My current accommodations are located quite close to a small intersection (round point) which boasts several small fruit and vegetable stalls, a couple of tidy (and not so tidy) little shops, and a gas station. Each morning I walk out to catch a taxi at approximately 8:25 am (it takes 5 minutes to get to work) and am accosted by not only the usual (and familiar) sights of nescafe stalls, mobile credit sellers, and general hustle and bustle, but also by anywhere between 3 and 5 young boys. They carry large empty tin cans and tug at my bag and sweater asking for money.
It took me approximately 1 day at work to connect these young kids with vague references to 'vulnerable children such as 'Talibes'' in Plan Senegal program documents. In Dakar many young boys are sent to Koranic schools where they live in extremely poor conditions, receive no formal schooling, and are sent onto the streets to beg for money, sugar, rice, and other supplies all day long - often every day of the week. They then take their earnings back to their teachers and in return receive nothing but abuse, beatings, and inadequate or often no food at all. Plan Senegal has been working on improving the living conditions of talibes, engaging them in semi-formal schooling, and raising awareness around the rights of these children.
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The work day itself is long - 8:30 to 5:30 and while we do get a 1 hour lunch break there is little in the neighborhood to spend the hour doing so I've yet to take the entire time. My days are spent largely sitting in a cool (cold!) office reading reports on Plan programming and initiatives throughout West Africa. I share my office space with one other person, it's large and airy, and has great windows. It is so 'officey' that it's almost painful to sit there and look out the window at all the heat, and dust, and taxis, and vendors, and feel so removed from that Dakar - you could work in this office and never even notice you were living in West Africa (if you wanted).
In the evenings I strategically place myself so that the taxis that pick me up take me along the Corniche (which I think would translate most accurately to 'ridge') instead of through town. This way as I head home at the end of a long day I am treated to the lovely view of the sea to the west and some stunning (it might almost be accurate to call them) cliffs.
In the distance I can see the African Renaissance Monument. It features a muscular man holding a baby on his left shoulder. The baby points to the horizon (out over the ocean [into the future?]) and the man and baby's gazes are focused off into the distance. On his right he seems to have captured some (swooning) female whose lax arms almost suggest she's been drugged and is now being hauled (into the future?) - her gaze is - of course - focused on the man. (this thing cost 27 million dollars, according to wikipedia, can you believe it? - I know I can!)
Photo credits:
