We went to meet two Guadeloupeans, Nicole and Daniel Traoré, who settled in Senegal more than 10 years ago. There, they decided to devote their lives to children, by creating one of the only schools in Dakar that accepts students with disabilities. Reporting.
Initially, in 2011, when Guadeloupeans Nicole and Daniel Traoré arrived in Dakar, their project was to create a humanitarian association. But ultimately it was a kindergarten that the couple opened. The site became a private school. As places are in high demand, additional classes have been added over time.
There are almost 100 students. And we hope to have even more. It is the love of children that gives us this strength. Every day, every day, every day, we live “children”, we sleep “children”, everything is “children” here! It’s our life, really.
Didier Traoré, teacher
In the city, few children with disabilities attend school. “My first school” happily welcomes them; this is one of the particularities of this establishment, since 2014. There are 18 of them, distributed among the nine classes.
Junior, 15, who suffers from autism, is one of them.
We visited a lot of schools: mainstream schools, specialized schools… and, today, this school which is inclusive. At least he is in contact with other children his age, or younger. And he can benefit from their know-how and have good sociability with these children.
Marie Ndour, mother of Junior, child with disabilities
To best support disabled children, school managers can count on the assistance of a doctor, who begins by making the correct diagnosis.
These children, despite certain difficulties, are capable of producing better than certain children who do not have a disability, if we support them.
Professor Lamine Fall, head of the “Kër Xaleyi” child psychiatry unit at Fann Hospital
Nicole was never able to give birth to children. With Didier, she adopted two, now aged 8 and 1… not counting all the students at the school, whom they consider as their own.
Being the last of a family of 7, it was important for me to have children. I had it, otherwise. Our wish was to have a large family. Well, there we have it. We finally have it!
Nicole Traoré, director of “my first school”
To improve their practices, in their inclusive approach, the Traoré will soon receive a specialized educator, who must travel from Guadeloupe. This will have to train teachers, to facilitate their tasks in the service of all children.
REPORTING/
Editor: Nathalie Sarfati
Image reporter: Nordine Bensmail
Editor: Bertrand Puig-Marty
Mixer: Joris Buffin
