What is your dream? For the Tapori facilitators in Mauritius, one dream comes up again and again: to travel by plane, beyond their island.

The ATD Fourth World team in Mauritius enabled them to fulfil this dream through a training course.

“This stay in Rodrigues was important to us”, the organisers explain, “because it allowed us to train together, to learn from different groups, share our challenges and find the strength to overcome them. It strengthened our ties, gave us a change of scenery, and a break from our everyday lives. We met the new Tapori facilitators on Rodrigues and gained a clearer understanding of our own abilities. ATD Fourth World allowed us to have this extraordinary experience, which has given rise to a great friendship between us and enabled us to accomplish our dreams!”

The group appreciated the remote training provided by the international Tapori team and the opportunity to relax, leave their worries behind, and enjoy the beautiful landscapes of Rodrigues.

Meet Tilly, Nathalie, Mirella, Tania, Capela and Shana, Tapori facilitators in Mauritius.

Tilly, activist in Vuillemin:

Before I knew ATD Fourth World, I went to work, did my shopping, and came home. I just had that. With ATD Fourth World, I found a reason to live. I had a purpose. Following my sister’s death, I had to take responsibility for my nieces and nephews. They participated in activities with Tapori. They went to Switzerland for the international meeting on the rights of the child. When they returned from Switzerland, my nephew understood the importance of establishing a children’s group in Mauritius. That’s how the group in Vuillemin came to be. The children from my first group are adults now, they’re married and have children, and their children now take part in the Tapori group […].

As a Rodriguan myself, I dreamed of returning to my native island. I didn’t expect Rodrigues to have changed like that […]. The other dream I had for Rodrigues was to meet the [other] facilitators there and share my experience with them. My dream hasn’t been fulfilled yet because I’m not done learning, and I would like the children to better understand what the Tapori group is so that, one day, they can share their experience and become facilitators. […]

What I found powerful [in the training that we just had] was that we discussed our lives in our different groups. I didn’t realise that the children fight in other groups, too. Now, I realise that I can handle that in my group.

Mirella, activist at Case Noyale:

Before discovering Tapori, I was in touch with children who were telling me their secrets. My son would also tell me his secrets, and that made me want to lead Tapori and continue with the children. When they’re involved in conflict, they can’t always communicate that with their parents. To me, children have an immeasurable value. We need to know how to listen to them so they trust us. We need to put ourselves in their place. When I’m with them, I make myself very small, like them, so they trust me and share their worries, their joys, and their secrets with me. I feel at ease talking and playing with them.

I think we deserved a trip like this to meet new people, open up and spend some time with the Tapori facilitators.[…] It was the first time I had ever taken a flight, and that was a huge dream for me. Now, my dream is to continue with ATD Fourth World and Tapori, and to go even further than Rodrigues. […] When I suggested going to Rodrigues, I didn’t think it would come to pass. I find it incredible that we were able to do that!

At first, I didn’t know how it was all going to turn out. […] In Mauritius, I didn’t know where the [other] facilitators lived but we made the journey together, which helped me to get to know them better. The training was a great asset to me. I learned a lot from the other groups.

Nathalie, activist in Vuillemin:

For me, Tapori gives children a chance. Despite their age differences, they are equal in Tapori. They are given an opportunity, just as I was given the opportunity to come to Rodrigues.

[…] It was an extraordinary opportunity but I need to keep dreaming because this isn’t over for me. I’ll happily go back to Rodrigues one day, maybe by myself. I realised this dream because of ATD Fourth World, who I’d like to thank. By joining the movement, I was able to share this moment with others.

I learned a lot of values from the video “Sur le chemin de l’école” (‘On the path to school’), which shows that we must always persevere despite our ups and downs, and it gives me the courage to continue with Tapori.

Tania, a young activist in Richelieu:

I started with ATD Fourth World because my parents were already in LKM (a Fourth World People’s University). I started Tapori as a child, then joined the young people’s group, and now I am a facilitator for the Street Library. It helps me a lot because I’m quite a private person. […] The Street Library helps me talk more but also to listen to the children and to understand them. I started as a facilitator at a very young age (15-16 years old), and I would ask myself what I could learn from the children, and that was how I gradually gained confidence. […]

It was a dream of mine to travel, but I didn’t think I’d be able to make it come true so quickly. That’s how it happened, and I’m happy. Everyone wanted to go somewhere outside Mauritius, to explore and experience something else. It was the first time I’d travelled without my family. It helped me grow up, to move to the next stage. […] I felt good. I felt like I belonged, and I did not feel excluded. It freed my mind. Travelling allowed me to take a break from everything I was going through before. I also formed a friendship with Axelle [note: another participant].

My highlight was when we went to Anse Bouteille. At one point, it started to rain, but we stayed in the water anyway. We had the beach to ourselves, we got away from everything, we forgot all our worries. […] And thanks to the training, I understand how to react with the children a little better. I also remember the strong bond between us…

Shana, activist in Case Noyale:

I’ve been a Tapori facilitator since last year. I feel that now, I’m able to communicate with the children a little better. I gained confidence in myself and earned the children’s trust. Before Tapori, I was a private and shy person. Now, I’m much more open. I’m able to speak with facilitators and children more easily. When I see the children smile when I’m doing activities with them, it makes me happy. I like when we share ideas between facilitators.

Ever since I was little, I’ve dreamed of going to Rodrigues. Before leaving, I was afraid of flying, but I had faith because the others reassured me. […] I would like to thank David and Gaëlle [note: Volunteer Corps members] because at first, I didn’t want to go. Before going to Rodrigues, I had a difficult time, but they spoke with me in person and listened to me.

[…] I liked working in a group with the others, and I also enjoyed drawing flowers. When acting out the story [of a play], I felt like the children in Tapori. Now, I feel capable of doing things.

Capela, activist in Case Noyale:

It was my dream to take a flight. Plenty of people told me it was good, the takeoff and everything, and I wanted to experience that. […] When we were there, I liked that we were like a family, that we ate together at the table without looking at our phones. I disconnected from my phone, and it was good for me. We talked, we laughed. It made me forget my problems in Mauritius. I liked preparing the meals and setting the table.

It made me feel useful, and I appreciated that everyone joined in. I liked exploring Mourouk beach. We gathered Lasdam there, and I was able to show my friends what it was. We cooked it, and everyone liked it. […]

I realised we can react quickly in difficult situations. We can also create a play in 10 minutes. I realised that we have many skills.