“My name is Boubacar Ousmane Gala, and I am 13 years old. I am a talibé, which means my parents live  in a village far from Dosso. My parents sent me here to Dosso to learn the Koran with a marabout. Life as  a talibé is very difficult, especially when it comes to eating. It is a real challenge. I have to beg all day to  find something to eat, and sometimes I find nothing and go to bed hungry. Sometimes, I am chased away,  and sometimes I receive spoiled food that makes my stomach hurt. Occasionally, I am treated like a dog.  

But thanks to God, two years ago, the NGO center, WAYYO, opened here in Dosso, and it has been a  true blessing for us talibés. We used to eat our fill three times a week, but today we learned with  amazement that those three days a week have become five days a week. My friends and I were so happy!  Now, we no longer need to beg for food. For this, I truly thank all the founders and donors of this program.  

Also, at this center, we are treated with respect and we receive small gifts. We can play with friends like  a real family. Truly, I thank God for the opening of this center.”