Talibé Children's Support Centre in M'bour, Senegal

About me and the Asante Foundation:

My name is Antonio Anadón; I am a 16-year-old student and the founder of the Asante Foundation. Our mission is to create opportunities for vulnerable children and communities through education. Since 2024, we have been running charitable projects in Kenya, Tanzania and Spain, supporting communities by building educational facilities and through other social initiatives. Asante, which means ‘thank you’ in Swahili, reflects the values of gratitude, solidarity and hope that inspire our work.
(@asante.foundation)

Reality and needs

Who are the Talibés?

From the Arabic ṭālib (طالب), meaning ‘student’ or ‘seeker of knowledge’, these are children aged between 6 and 14 who are sent by their families from rural areas or even from neighbouring countries (such as Gambia, Guinea or Mali) to study the Quran in schools called daaras under the tutelage of a religious teacher known as a marabout.

What is life like for Talibé children?

•⁠  ⁠They are forced to beg on the streets every day to bring money or food to their marabout, suffering severe physical or psychological abuse if they fail to do so.

•⁠  ⁠They live in conditions of absolute poverty, in very precarious and unsanitary conditions, even sleeping on the floor and walking without shoes.

•⁠  ⁠They have no access to medical care and lack the opportunity to receive a formal education beyond the Koran, without even being able to learn French.

Project: why and what for

Our aim is to build a community centre to provide a safe and welcoming space where Talibé children can receive a holistic education:

•⁠  ⁠Basic care: daily meals, hygiene, medical care and emotional support.

•⁠  ⁠Literacy and general education: lessons in French, geography, history, mathematics and other essential subjects.

•⁠  ⁠Practical vocational training: to learn a trade (carpentry, plumbing, mechanics, etc.) and enable them to be self-sufficient in the future.

•⁠  ⁠Recreation: basketball sports school and play area.

Current situation and actions

As of June 2026, the land on which the centre will be built has been purchased and the architectural design is underway. The next step, which is why we are launching this new fundraising campaign, is:

1.⁠ ⁠Construction: erecting the external structure and subsequently completing the interior finishes using local labour to boost the community’s economy and thus ensure the quality of the building.

2.⁠ ⁠Provision of resources: equipping the centre with the educational, medical, furniture, professional and operational materials necessary for day-to-day running.

Meaning and purpose

This project tackles one of the most pressing and severe social issues in Senegal. It is estimated that there are over 100,000 talibé children in the country who are vulnerable, deprived of their childhood and denied opportunities for the future. Fundamental rights – to grow up free from exploitation and violence, to receive an education and to live with dignity – should be guaranteed everywhere in the world and in the life of every child.

Join this cause and be part of the change we want to achieve. Thank you to everyone who, through their support, shares our mission and makes it possible to make a difference. Jërëjëf!