Alms box of a young & shoeless Talibe in Mali - Stockfoto

A young and shoeless Talibe stands next to his plastic alms pail. A talibe is a student of Islam, who may study in a madrasa or with a religious teacher. In Mali talibes are religious students or followers of specific religious sect or teacher. Talibes traditionally live with a marabout, helping him with labor in exchange for their education in the Qur'an. These talibes may come from poor or rich families. Due to the ascetic nature of the traditional education the young boys often rely on the alms of local families in the form of food.