Medical care and hygiene

Most begging talibé children have no access to medical care or basic hygiene facilities—clean water, toilets, showers, or even a place to wash their clothes. As a result, they suffer from numerous hygiene-related infections, the most common being scabies.

Children typically spend several hours a day begging barefoot on the streets. As a result, many suffer from cuts and other injuries that, if left untreated, can seriously harm their health.

Children also live for years without contact with their families or other nurturing relationships. Many of them come to our infirmary with very minor injuries, hoping only to receive the attention and personal care they desperately need. Working as a volunteer in this field therefore requires experience, commitment and, above all, sensitivity.

You will be in regular contact with talibé children both in Maison de la Gare's center and in the daaras where they live. Your responsibilities will primarily involve identifying and treating injuries and other health problems, and seeking appropriate medical support when possible and appropriate.

You will also be responsible for helping children learn how to take care of their own health and well-being, by supporting them with washing, brushing their teeth and washing their clothes.

Requirements

We've been fortunate to welcome many nurses and nursing students, and even a few doctors. This training is extremely valuable.

Volunteers without such medical training, however, make valuable contributions. We do require you to have basic first aid training.