Saint-Louis Community Centre to be Modular

As you already know, the Saint-Louis International Airport has undergone a major reconstruction and the subsequent transformation of the urbanized structure has most affected the adjacent rural community of Bango. This community is home to approximately 2,000 members of the Polar tribe who still follow a traditional way of life based mainly on shepherding and fishing. In order to improve the socio-economic and inclusive development of the community while focusing on activities for youth and women, it was decided to build a community centre to become a full component of the village and serve all social and community groups. Modules worth approximately CZK 0.5 million will be donated by KOMA MODULAR to build the centre. The aim is also to preserve traditional skills that have been passed down from generation to generation and their connections with the surrounding nature and countryside, which is undergoing urbanization and facing the associated risks, especially socio-environmental factors. The community has a traditional structure, which includes a chief and elders. The community centre is intended to serve all social and community groups, where all generations will intermingle and, thus, the transfer of traditions, knowledge, and skills will continue. The project will also serve as an education centre to help the local community better integrate into today's modern society and protect the ecological and natural values of the area in order to preserve and develop their natural potential. This project is being implemented by the non-profit organization, SOS Langue de Barbarie, which has long been active in the Saint-Louis region and focuses mainly on socio-ecological projects with a focus on local youth and works with the local community and educational organizations. These projects have in the past included cleaning up the beaches of the local fishing community of Ger Ndar and developing agricultural activities for local farmers such as tree planting.

→ Everything under one modular roof

A functional modular building will be constructed as the community centre. The central layout will serve as a gathering facility with a covered outdoor area adjacent to a newly constructed community garden with elements of traditional local architecture and art. The community centre space will have solar panels, a library, toilets, showers, and a small kitchen – it will also serve as a facility for children by making use of the local football pitch. The building will also serve the purpose of hosting a wide range of social activities, particularly lectures and themed workshops. The adjacent garden will be an arboretum for traditional local trees and plants. In addition, it will be used as a community garden for local people, especially women, who will look after the garden and then harvest and sell its produce. The local women and girls will be involved in the operation and activities of the community centre, which will lead to the elevation of their socio-economic status and increase their status and potential for social equalization. The garden area will provide a showcase for local traditional architecture and may host workshops to practice traditional crafts and improve the technical skills of community members.

→ Reviving village life

The community centre will be a central place for village life, which has long been lacking.

SOS Langue de Barbarie, as well as other non-profit and donor organizations active in Senegal, will be able to use the space to train local residents in agricultural development, environmental issues, hygiene, sanitation, and other key topics. The community centre will be a good example of Czech involvement in Senegal, contributing to the cohesion of the local community and the development of good relations in the neighbourhood of the large Czech airport project. The community centre will be able to make ends meet through the monetization of the produce grown in the community garden, along with the ongoing involvement of the non-profit organisation SOS Langue de Barbarie. The existence of this centre will have a major impact on the development of the entire community. It is another step in this effort to help the local community and to support its development as it faces urbanization pressures and changes in its environment.