Aider
Sans Frontières is a charity organisation based in Saint-Louis,
Senegal. It was founded in 2011. It focuses on humanitarian aid and
national and international solidarity. Aider Sans Frontières runs a
care centre in Saint-Louis where street children, known as ‘talibés’,
are able to drop in and receive medical care, food and a basic
education. ASF has also expanded to helping older talibés launch
their careers and has started a programme focused on environmental
protection. ASF believes that cultural and linguistic exchanges are
important for social and economic development. We are proud to have
worked in volunteerism since 2011 – we believe that, when done
ethically and correctly, volunteers can have a vital impact in
developing communities.
The
projects of ASF aim to respond to the Talibé problem. Talibé
children are street-children who are educated in koranic schools, by
Marabouts, koranic teachers. The children live under difficult
conditions in ‘schools’ known as ‘Daaras’ and are forced to
go out begging. The problem is complex and rooted in the religious
and social context of Senegalese society. Aider Sans Frontières
responds to this complex problem by offering complementary projects,
approaching the problem from different angles. In the city of
Saint-Louis, Senegal there are around 15,000 street children,
mostly aged from 5 to 13, known as talibés, who have no
access to healthcare, food or education. Due to the fact that their
births are often not registered, they legally do not have the right
to these things either. These children have no contact with
their parents and they live in the Quaranic schools known as
‘daaras’ with up to 200 other children in one dirty room meaning
that diseases spread really easily. They are required by the
religious leaders to beg on the streets and to meet a certain quota
each day in order to avoid punishment usually in the form of a
beating, but at the moment, with less people out on the streets, this
puts the children in huge danger. There are a few, though not
nearly enough, charity-run drop-in care centres in Saint-Louis that
these children are able to go to daily to be fed, to wash themselves
and clean their teeth, to wash their clothes, to receive first aid
and to receive a basic education. Aider Sans Frontières owns one
such care centre and the work done there is vital to the wellbeing of
the children who visit.
ASF
has six projects available for volunteers. Care & education;
Microfinance; Renovation & construction; Environment &
ecology; Language courses (French & Wolof); and Teaching. Hereby
I will provide a description of the projects one by one.
Care
& education:
In
this project you will work in a drop-in care centre for street
children, run by knowledgeable locals, and help to care for and
educate young children. The Care and Education project
addresses the Talibé problem with a social approach. Talibé
children (Senegalese street children) often experience precarious
conditions and little affection in their daily life. For this reason,
the aim of this program is to offer the Talibé children a safe and
protected environment in which they can rest and play, learn and also
experience appreciation and care. The program combines primary health
care with games and creative activities. At the same time it includes
educational elements that are taught in a supportive and playful way.
In this program, volunteers work together with local Senegalese
experts in the drop-in care centre in St. Louis, where Talibé
Children are welcome to spend time during the day. The centre also
provides the children with a good meal every Thursday.
Microfinance:
In
this project volunteers will work with young adults, who have grown
up on the streets, helping them to build their own companies and find
their feet. The Microfinance project aims to help disadvantaged young
people who have little chance of entering the job market to become
economically independent. The project grants loans from traditional
financial institutions to former talibés (Senegalese street
children) and occasionally disadvantaged women. The loans allow the
individuals to build their own businesses. The project provides not
only financial support but also works to assess the needs and unique
situations of the beneficiaries. The aim is to promote economic
independence, social development and dignity in vulnerable people. In
this programme, volunteers work with the local Senegalese experts in
the centre in St. Louis, accompanying beneficiaries on their path to
becoming economically independent by organising loans and
constructing financial plans.
Renovation
and construction:
With
this project, volunteers can make a lasting difference by renovating
schools or building shelters for street children. The renovation and
construction project aims to provide Talibés (and possibly other
disadvantaged groups) with a better environment for educational and
social development. The volunteers and the local staff will help
paint, renovate and refurbish daaras (shelters for Senegalese street
children) or build schools for the disadvantaged children and
communities. An important aim is to create dignified accommodation in
which the Talibé children (Senegalese street children) can find
significantly improved living conditions.
Environment
and ecology:
This project helps sustain the environment and nature in Senegal. Senegal
is a country full of wildlife and national parks – help protect
them in this ever-important project and play your part in saving our
planet. Help our team to work on ASF’s garden. Our next environment
project will involve the protection of the beaches in Saint-Louis!
Language
course:
With this project, volunteers can learn
French or Wolof in our intensive 1 on 1 language courses.
Teaching:
With this project, volunteers can teach
English, French and Mathematics in schools, kindergartens and care
centres to disadvantaged children.