The Dakar Sébikhotane orphanage wants to be financially independent

The Dakar Sébikhotane orphanage for the memorization of the Holy Quran and the study of Islamic religious sciences organized, this Sunday, December 22, the 3rd edition of its annual ceremony. The aim of this meeting is to raise funds for the benefit of the residents.

A large number of people, coming from the four corners of the country, attended the annual meeting of the Dakar Sébikhotane orphanage. The ceremony was marked by the reading of the Holy Quran by the residents of the center. The annual meeting is the opportunity chosen by the association to take stock of the situation on financial management, to formulate expectations and planned projects.

Sy Abou Camara, member of the organizing committee of the Dakar Sébikhotane orphanage, estimates that for this year, the association spent more than 130 million CFA francs for care. This transparency exercise aims, according to him, to report to the various donors, most often Senegalese residing abroad. Sy Abou Camara emphasizes that the maintenance of these children requires an enormous amount of financial resources. “The orphanage welcomes around fifty children to the orphanage per year (around 200 in total) who are in boarding school. These children need to be assisted and supported during their childhood and adolescence,” he says.

Thus, to support these costs in a more viable and lasting way, the association does everything to ensure that the orphanage is financially independent. “We are not sure that donors will continue to make these financial efforts to take care of these children,” he expresses his reservations. Sy Abou Camara informs that they are thinking about alternatives. “The new building next door, in which there is the mosque and above it, a private school. This will allow financial income,” he explains. Other innovative and ambitious projects such as professional training are in the study phase.

The Dakar Sébikhotane orphanage relies on the support of the State to carry out its voluntary mission. “We are open, we are reaching out to the authorities so that we can work together. We need a state subsidy. This orphanage can spread across Senegal,” he hopes.

Mohamed DIENE (Correspondent)