank accounts, updating the accounting,  preparing and organizing the board meeting, and working with MDG staff to ensure the work being done relates properly to the budget so that grants can be renewed and objectives fulfilled.

 

At the centre, the list of activities for the talibes to enjoy and benefit from continues to expand. Since the month of May, Lala Sene, a member of the female Senegalese National soccer team has been volunteering with the talibes every Thursday afternoon - a great supplement to the regular tournaments. She organizes soccer games and coaches them to their full potential. Thank goodness my sister Karen sent a new soccer ball with me for the talibes. They have lost the others over the wall - the price to pay for over enthusiastic kicking.

 

The karate program is strong and growing, only limited by the number of available uniforms and dojo registration sponsorships. Young kids and older teenagers alike present themselves asking for karate. But, it is the teenagers who seem to feel the passion and the possibility. For them, registration at the dojo levels any discrimination they may experience in their day to day lives. Here, only skill, earned by perseverance and discipline matter. Every person who puts on a Gi has the same opportunity in the dojo. After three days of participating in the morning karate classes, and registering 8 more kids at the dojo, I am becoming known on the streets of Saint Louis as Sonia-karate. But I know, they would still rather have Robbie training with them.

 

The classes were very full this week. Abdou Soumare works with the youngest kids every morning, leading educational games, showing educational videos, and reading with the kids. He also had an overflowing class in the afternoon. Aida's class of older kids was also full of students who may imagine education could be a key to better times. 

 

 

Arouna is getting help from a past professor who agreed to intervene with authorities to help him obtain identification papers. If all goes according to plan, he will begin high school next week! This professor is prepared to help another 10 MDG talibes without papers find places in the public school system as well. For those fortunates the dream of education is a step closer now.

We have learned there will be a ronde de nuit Sunday night. Will we join them late at night, in search of runaway talibes living on the street? Maybe it will depend on how far we have worked through our lists. I have done this ronde de nuit a few times. It is never easy to come face to face wth the the reality of such young kids alone and vulnerable,  knowing they feel safer exposed to the dangers of the streets than in their daaras. Thank God Maison de la Gare, at least, is there for them. The staff at our Dortoir d'Urgence will be ready and waiting to receive the runaways and, eventually, hopefully, escort them home.

 

I have tried to spend as much time as possible with the kids. This is what I love to do most when I am here, and what I know my Dad longs also to do, if only he ever had enough time.  After karate, and soccer, as kids lounge in the shade of the garden mid-day, I pull out the Monopoly Deal cards (also thanks to Karen). Or, we discuss the importance of education and the challenges of being talibes. Or, religion and spirituality. Or, why people in the world choose to do right and wrong. Or, how they will try to improve Senegal when they are older. Or, we just listen to music. One thing these kids don't do is really complain, other than the occasional admittance "oui, c'est dur" . Even after another night of heavy thunderstorms and wind, they comment on the beautiful morning sun, not on the deluge that stole their sleep the night before. My friend Tijan noted "morning is a wonderful blessing, either sunny 

 

or stormy. It stands for hope...giving us another start of what we call life". For the talibes, the storm is just a normal part of life, to be accepted along with forced begging and life in the daaras. But, the morning and new day are a gift from God, to be appreciated, something for which to be thankful. And, so is Maison de la Gare.