You cannot be long in Senegal without noticing the talibé. Shoeless and dwarfed by outsize, ragged football shirts, they weave between the taxis and the stately women in vibrant boubou; crawl between the wheels of stationary carts like cats seeking shade; trot in the wake of well-fed tourists with their trademark cry, “donne moi cent francs” (the equivalent of 10p). If, new to the country and the concept of these skinny, wide-eyed boys, you take pity and dig in your purse, you are suddenly pressed to the wall by talibé tugging at every available shred of clothing, shrieking and shouting, “donne moi cent francs! Donne moi cent francs!”

To understand the talibé, whose youths pass in thirteen hour days begging on the streets and in nights bent over a copy of the Koran, you must discover the cramped Daaras where they live and then the elusive, sometimes almost mythical figures of the marabous, who act as masters, teachers, punishers and a loveless version of parents to the boys. A boy’s life as a talibé begins from the age of five upwards, when his parents, usually impoverished labourers from remote rural villages or sometimes Mali and Mauritania, give him up to the marabout in return for ready cash and the vague promise of a religious education and a better life in the city for their son. Sometimes the parents, who have barely been beyond the confines of the village and are themselves poorly educated, believe the grand stories the marabouts tell; sometimes they simply, conveniently allow themselves to be deceived by the tantalizing sums they’re offered.

Choosing the right science project for young people to do should include the concept of helping them become more involved in today’s important global issues. A science project on solar panels could be just the thing for them to gain a better understanding of how the energy crisis is affecting us and what they can do about it.

We have come to appreciate the enormous changes that have occurred in the past few decades. We only need look at the impact that the Industrial Revolution period has had on the environment to see that all is not well with the planet. Our lakes, oceans, and rivers are in a pitiable state. The very air that we breathe is infused with pollutants that make us sick. Natural disasters are now more frequent, devastating millions of lives each year. The energy sources that have provided the power to fuel so-called economic and technological development and progress have taken their toll on our fragile environment. And the younger and future generations are the ones who are going to pay for the follies of the older generations who thoughtlessly abused our natural resources and the environment.

After school activities can be excellent ways to help kids stay healthy and develop good social skills while learning in new and fun ways. The following are just four examples of unique and engaging after school activities that kids in grades K-12 will love.

Gardening
A garden can be a great way to teach kids about healthy eating as well as patience and dedication. It can also be a lot of fun. Be sure to plant big, bright plants. Sunflowers, tomatoes and cherries are great ideas for plants to include in your garden. Gardening gives children a long-term project to work on that is rewarding and relaxing.