In this context, talibes are teenage boys whose parents prefer that they study at informal, traditional Islamic schools called daaras. Arriving at the daara as young boys, they live with and learn from a spiritual teacher known as a marabout. While their primary focus is to study the Quran, they often live in spartan conditions. In small groups they go along their favoured routes begging from door to door to secure food and money for the school. Most return to their families during the rainy season and for specific religious festivals. As they grow older, many also begin to earn money by working as casual labourers.
At the Diapalante Centre talibes learn the basics of French and English and maths, so they can make good use of phones and calculators and make their way in a society where French is still the formal language. Useful basic skills where unemployment is high and many jobs pay a wage that is insufficient to support family life.
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