FCBARCELONA.CAT

25.10.2007 17:49

Enthusiastic welcome for Barça in Senegal

Marc Parramon

The Barça delegation in Senegal, led by Joan Laporta, had a busy morning of visits in the town of Richard Toll. The excitement generated by the presence of the Club president was spectacular.

After the dinner on Wednesday evening with Senegal’s Interior Minister, Ousmane Ngom, the representatives of FC Barcelona took off from Dakar airport at 8.30 am on route to Richard Toll, the town in the north of Senegal that has been chosen as the site for the Foundation’s first solidarity centre in the XICS programme.

Tumultuous reception

After a flight lasting one hour, the party landed at Richard Toll airport where they greeted by the mayor, Abibou Dieye, and other municipal representatives. A group of about thirty children was also on hand to welcome the Barça representatives with banners and cries of “Barça, Barça, Barça”. The youngsters read out a short message of welcome accompanied by enthusiastic applause.

Joan Laporta then visited the Town Hall where he was received with full honours. After the official reception, the party was shown around three Daares, or Koranic schools, for orphans and other underprivileged children. Joan Laporta, Alfons Godall and Marta Segú wore the local costume–called ‘Bubu'- by express wish of the local authorities, who consider it as a sign of respect for the local population. This is a courtesy adopted by all visiting dignitaries.

The conditions of the children that live in these schools, aged between 6 and 16, are dramatic. They do not attend school and are forced to beg in the streets. In return they receive inadequate board and lodging and are taught the Koran. 50% of the children that will benefit from the new centre will be from this group.

The soul of the Club in Senegal

A visibly moved Joan Laporta told the local authorities: “We are very grateful to you for giving us the chance to show our heart and our soul. This is a very special day for our Club”. After the visit to the Daares, the party moved on to the town’s Sexual Health Centre before lunch in a local hotel.

Marta Segú, the Foundation’s Director of International Projects, gave a positive evaluation of the work done and indicated: “The Foundation is the nexus that has brought agreement between the local authorities, the religious leaders and the whole community of Richard Toll in order to improve the life of these children”.