PHOTOGRAPHS BY Mario Cruz
IN CITIES AND TOWNS THROUGHOUT SENEGAL, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BOYS,SOMEASYOUNG AS 5, ARE IMPRISONED IN KORANIC SCHOOLS KNOWN AS DAARAS. EVERYDAY THEY TAKE TO THE STREETS, WHERE THEY BEG FOR UP TO EIGHTHOURS, HOPING TO EARN A FEW DOLLARS IN A COUNTRY WHERE THE AVERAGE DAILY WAGE IS $4.
Once the boys are back at the daara, religious teachers take the money the children have collected. A teacher (known as a marabout) or one of his assistants will likely beat any child who brings in too few coins.