MANY OF YOU are aware of the success of the Adopted Child Project; our first adoptee, Prakash Arjel has gone on to greater things and no longer requires our assistance. Prakash is 13 years old
now and with the sponsorship of Civil Service Lodge, has been set on the right path with our
support, our guidance and our blessing.
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We introduce to you Aladji (a-lad-gee) Malick-Ly, a seven-year-old Muslim boy who lives just outside Dakar, the capital city of Senegal. His country lies on the very tip of west Africa as near to North America as geography allows. The Aladji name repeated often enough, resonates with
the irrepressible rhythms of the music of his country. One day, with our assistance, they may
sing his name in his community with joy and pride and because his community is, truly, our community, we may share that joy and that pride.
Aladji lives in the Medina Gounass district of Dakar in the centre of the Cape Verde peninsula.
The Atlantic Ocean lies not far both north and south of his home. This home is a concrete block
structure that boasts four beds and a cupboard. There is a communal latrine and nearby rubbish
dumps are not regularly serviced. The family consists of Aladji's mother, father and seven
brothers who range in age from four to 27 years, and a sister who is about six. Aladji's father,
Adama, does not work and is illiterate. His mother, Saoudatou (sa-ou-da-too), also illiterate does all of the housekeeping. Information about the family is sketchy from the family profile document we received from Plan Canada, the foster children's organization with which we are
working.
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It is expected as our involvement increases, so will our knowledge of the circumstances of the family. One thing that is abundantly clear is their regard for education.
Five brothers either are attending school or have attended - one child, Cheikh, the eldest has advanced to the sixth grade; it will be through his letters that we may communicate with Aladji and the rest of the family. I have found that education is a rare and priceless commodity in this part of the global village. Classrooms are crowded (60 to 80 students per class) and frequently lack electricity, water, sewage facilities and furniture. The other children may be too young for school as yet. This is the case with Aladji. He likes to play soccer and helps around the home by running errands.
It is the fortunate child indeed, who can say they still live at home with both parents; there are
many classes of children in this district: street kids, drug abusers, prostitutes, beggars and
thieves. The lucky ones can expect three meals a day consisting of rice, fish and vegetables
but even this is not always the case.
The photograph which accompanies the documentation of our foster child is of an open-faced
boy, slight of frame with two enormous chocolate-bright eyes set wide apart. These give him the
appearance of one who has seen more than he needs to. Yet there is a wisdom behind those eyes
that is not yet cynical. In short, Aladji is a handsome lad with a future to explore; not merely a
life to endure and with our support and encouragement he may yet sing, he may yet soar.
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