About

Background: Touba, in Senegal

Touba, the town where the orphanage is located, is one of Senegal’s largest urban areas, with many needs that remain unmet or only partially met. As in all localities, there are orphaned children aged between 1 and 36 months who are not being cared for by any specialist organisation.

The religious nature of Touba means that not all organisations are able to establish a presence there. It therefore became necessary to set up a safe care environment that complies with the standards of the holy city.

Furthermore, at the family level, many difficulties have been identified: the rise in childhood illnesses, inadequate care, and accidents attributable to families who, although well-meaning, generally lack the resources and time.

Our objectives

To provide a nursery for orphans in order to prevent them from being transferred to facilities in the capital or elsewhere. To guarantee the legal and ethical conditions for a safe environment, and to provide psychosocial, medical and nutritional support from the age of one month.

Furthermore: to minimise the impact of the absence of parents, to strengthen the children’s faith and moral values through spiritual education, and to nurture young people who are responsible, self-reliant and of service to their community.

The premises

The orphanage is housed in the Cité buildings, at Darou Khadim, north of Touba. The buildings comprise a two-storey main building, a two-room annexe housing the family of one of the Koranic teachers, and an infirmary which is still under construction and not yet operational.

The main building

It serves as a dormitory and teaching block, with rooms for administrative purposes: the secretariat on the ground floor and the reception area on the first floor.

The dormitories are mainly located on the ground floor and first floor; the second floor is as yet only partially occupied. Each landing has a toilet block with four cubicles, as well as a room with an en-suite bathroom reserved for a supervisor.

The kitchens

An outdoor African-style kitchen, and two modern kitchens on the ground floor and first floor. The one on the first floor is used for preparing baby bottles and baby food.

Other areas

• Two rooms on the ground floor are used as storerooms.
• A two-room flat in the front courtyard for the orphanage supervisor and his family.
• An undeveloped back courtyard, opposite the infirmary currently under construction.

What is still missing

The site’s theoretical capacity is 313 places. Due to a lack of facilities and funding, only around sixty children are currently housed there — a figure that fluctuates as children arrive and leave. The others remain on the waiting list, in conditions where their survival is not guaranteed.

The two storerooms have no shelves, pallets or storage units. The building, which has no balconies, needs to be fitted with awnings to prevent rainwater from seeping in through the windows. Finally, the infirmary remains to be completed.

Security

Apart from coordination, the orphanage has a security service and social support.

Health

Compulsory medical examinations on admission, regular check-ups, healthcare and follow-up care. There is an effective partnership between the orphanage and the healthcare facilities in Touba.

Food

This consists of products for children — milk, bottles and other items — some of which are purchased and others donated by benefactors.

Hygiene

The hygiene team from Touba regularly inspects the premises and responds promptly to all requests from the orphanage management.

Leisure and social life

Activities take into account the socio-cultural context of the holy city of Touba. The centre is open to families, support workers, technical services and the judicial authorities.

Financial situation

The situation remains difficult, but the outlook is positive thanks to the goodwill of others. Running the orphanage currently costs 4,000,000 F CFA per month.