ACTIONS DAKAR


Since September 2002, A.S.O. has been in partnership with SOS SAHEL within the scope of a programme for protecting the environment in west Africa. Based on projects that directly stem from local initiatives, Actions Dakar has set up in country and town, with the region of Louga, Senegal as a homebase. The various operations cover management of waste, natural resources (plantations, protection of varieties in fields…) or fostering awareness in the younger generation at school. After three years of working fruitfully together, the partnership was renewed this year for a furthr period of three years. Chief representative of the association, Rémi Hemeryck, draws up an inventory.


Projects for Africa

What do you make of the three years of partnership with the Dakar?
It has been a real success, because 60 actions, initiated by local associations, have seen the light of day through our joint collaboration. Representing a budget of between €2,000 and €5,000 and involving on average around 100 people, these are easy-to-run projects. In concrete terms, by way of example, we are installing drip feed crop irrigation systems. These are simple techniques which enable significant water savings to be made, especially if they are widespread.

Actions Dakar is a long-term commitment...
The idea is precisely to reach the youngest people to change behaviour patterns and achieve efficient action. For a real regional development policy to be implemented, there must be real awareness. I feel that the impact of Actions Dakar is all the more valuable for operating at a sustainable level rather than being concerned with immediately changing living conditions. It is not enough just to dig a well in a village. The well also needs to be looked after.

What areas of development is Actions Dakar focusing on?
We have chosen to retain the same themes, namely reforestation, organisation of waste collection and improvement of health conditions in general. The aim is also to develop the involvement of local authorities which, as far as possible, will contribute 15 to 20% of funding. We now have credibility which encourages all local players to invest even more. This is why we want to avoid dispersion and focus our actions on the regions with which we are already familiar, namely Louga and its surrounding area.


Actions Dakar in figures

• 186,000 people concerned
• 65 projects
• €300,000, 75% funded by A.S.O.

Making people environmentally aware
• 953 members of groups trained in natural resource management
• 25,989 children and adults made aware of good environmental practices

Protection and enhancement of soils and forestry resources
• 1,208 enhanced stoves built
• 888 ha of arable land protected
• 21,656 trees saved
• 132,089 trees planted
• 69 composters built
• 3 dunes fixed

Health protection and water hygiene
• 62 latrines and 62 catch basins built
• 5 pools developed
• 85 water reservoirs put into operation
• 1,132 families benefitting from waste collection


For further information on “Actions Dakar”, consult the SOS Sahel website, www.sossahel.org.

For any questions you may have, you can write directly to actionsdakar@sossahel.org.






THE DAKAR 6 HOURS


Although the major African motor sports event remains the Euromilhões-Dakar, the Senegalese capital is also host to a valued annual event on the African automotive scene which celebrated its 26th edition in 2004. Over an approximately 4-km circuit, thirty or so racing machines lap for six hours, an ill-advised exercise for the faint of heart! A.S.O. has provided technical and financial assistance to the event since 1993.

This support comes within the scope of a more global policy of help for developing motor sports in those countries through which the Dakar crosses. In addition to free registrations for certain of their national drivers or riders, the federations of these countries receive useful subsidies for organising new events. Sign of the progressive emergence of the discipline in Africa, the Senegalese Federation of Car and Motorcycle Sports (FSSAM) has set up a national championship with seven off-road rallies, eight endurance-type and eight go-kart races.



THE TOUR DU FASO


Organiser of the Tour de France, A.S.O. has quite naturally a mission to spread and maintain the passion for cycling. Burkina-Faso, which set up Africa's leading stage race in 1987, called upon A.S.O. expertise in 2000 to help with developing the event. Since then, the Tour du Faso has continued to enhance its international character and perspectives are opening up for cyclists in the region. In 2004, 21 cycling schools were created with the help of the French Embassy in Burkina-Faso. For the main part, they use equipment collected in France during the “1,000 bikes for Faso” operation throughout 2004, and particularly during the Tour de France.

If the discrepancy of levels between European elite and African riders in the peloton of the Tour du Faso is slowly diminishing, the continent's flagship event has played its part. Winner in 2004, Abdul Wahab Sawadogo, has for example spent several months with a French team at national level (Côte des Légendes Team), while the best young rider in the 2004 Tour, Malick Thiam, has been invited to set himself against other hopes at the world training centre of Aigle, set up by the UCI and reserved for emerging nations on the cycling front. Such exchanges will perhaps one day enable teams from all continents to make up the pack of the world elite.