I see children like these all over Dakar. If you'll notice, each child has a small bowl or container. They use these containers when they beg outside of restaurants, grocery stores, or other public places. Why are they begging, you ask? Well, you see, these children have been given by their parents to a Marabout, an Islamic leader and teacher. The Marabouts live by donations alone, so they send these children out to beg. My struggle here is that I do not want to give these children money, because I don't want to support the Marabout. But there's a catch. If the children do not get any money, they are beaten severely and not fed. They go back to the Marabout every night and either turn in the money they have received or be punished. How could I sleep at night knowing these precious children are beaten and starved? I can't, so I donate to every last one that asks me for money. Am I supporting the Marabout? Yes. I can only pray that my small donation saves them from abuse.