AFRICA/SENEGAL - Child "beggars" of Senegal

Friday, 31 March 2017

PRO Jeff Attaway

Dakar (Agenzia Fides) - In Senegal there are about 50,000 children who beg in the streets. They come from villages or from neighboring Countries like Gambia, Mali and Guinea Bissau. Most of them are Talibe, children between 3 and 15 years of age sent by their parents to Daara, Koranic schools, run by teachers who are called Marabut, to learn the Koran and the precepts of Islam. In Saint Louis alone there are 15,000 Talibe of whom about 10,000 are forced to beg every day. Many try to escape from criminals. Since 2005, there has been a law that prohibits begging in Senegal, but it is not put into practice. The Senegalese Government, on several occasions, has announced the adoption of strong measures to end begging. However local society is becoming aware and is reacting to this tragedy. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 31/03/2017)


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