The Dakar lends a hand
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As the Dakar discovers new territories, it also aims to develop relationships and maintain a link with the people who welcome the race. For thirty years in Africa and now in South America, the rally has joined forces with a number of initiatives and remains faithful to its roots and values.
A roof, a family, a new chance
With the “Un techo para mi país” initiative, the action concerns emergency accommodation.
40 houses in Valparaiso, and 40 others in Argentina. In becoming involved in the work of the Un techo para mi país (A roof for my country) association, the Dakar seeks to contribute to the setting up of a concrete project for the families who will benefit from the operation, rather than to turn the face of the South-American continent upside-down. Most importantly, the financial aid offered by the rally is entrusted to a dynamic organisation whose ambition to lead large-scale initiatives becomes more clearly defined with each year that passes.
Un techo para mi país association, which was set up about ten years ago, was founded on the basis of a simple observation: that the first step in helping those families hit hardest by poverty is to find them housing. But the amount of vacant accommodation is insufficient – and the means to build more are lacking. The idea of building emergency housing which is inexpensive in terms of materials and labour and capable of housing a family for a few years, seems to be a compromise which could offer a fresh start to these families in difficulty. This is the task Un techo para mi país has set itself.
With the benefit of experience, the method has already proved its worth: 33,000 emergency houses have been constructed in Chile, as well as 5,000 in the 13 other Latin-American countries to which the operation has been exported. The advantage of the approach is not limited to the roof which shelters the people in question, as Étienne Lavigne, director of Dakar explains: “what we appreciated in the action undertaken by these young people – most of whom are student volunteers –is that they accompany the families in their long journey towards social reintegration. For example, they help people in their administrative tasks or in finding professional training courses, making sure that their children can go to school, that they have access to healthcare, etc. Because although the question of housing is an essential preliminary, in South America – as elsewhere – this alone will not lift people out of exclusion.”
As a partner of Un techo para mi país, the Dakar is, first and foremost, signing up to a method, which consists of addressing problems in their overall context. For this year, the association’s teams have identified requirements in those sectors close to Valparaiso. During the rest day – 10th January on the shores of the Pacific, rally organisers and competitors will meet the volunteers in charge of the operation. The exchange will enable them to continue getting to know one another, to imagine new projects.
The ties that have been woven with Africa during thirty years of its history will lead the rally to find new inspiration on the banks of Lac Rose as soon as the geopolitical situation allows. The Dakar continues to maintain regular contact with African countries, and will continue to lead programs planned over time for the Dakar Solidario, Dakar Actions and support for the “Dakar Six Hours automobile race”.
Implementation of Dakar Actions programs, developed in collaboration with SOS Sahel, will continue during 2009. The idea is to ensure successful completion of a certain number of projects initiated by the local population in the fields of sustainable development, agriculture, reforesting and reinforcement of dunes. These efforts will be continued.
