The Project is Very Important for Our Community

Read an interview with Ibrahima Sow, who was the leader of the local Senegalese community of Bango. He not only helped KOMA staff with the project but also, in many cases, with cultural assimilation.

To begin, please introduce yourself – where are you from, and how old are you?

My name is Ibrahima Sow. I'm from Bango (Saint-Louis) and I'm 32 years old.

You're a representative of the local community. Can you tell us something about it?

I am a representative of the Bango community, which is very close to the airport. The original airport was founded in 1957 and we have had very good relations ever since.

Do you remember when you heard that a new airport was going to be built?

I found out about the project in 2018 when staff arrived to carry out an environmental and social impact assessment (SEA, editor's note).

How did you get involved in the construction of the airport? And what was your role in the project? What were your tasks?

I got involved in the project through Mr. Mazánek (former diplomat, Ilja Mazánek, was a key person for the delivery of airports in Senegal, editor's note) and my task was to manage all the storage of construction materials, especially from containers.

What does the opening of the new airport mean for the region?

This project is very important for our community, as it is a great opportunity for youth employment and especially for local economic activities.

How did you get on with your colleagues from KOMA? Did you learn any words in Czech?

I have a good relationship with the KOMA staff. I learned my first Czech words with them, although it was a bit amusing at first.

And how was the collaboration for you? Are the Czechs the same as, or different from, your colleagues?

It's a very pleasant collaboration because most of them are nice people and especially professional – they know what they are doing.

How did you feel when you finished the airport and the handover ceremony took place? I have mixed feelings about it. I'm happy and sad at the same time because, sometimes, it's hard to see people go home when you've had close relationships with them beyond the professional ones. I remember when KOMA finished the buildings – many people in the community were sad and even cried over those going back to the Czech Republic.

What problems did you face during the construction of the airport?

I wouldn't exactly call it a problem except that, sometimes, there are language barriers in communication with some colleagues and that can cause misunderstandings.

Colleagues from KOMA have often talked about the crazy temperatures in Senegal, how do you feel as a local?

I understand that they often have problems with the heat because there is a big difference between the temperatures in Europe and here in Senegal.

What changes do you perceive in the local community after the completion of the project?

The project was definitely beneficial for us. Our citizens had good jobs thanks to the project (and I thank KOMA for that, which contributed a lot to the employment of our young people). We are also looking forward to the community project, which is being implemented by the Embassy of the Czech Republic in cooperation with KOMA (Bango Community Centre, editor's note). We really welcome this help to the community.

What have you learned about working on such a large international project? Thanks to this project, I have gained a lot of experience. It was an opportunity for me to work with people from abroad – I learned a different approach and gained new knowledge.

What are your plans now that the airport is finished?

Nothing is certain right now. You know, I'm a young man who's still trying to make his dreams come true – to keep looking for opportunities to work and to be able to realize my projects.

What should one know about Senegal and Senegalese people before coming to the country?

I think they should study more about the mentality of Senegalese people and find information about how to communicate with them before arriving and, also, to know some Senegalese facts. The problems you encounter as Czechs here often stem from the fact that you want to behave the same way that you do at home, but you are in a completely different environment.