Sleepless in Senegal
“On the street you cannot sleep properly as you are always alert and ready to run when you hear a noise.” Madio, 15.
Two years ago Madio ran away to the streets.
He came to Rufisque, just outside Dakar, to find the centre run by Avenir de L’Enfant (ADE). This is why he came; “To eat, to drink, have three meals, have a shower, to live properly, to sleep on a mattress, everything we cannot do properly in the street.”
He enjoyed life at the centre making new friends and discovering a passion for photography. He hoped to become a photographer and own a camera. Without support from Avenir de L’Enfant, Madio says “I would drift, be a vagrant.” Instead he says “Tell them my name and that I am in ADE and learning the Highway Code!!!”
As well as street work and running two centres, ADE works to reintegrate children with families or extended families. They talked this through with Madio who agreed.
At the end of last year, with the help of ADE, Madio was reunited with his family and his village. When he arrived, everyone welcomed him with open arms. His father explained all the problems and all the sleepless nights that filled his life since his child left. Together, Moussa Director of ADE, Madio and his family discussed the future - Madio spoke of his determination to stay at home and not to leave, “I'm going to work and earn my living with the camera you gave me. I give you my word”. A month later, his older sister called ADE and confirmed that Madio is at home and seems determined to stay.
If you’re trying to be more healthy in 2012 and want something to aim for, then why not take part in the Kingston Breakfast Run on the 1st April? And when you’re pounding the streets, could you raise a few pounds for street children? Set up a Just Giving page, email your friends and change a child’s life!
We're delighted to have a grant of £20,000 from The Body Shop Foundation towards work training for girls in Accra, Ghana. Thank you! Read more about the amazing work of Street Girls Aid which offers accommodation for pregnant girls and new young mothers, and runs crèches for 300 children (and there’s a long waiting list!)
ADSN, our partner in Uganda, ran a holiday programme for children who are part of the CHH (child headed households) project, teaching life skills and candle making. One of the boys attending the programme said: “We like what we are doing currently in the holidays - learning life skills and business management. With knowledge acquired we are able to train others or keep our selves busy.”