Laurie's Page: Day with the Talibe Boys

The day after Thanksgiving, I had the privilege of helping out with a medical clinic that targeted the local talibe boys here in Dakar. Volunteer medical staff from the Bartimee Hospital in Thies came to the capital to help with the clinic held at the Beacon of Hope, a missionary guest compound. UWM missionaries, Tad & Jane Hampton, head up this ministry which focuses on taking care of the 100+ "talibe boys" that are a part of 4 or 5 nearby Islamic daaras (communal homes made up of 25-30 boys). Talibe boys can range in age from 5 to 16 yrs old. They are sent from their homes by their parents to study the Koran under the supervision of marabouts (Islamic teachers) in these daaras. More often than not, they actually spend more time on the streets of Dakar begging for money for their marabouts, instead of studying the Koran. If you'd like to read more about who these Talibe boys are, World Vision has a good site at the following link: http://www.worldvision.ca/ContentArchives/content-stories/Pages/questions-and-answers-talibes-of-senegal.aspx

On this particular day, the boys came to the BOH to shower, undergo a medical checkup, receive medication or special medical attention (if needed), receive vaccinations, eat a nutritious meal, and just hang out & play some games. To put it simply, they came to be the children that they are and receive some good tender-loving care for a change. Below are some pics of the boys at each of the stations that were set up for them to go through this day...

weigh in...

the pharmacy...

special care for injuries or infections, etc...

vaccinations...

(Clearly not their favorite station. And, unfortunately, for some it was the first time they ever received a shot & some really DID NOT like it! We tried to make it better by promising them a lollipop afterwards. :-)

I was in charge of stamping their medical cards, giving them a scoop of lotion, as well as, the promised lollipop after their shots...