The social-impact documentary raises crucial awareness about the plight of 50.000 "Talibes" - young boys in Senegal (between 4 and 15 years old) who are forced to beg on the streets by their quranic-school teachers and suffer severe physical abuse and neglect.

The film highlights findings from research conducted by Human Rights Watch and follows the staff of local grassroots NGO La Maison de la Gare (MDG) during their daily efforts to find solutions for the terrible conditions the boys are subjected to. Marabouts (quranic school-teachers), mothers, Talibes, local aid workers, and international experts speak out about the true nature of the circumstances that breed and prolong the suffering of these children. The documentary explores the deficits and lack of responsibilities of all entities while emphasizing their potential and proposing solutions.

SDGI (Sustainable Development Group International) is the producing partner for this project and will facilitate distribution of the film in Senegal to get the local government, local NGOs and the international community to start acting in joint efforts.

Please support the completion of this film to help end the suffering and abuse of the Talibes.

We can raise urgent awareness in the local and international community about a catastrophe that has been ignored for far too long. Both international news-media and humanitarian aid organizations have fallen short on educating about the Talibes and in particular on producing media that can also be shown in Senegal.

With this documentary the necessary attention can be brought to audiences, institutions and governments world-wide, which will significantly empower the involved actors and facilitate a platform and support system to share knowledge, build alliances and find sustainable solutions for this tragedy. The important tradition of religious education in Senegal cannot continue in ways that are detrimental to the health and safety of these young boys, who are now subjected to abuse and exploitation in conditions akin to slavery.

It is our responsibility as filmmakers and journalists in the field to bring this story to audiences in ways that dont just highlight the "dark" sides of subverted Islamic education in Senegal, but in ways that can have an actual impact in changing the circumstances and policies that perpetuate the situation.

This is our goal and we would greatly appreciate your assistance.