A Thiaroye-sur-mer, dans la banlieue de Dakar, cinquante jeunes sont morts en tentant de gagner l’Europe à bord de pirogues. Yayibayam Diouf a perdu son fils unique, Alioune Sarr, 26 ans. Comme la plupart des autres mères, elle l’avait encouragé à partir. Partagée entre le chagrin et la culpabilité, elle a créé le collectif des femmes de Thiaroye contre l’émigration clandestine. Pour que le drame qu’elle a vécu ne se reproduise plus dans le village. Depuis, d’autres collectifs de femmes ont essaimé à travers tout le Sénégal et multiplient les actions pour convaincre les jeunes de ne pas quitter leur foyer. Dernière initiative du collectif de Thiaroye : la surveillance des plages. Mères, épouses, sœurs, elles sont des dizaines à se relayer la nuit pour prévenir d’éventuels départs en pirogues. Depuis trois mois, il n’y a plus d’embarquement clandestin sur la plage de Thiaroye. Les femmes reprennent espoir.
Aïssatou and her friends in Thiaroye Azur. It was from this beach that most of the young people from the neighbourhood left to try to reach the Canary Islands.
DUW0094724x © William Dupuy
A meeting at Yayibayam Diouf's house. She is the president of the Thiaroye-sur-Mer women's collective. Raising awareness among young people, selling rice and couscous and keeping watch over the beaches are some of the actions under discussion.
DUW0094726x © William Dupuy
Preparing rice to be sold. The money earnt from the market will allow the women of Thiaroye-sur-Mer to finance activities for young people in the neighbourhood.
DUW0094727x © William Dupuy
The Thiaroye-sur-Mer women's collective now has 200 members. Their goal: to convince young people to stop leaving in canoes. Some have lost their sons at sea.
DUW0094730x © William Dupuy
Yayibayam Diouf, the president of the Thiaroye-sur-Mer women's collective, with her faithful colleagues.
DUW0094731x © William Dupuy
Yayibayam Diouf, the president of the Thiaroye-sur-Mer women's collective, with her faithful colleagues.
DUW0094732x © William Dupuy
The women of the Thiaroye-sur-Mer collective go out to sollicit the help of politicians to raise awareness for their cause. This evening they will dance for the wife of the Minister of Foreign Affairs who is visiting the area.
DUW0094734x © William Dupuy
From the beginning, Yayibayam has frequently been the collective's media spokesperson. Here, she calls on the wife of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is visiting the area, for help. She hopes to obtain financial aid from the government.
DUW0094736x © William Dupuy
From the beginning, Yayibayam has frequently been the collective's media spokesperson. Here, she calls on the wife of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who is visiting the area, for help. She hopes to obtain financial aid from the government.
DUW0094735x © William Dupuy
The women of the Thiaroye-sur-Mer collective sometimes supervise the beaches until 3am in order to discourage young people from leaving in canoes.
DUW0094742x © William Dupuy
Mothers, sisters, wives... the women of the Thiaroye Azur neighbourhood organise 'surveillance posts' on the beach several nights during the week, to prevent any eventual departures by canoe.
DUW0094741x © William Dupuy
The surveillance evenings sometimes become quite festive affairs. It's a chance for the women and young people of the neighbourhood to share a relaxing moment after the stress of the day.
DUW0094739x © William Dupuy
Recently, young boys from Thiaroye Azur have joined the women on their beach vigil.
DUW0094738x © William Dupuy
The 'surveillance evenings' are also the chance for women to meet and share a relaxing moment after the stress of the day.
DUW0094737x © William Dupuy