The “daara-atelier” project wants to enroll nearly 600 talibés per year September 1, 2026

On a courtesy visit, Monday, August 31, to Serigne Cheikh Mouhamadou Mahi Ibrahima Niass, Caliph General of Medina Baye, the Minister of Employment and Professional and Technical Training insisted on the interest that the State places in the implementation of the “daara-workshop” project. This, declared Idrissa Samb, aims to train nearly 600 talibés per year in religious cities.

KAOLACK- At the head of a strong delegation, including in particular the prefect of Kaolack and officials of his department, the Minister of Employment and Professional and Technical Training paid, on Monday August 31, 2026, a courtesy visit to the Caliph General of Medina Baye, Cheikh Mouhamadou Mahi Ibrahima Niass. In front of the religious guide, Idrissa Samb largely returned to the “daara-workshop” project, an innovative concept initiated by the State of Senegal in 2025. “We are in the month of Gamou which celebrates the birth of the Prophet (Psl). But we also took the opportunity to present to the Caliph the “daara-workshop” project, an initiative that the State has made available to religious homes. Its objective is to allow learners (talibés) to learn about certain professions. The aim is for them to be operational once their training is completed,” explained the minister.

In Medina Baye, he said, the project is structured around four components. These are the refrigeration and air conditioning sector, metal structures, poultry farming and the agri-food industry. Promising professions which, according to the Minister of Employment and Professional and Technical Training, were chosen by the Caliph General himself. “In Medina Baye, our ambition is to train nearly 600 talibés per year in these professions,” indicated Idrissa Samb, recalling that the overall objective of the State is to train, thanks to this project, at least 15,000 talibés by 2029. In Kaolack, to implement this, Cheikh Mouhamadou Mahi Ibrahima Niass made available to the ministry a land base intended to accommodate certain infrastructure. “We would like to thank the Caliph who made one and a half hectares of land available to us to install the project,” said the minister.

According to Mr. Samb, the launch of the market will take place shortly to allow the effective start of the work. Through this initiative, the ministry, he said, intends to make professional and technical training a real lever for empowerment, inclusion and socio-economic integration of the talibés. An approach welcomed by the Caliph General of Medina Baye, who expressed his satisfaction and support for this initiative aimed at offering residents of “daara (Koranic schools)” skills and new prospects for the future. He took the opportunity to express prayers to the Head of State and his government.

“I thank the minister and his delegation for the trip. We pray for peace throughout the world, because without it we can accomplish nothing. The development of this country must be at the center of our concerns. I pray for the President of the Republic and his entire government. We are one people and it must be like this forever,” said Cheikh Mouhamadou Mahi Ibrahima Niass. Before Medina Baye, the Minister of Employment and Vocational and Technical Training visited Tivaouane and Ndiassane last week, religious centers also affected by the project. “We are going to extend the project throughout the national territory and in all religious centers,” said Idrissa Samb.