Since September 2002, ASO has been associated to SOS SAHEL in a project to protect the western African environment. Based on ideas coming from local initiatives, “Actions Dakar” is established in countryside and urban surroundings with a starting point in the area of Louga, in Senegal. The chosen projects concern the management of waste disposals, natural resources or helping the youth go to school. “Actions Dakar” represents a budget of 300 000 € on a 3 year basis, financed at a height of 75% by A.S.0. The program welcomes partners and rally competitors. In the past it concerned companies such as Cidou, Columbia, Michelin or biker M. Stanovnik who gave the money he had won for his “TOTAL Fair Play prize”.


A first conclusive phase
During the first year, “Actions Dakar” concluded initiatives by using 82% of the planned sums. The experience has proven to work out on a financial management point of view as well as in the good behaviour of operations on site.


Actions Dakar has helped work on 39 projects
• 700 trained people,
• 120 000 trees produced,
• 534 improved homes built,
• 125 ha of field culture,
• 5 arranged and regulated ponds,
• 13 carts used to collect the waste disposal of 640 families,
• 27 wells built,
• 2465 students taught environmental measures,
• over 100 000 people living in villages helped by these initiatives…


To diversify these actions
While reinforcing the operations already established the first year in Louga and its immediate surrounding, “Actions Dakar” has selected new projects concerning villages situated in the eastern parts of the area, mainly touched by the desert conditions.

The work to be done is slightly different, and is more based on access to drinkable water:
• Carrying on the 9 actions around Louga,
• 2 actions in the area of Mowdoul and Gonaki, concerning 9 villages that will profit of 4 new clean water supplies.


The ambition to grow
Quite a few projects are considered in Mauritania, chosen by SOS SAHEL as being the first area of development of the “Actions Dakar”.


En 2005
Ari Vatanen, godfather of the program is keen to show his concern: “to make Actions Dakar the symbol of the links that, other than the competition, unit us to Africa”.