Tambacounda’s unsung heroes, in southeastern Senegal

For some it's a sense of duty. For others it's an obligation. And then there are those for which it’s a necessity. Their names aren't necessarily recognizable. But the actions of these unsung heroes have without a shadow of a doubt made the region of Tambacounda, a better place for children, despite multiple challenges.

On mission in Tambacounda for a few days, I met ordinary people - men, women, young people, children - who do not wear cape, who do not live in the spotlight, they however share the same philosophy: serving their communities.

Under a blazing sun, sometimes reaching 43 degrees, these unsung heroes have the courage to move on, never give up and are determined to go the extra mile.

Madame Diarra Marie Françoise Diouf is the President of the women teachers' network in the Tambacounda region. Her mission is to equip and train teachers  to promote the education, protection and participation of girls in school.

We witnessed the changes she brought about during an organized visit to a college in downtown Tambacounda. Girls know how to protect themselves against the risks they face. In this classroom, the discussion is open, the girls broach issues that are sometimes taboo, sometimes sensitive: family life education for adolescents, sexual violence, gender equality, girls' rights, menstrual hygiene management.

This school is one of the 623 others in the country, having been provided with dignity kits for girls, to support demonstration and awareness on menstrual hygiene management. In some Tambacounda's schools, menstruation forces some young girls to interrupt their studies for several days. UNICEF provided them with kits to help them deal with the situation. And it works!

Ms. Diarra has contributed to the formulation of action plans including the establishment of support groups for girls in schools. In her network, she is in charge of more than 70 teachers.

"This is just the beginning of a process. Our goal is to ensure that girls, whether in school or out of school, fully enjoy their rights!" she told us enthusiastically.

I also had the opportunity to discuss with Mrs. Mariama Guindo. She leads the Badienou Gokh initiative in her neighborhood. Everyone knows her in the city of Tamba!

The Badienou Gokh has a role of supervision and support for women, children and families in Senegal. The initiative is an integral part of health promotion system as it ensures community engagement to maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.

Adapted to Senegalese socio-cultural values, the Badienou Gokh promotes women's leadership and relies on community leaders in raising awareness on health issues affecting women and children.

But Mariam Guindo is going above and beyond. She also covers issues such as the protection of children against violence, female genital mutilation and child marriage.

Mrs. Diarra and Mrs. Guindo are among those who want to change social norms and move the lines. But alongside them, there are also those who are at the frontline to save lives.

Ms. Diambou Kanté is a nurse's aide at the nutrition center of Tambacounda. She is on the front line not only to follow up on malnourished children, but also to screen children at community level, sensitize families on key essential family practices, talk about the risks associated with home birth and promote infant and young child feeding.

Fatoumata Diallo, 36, mother of 12-month-old baby boy Ibrahima, told us that "his son has been treated on time thanks to Mrs Kanté. She was the one who referred us  to the nutritional center, and we started treatment right away" she said. Ibrahima quickly regained his strength but is still monitored at the center.

Who are the best messengers to educate children about their rights? The children themselves. Having benefited from a short training on self-protection and arguments against child marriage, Awa, Ansoumane, Seynabou, Neyzathe, Ndaye, secondary school students aged between 16 and 18 in Tambacounda  regularly organize educational talks with children, parents, community leaders, Quranic teachers and many other stakeholders.

"Sometimes adults listen to us, sometimes not. For example, we conduct educational talks in the daaras to raise awareness among Koranic teachers on the issue of violence against children; we meet children living in the streets to support them; we try to convince parents not to marry off their children" Neyzathe confided to me, in a group discussion I had with them during my visit.

“We have succeeded, for example, in preventing child marriages in our community,” she testifies. They were a group of 22 girls and boys to benefit from this training in the city of Tambacounda, and the results of their actions have already taken shape.

Diouf, Guindo, Kanté, Awa, Ansoumane, Seynabou, Neyzathe, Ndaye are among those unsung heroes, who are going the extra mile to serve their communities. I am sure that in Senegal, in Tambacounda and other regions, thousands of other actors are also on the front line to promote and protect children's rights.

The more they are, the better the chances that the ideal described in the Convention on the Rights of the Child will become a reality for every child in Senegal.