| Intro | Senegalse who founded l’empire des enfants |
| From | Senegal |
| Gender | female |
| Birth | 5 August 1951, Dakar, Senegal |
| Age: | 69 years |
| Star sign | Leo |
Anta Mbow (born August 5, 1951) is a Senegalese who founded Empire des enfants to help “street children” in Dakar. Their teachers exploit them and children who fail to achieve their begging targets are punished. Sexual exploitation is commonplace, but many will not speak about it. Mbow does
Life
Mbow was born in Dakar. She married a professional basketball player. They went to study in France in 1972 and when she finished she worked as a secretary. Eventually she retrained for social work.
During a visit home she was distressed to see the homeless children of Dakar but it was only after talking with her brother Babacar Mbow and a French diplomat named Valérie Schlumberger that a plan came together to buy an old cinema in Dakar.
After 30 years of living in Europe, Mbow returned to her home country in 2002 determined to help the street children of Dakar. In 2003 she created the association Empire des enfants. The charity helped boys aged between 5 and 13 who were living on the streets and facing abuse and exploitation. In time they helped 3,500 boys supplying them with education a place to stay and access to sports. She objects to the term “street children” arguing that streets do not have children. Many of the thousands of children in Dakar are sent there by their parents as Talibe. They believe that they will receive an education in religious schools but the teachers exploit them and give them begging quotas. Children who fail to gain their target are starved and punished and sexual exploitation is commonplace. Much of this is well known but many will not speak about it. Mbow does.
Awards
- In 2019, Chevalier in the national order of the Legion of Honor of the French Republic by HE Philippe Lalliot, the French Ambassador to Senegal,
- In 2018, Anta Mbow was awarded the World of children and obtained the Protection Award “for its efforts to significantly improve the lives of street children at risk in Dakar, Senegal”
- In 2016, Leral.net named Mbow as Woman of the year
- In 2013, the Orange foundation awarded her the special Women for Change prize and gave her work financial support.
- Anta Mbow was raised to the rank of Knight of the French Legion of Honor on July 13, 2019 by decree in the Official Journal of the French Republic.
Private life
Mbow is married to the sportsman Doudou Leyti Camara and they have four children.