Souleymane - A Child at Heart Becomes a Leader of Children

 

During this visit to Senegal I have been lucky to spend much time with Souleymane. He has taught karate classes with me at the centre. He has helped me orient more talibes into the Maison de la Gare karate program. We have played Monopoly Deal and spent time just hanging out. This week my Facebook account was disabled without cause or warning. Facebook has been an important means of communication while I am in Africa - a link to home as well as to Senegalese friends. Souleymane's always cheerful attitude and positive and playful disposition has helped remind me that it is good to just be present, and for a few days not to worry about my links to the outside world.The following history about Souleymane is from an article I wrote to be published on the Maison de la Gare Global Giving web page, and on Maison de la Gare's own web site, www.mdgsl.com later this year. Enjoy...

 

 

Souleymane first arrived at Maison de la Gare in 2010 when he was about 14 years old.  After receiving help from Maison de la Gare when he was sick, he became a familiar figure at the centre. It soon became apparent that Souleymane, sent from his home in The Gambia to a marabout and forced to beg for quotas of money at an early age, had been cheated of his childhood. At Maison de la Gare he made up for lost time. As a teenager, he learned to play, And, he discovered education. Now, as an older talibe in transition with responsibilities at the centre, and freed from his marabout, Souleymane is helping other talibes find their ways to better lives.

Souleymane had initially heard about the centre by word of mouth from other talibes. He would appear from time to time for food and respite from his daily begging. He was also curious about the classes. Then, in 2011 Souleymane began to have trouble in his daara. He became sick and his marabout failed to provide any care. Maison de la Gare took responsibility for his healthcare and Souleymane was hospitalized until he was well again. He was required to submit 600 CFA of begging proceeds  (about $US1) every day to his marabout. Even when he was in hospital, his daily quota accumulated. Maison de la Gare intervened to assist Souleymane through these troubles.

Once Souleymane's health was restored, he began to attend classes at Maison de la Gare on a regular basis. It was his hope to be able to go to school some day.

 

Even as a teenager, Souleymane had the heart of a child. At a series of celebrations organized for talibes at the centre, Souleymane spent hours colouring and drawing, alongside younger children half his age.  As I observed how this teenager was captivated by drawing in a colouring book, it broke my heart to realize this could only mean Souleymane was experiencing childhood for the first time. He would spend as much time as possible participating in every game, always with the younger 

 

kids. He loved the sack races, and learning to skip rope. The opportunity to play the djembe drums also captured his imagination. Souleymane loves a good joke and he is always quick to tease. Wherever there is fun, to this day Souleymane is sure to be on the scene. 

 

In 2015 when my son, then 13 year old Robbie, a karate black belt, arrived from Canada to help begin a karate program at Maison de la Gare, Souleymane was interested right away. Robbie and Souleymane became close friends. Robbie taught him to love karate, and Souleymane taught Robbie to play marbles and to make a perfect pot of attaya. 

 

 

Souleymane continued to study karate at the centre, and at the dojo Sor-karate. As his study of the sport progressed, his discipline and sense of responsibility increased. There was a time when Souleymane may have been as likely to be found napping behind a market stall, as to be at class on time. 

 

But now, the discipline of karate and the pride in responsibility seem to have had a transformative effect.  Souleymane leads the warm up for the karate class at the centre each week, and trains at the dojo most nights. He helps orient the newly registered "dojo talibes" into the karate program, ensuring they are on time. And, he helps the kids just starting karate to find a gi that fits. He now also competes in kata and combat for his dojo. Souleymane has found passion and leadership in karate.

 

As Souleymane transitions out of the talibe life, he continues to work with Maison de la Gare, not only leading karate classes, but working to support the hygiene and health care project. Most days he leads the talibes in brushing their teeth. And he assists with many other projects. Souleymane also leads a group of four other talibes in cultivating a garden plot of okra at Maison de la Gare's  cultivation lands. This week he proudly harvested the first crop ever. Meanwhile, Souleymane still yearns for an education, attending Maison de la Gare classes faithfully. And if fun is afoot, Souleymane will surely not be far away.