It has been almost a month since we, in Spain, have been confined to our homes. Isolated, but safe, more or less calm and supplied. Inevitably, during this time, COVID-19 has also reached Africa, a continent where most of its inhabitants are neither safe, calm, nor supplied. Such is the situation of the Taliban children in Senegal.
These children, coming from poor families living in rural areas, are sent by their parents to the city of Saint Louis to study the Koran at school (daara). There, many of the teachers (marabouts) force them to beg if they want to eat. However, the spread of the coronavirus has spread fear among the population and caused them to take refuge in their homes, causing the handouts on which the Taliban children survive to disappear. Many of the children's families have demanded their return, but the government's precautionary measures have prevented them from returning, as travel between regions has been banned.
With little food, shelter and hygiene, Taliban children have become one of the most vulnerable groups to the coronavirus in this country. We at Libros de las Malas Compañías (Bad Companies Books) have therefore set to work to help them, as aid from the United Nations is being delayed.
How?
Recording in audio format El dragon que se comió el Sol y otros cuentos de la Baja Cassamance ("The dragon that ate the sun and other tales from Lower Casamance") and uploading it, story by story, to our recently created iVoox account. This social network works with a patronage system through which you can collaborate with us in this work, obtaining in exchange access to our special content. Although the minimum amount is €1.50, you will be the ones who choose how much you can and want to contribute. All proceeds will go to the Senegalese solidarity organisation La Maison de la Gare and the Afro-Canarian Intercultural Association Diakhase of the musician Khaly Thioune, who accompanies the narrator Ana Griott (Ana C. Herreros) in the recordings.
Our concern for the precarious state of the Taliban children in Senegal in this health emergency caused by the coronavirus has made us wish that the benefits of this first iVoox project go to them. However, we would like to dedicate each month to a different group or solidary project.
Can you help us?
