Redefining the Persevering Spirit

Arouna's nephew, Mohamed is adorable. He has two new loves, karate and Kalidou. Although he recently lost his mother, Arouna's sister, Mohamed is adjusting to a new life. Children here have no choice but to be adaptable. He is already one of the keenest young karate students. And, he has latched onto our friend Kalidou, and follows him everywhere.  Maison de la Gare is Mohamed's new home. The staff here are his new parents, and his hope for a decent future is renewed. And, despite the unexpected responsibility for his sister's child, Arouna will carry on with his schooling. He may become prime minister yet. Mohamed will also be registered in the public school system as part of Maison de la Gare's program to keep boys from living the talibe life. 

Arouna made his way through the public school system while he was a begging talibe. He slept in his daara each night and submitted his begging quota each day to his marabout. He lived this way from the age of six. But he also visited Maison de la Gare each day and the opportunity to learn caught his attention. Issa Kouyate was impressed by Arouna's intelligence and interest in self improvement and after Arouna  learned enough French and math in Maison de la Gare's classes Issa  registered him in school.   During his primary school years Arouna did his homework by the light of the moon after midnight, when all the other begging street boys slept. There is no electricity in the daara, of course. He begged or found discarded fish to sell in the market to make up his begging quotas each day during the lunch break and after school. And, he visited Maison de la Gare for moral support, a meal, a shower, decent clothes, and tutoring help.  He was also discriminated against at school, taunted for being a talibe. He repeated many grades, as other, non-talibe students were promoted in his place, and often studied with students much younger than himself. 

When Arouna was a young begging talibe his parents died, and Arouna only learned of it years later. His extended family stole his inheritance and effectively enslaved his sisters. None of this stopped him. It just steeled his resolve to better himself, and he persevered. But imagine the heavy burden in his heart. Five years ago Arouna showed me his mother's identity card, which he still carries with him, the only photo he has to remind him. A few years later Arouna started high school, but his lack of identity papers prevented his diploma from the lower level being recognized, and thus prevented him from being permitted to write high school exams. This summer Arouna's identity papers finally became a reality. He wrote and passed his first exams. 

 

Now Arouna is living at Maison de la Gare, in the dortoir d'urgence. He is free from his marabout. He discusses economics and philosophy like any engaged, intelligent young person interested in bettering himself and his country.  Arouna will likely finish high school, and then he will carry on to university, Insha'Allah. It is my greatest wish that I will need to find him a scholarship to attend university in the near future. Arouna's journey has been a struggle that students at my kids' schools cannot possibly imagine. 

Hopefully, education will not be such a struggle for Mohamed. He will not have the stigma of being a talibe, although he will live among them. He will not need to find a way to fill a daily begging quota. He will sleep in a real bed each night, and he will be surrounded by people who care for him. And, he has the inspiring example of Arouna before him, who understands the value of an education.