2007年VOA标准英语-Children Serve as Panhandlers for Senegalese Re

By Kari Barber
Dakar
08 May 2007
 

In the West African nation of Senegal, each day nearly 100,000 children pour into the streets to beg for money at the beckoning¹ of their religious leaders. The use of child beggars, often as young as five years old, by Koranic schools has long been a part of Senegalese society, but some human rights groups say they want that to change.  VOA's Kari Barber has this report from Dakar.

Senegalese beggar children

They are Senegal's beggar children, called Talibe, the local word for disciple².

Given up by their parents to be raised en masse at Islamic schools, the boys spend their days studying the Koran and begging on the streets. Teachers say begging and living in filth³ teaches the boys humility⁴.

The money they earn goes to their teacher. The boys must beg for food. A sick child lies alone in a room where dozens of boys sleep each night.

Begging on the streets can be a dangerous life. In his native language, 15-year-old Mamadou Ba describes his days. "I don't have enough time.  I get up at four o'clock in the morning.  I study the Koran and pray until seven, then I beg until 11.  Then I study the Koran again until two, and then I have until three P.M. to beg for food.  Then I study the Koran until five, then I beg again on the streets until nine and hope for something to eat."

Some in Senegal are calling for an end to putting children on the streets to beg. Malick Diagne is the coordinator⁵ for the human rights group Tostan. "This is something that shames us as Senegalese because when you come to Senegal, one of the first things that shocks you is that very pitiful situation in Senegal."

Scores of activists⁶ participated in a five-day march against child begging.  Former Talibe, wearing yellow shirts, joined them.

Gora Mbaye was a Talibe until recently when he was taken in by an organization that provides homes for former Talibe. "My life has changed a lot.  I used to wake up early to beg, now I no longer have to beg.  I no longer beg for food either.  I'm not so tired anymore"

Gora Mbaye

On the last day of the march, as participants neared their destination [Thies], they were joined by several young Talibe, curious about the excitement, and hoping to earn some change to take home to their teachers.

The practice of raising boys as Talibes has long been ingrained in Senegal's deeply religious society, and many say it is unlikely to change.

Koranic teacher Abdou Khadri Sow was a Talibe when he was young, and his father before him. He says he does not like making the boys beg, but he needs the money.

"I am not happy about the children begging either,” he says. “It brings me no pleasure to send them into the streets, but my situation is difficult and I don't have any money."

The boys say they are often scorned by people who are annoyed by their begging and appalled⁷ by their filthy⁸ appearance.

Despite this, many say when they grow up they want to be Koranic teachers. They say they are proud to be Talibe, but they just want enough to eat, clothes, clean water and a life off the streets.

1 beckoning   

adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• An even more beautiful future is beckoning us on. 一个更加美好的未来在召唤我们继续前进。 来自辞典例句
• He saw a youth of great radiance beckoning to him. 他看见一个丰神飘逸的少年向他招手。 来自辞典例句

2 disciple   

n.信徒，门徒，追随者

参考例句：

• Your disciple failed to welcome you.你的徒弟没能迎接你。
• He was an ardent disciple of Gandhi.他是甘地的忠实信徒。

3 filth   

n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥

参考例句：

• I don't know how you can read such filth.我不明白你怎么会去读这种淫秽下流的东西。
• The dialogue was all filth and innuendo.这段对话全是下流的言辞和影射。

4 humility   

n.谦逊，谦恭

参考例句：

• Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
• His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和，甚至有点谦卑。

5 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

6 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 appalled   

v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• They were appalled by the reports of the nuclear war. 他们被核战争的报道吓坏了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 filthy   

adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的

参考例句：

• The whole river has been fouled up with filthy waste from factories.整条河都被工厂的污秽废物污染了。
• You really should throw out that filthy old sofa and get a new one.你真的应该扔掉那张肮脏的旧沙发，然后再去买张新的。